How to create a substitute paraprofessional resume.

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If you’re dreaming of a flexible job where you can make a difference in students’ lives, consider creating a substitute paraprofessional resume. You’ll want to showcase your skills and experience and highlight your passion for supporting students with special needs.

What should a paraprofessional resume include?

As you create your paraprofessional, here are some general sections to include.

Contact information: You want to make it easy for hiring managers to get in touch. Include your full name, email address, phone number, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable).
Summary or objective: Include a brief section stating your career goals.
Education: Include any relevant degrees or certifications you’ve earned. Start with your most recent education, and list them in reverse chronological order. Often, only a high school diploma is required for this position, so if that’s all you have, that’s okay!
Experience: This section should include any previous positions, including relevant experience in education or work you’ve done with children.
Relevant skills: List any skills that apply to the position. We’ll look at this in more detail and share examples later on.
References: On your resume, you can state that professional references are available upon request. Then, make sure you have a list ready — and ask each person for permission before sending out their name and contact information. Former teachers, coaches, bosses, and community members you’ve worked with are all possibilities.

Paraprofessional resume skills.

Sometimes, the most challenging part of creating a resume is deciding which skills to include. As a best practice, review your district’s substitute paraeducator job description before you begin. This allows you to get an idea of the specific skills and qualifications that are important to highlight.

Here are some examples of paraprofessional resume skills to include:

Communication: As a paraeducator, you must communicate with students, teachers, parents, and other school staff members. Your communication skills should be top-notch. You’ll need to remain respectful at all times.
Patience: Working with children can be challenging, so you’ll need to be patient and remain calm in potentially stressful situations.
Organization: As a substitute paraeducator, you’ll step into different classrooms and possibly juggle multiple responsibilities. Demonstrating strong organizational skills can help you stand out.
Time management: In addition to being organized, you’ll need to manage your time effectively. Each day may be completely different, so you’ll need to be flexible.
Interpersonal skills: Building positive relationships with students, teachers, and staff is essential. Showcase your ability to work well with others.

What if I don’t have any previous work experience in education?

While previous work experience as an educator can be beneficial, it’s not always a requirement for a substitute paraeducator position. If you don’t yet have any, focus on transferable experience instead. You want the hiring manager to see that you’re capable of working with children.

Possible entries may include:

Volunteer work with children or youth organizations (Special Olympics)
Babysitting, tutoring, or coaching experience
Relevant coursework or training related to education (such as child development, psychology, or teaching strategies)
Time spent mentoring people with special needs or disabilities
Any other experiences that show your ability to adapt and work in a team dynamic

Even without direct work experience, you likely have valuable skills and qualities that make you a strong candidate. Be sure to emphasize these in your resume. At your interview, be ready to demonstrate how they’ll help you in this role.

Sample resume for a paraprofessional.

Seeing a sample resume for a paraprofessional position can help you craft your own. Here’s one without the contact information.

Jane Doe

[Phone number] [LinkedIn profile]

Objective

Compassionate individual seeking a substitute paraeducator position with

Education

High School Diploma [year]

XYZ High School [Location]

GPA: 3.5

Experience

Volunteer Special Olympics Soccer Assistant Coach
Helped organize and lead practice for children ages 5-7
Communicated with parents about team schedules and expectations
Assisted head coach in creating game strategies and drills
High School Volunteer Club Member
Helped elementary students with math homework
Adapted teaching methods to meet the individual learning needs of each student

Skills

Strong written and oral communication skills
Ability to work well with children
Effective organizational skills
Solid interpersonal skills
Ability to follow directions
Robust computer skills and experience using Zoom Prezi, and other classroom-related software

References

Professional references are available upon request.

You can find more paraprofessional resume samples here.

What substitute paraprofessional resume best practices should I follow?

When creating a paraeducator resume, following current best practices is important. These include:

Make changes to your resume for each position for which you apply.
Review the job posting and use language from it in your resume.
Research the school district and tailor your skills and experience to fit its needs.
Use a clean, professional format that’s easy to read and not visually cluttered.
Ensure your font size is at least 10 — any smaller could strain the eyes of the person reviewing it.
Ensure you have a professional-sounding email address. Avoid using unprofessional or inappropriate email addresses, such as childhood nicknames or personal jokes.
Set up a professional-sounding voicemail on the phone number you use. Ensure your mailbox doesn’t get full.
Don’t list family members as references.
Proofread for spelling and grammar errors before submitting your resume. Read it aloud, then ask someone else to proofread it for you. You want it to be error-free.

Do substitute paraeducators really need a resume?

Not all positions will require you to submit a paraeducator resume. However, creating one can still be beneficial. Here’s why:

Allows you to reflect on your professional goals and accomplishments.
Helps you consider how your past education and experience align with the requirements.
Provides a way to highlight your transferable skills.
Distinguishes you from other candidates who apply
Gives the school district something to keep on file to consider you for future positions.

Even if you aren’t required to submit a paraprofessional resume, you may want to make one to refer to during interviews. You can use it as a guide when answering questions, so you don’t forget anything.

Grow as a Kelly Education paraeducator.

At Kelly Education, we offer training, ongoing support, and professional development for this vital role, because we know what it takes to support students with special needs.

Or simply fill out our brief interest form and one of our recruiters will contact you to answer your questions. They’ll also share more about opportunities to work with our school district partners.

I’m interested