Professional Qualifications of Special Education Teacher Assistants
Special Education is a field that continues to grow rapidly throughout the world. The 21st century thus far has seen an increased interest and attention paid to the area of Special Education. There are a variety of staff members within a Special Education facility or department within a larger facility that contribute to the well-being and education of the students. Teacher Assistants in Special Education are a part of this group. Special Education Teacher Assistants play a valuable role in the Special Education classroom experience. They often provide the assistance, additional supervision, and attention to the students that allows the teachers and other specialists to do perform their job functions successfully.
To be an effective Special Education Teacher Assistant (SETA), one must have some training and specialized knowledge regarding the types of student populations, classroom environments & procedures, as well as what kind of paperwork inside the classroom and what is personally required....
For example, in the New York City school district, the largest school district in the United States, SETA's are often required to have coursework, a degree, or real world experience before they can even apply to be a SETA, also called a paraprofessional. Furthermore, after completing some basic paperwork, NYC SETA's are required to serve as substitute SETA's as part of their application and certification processes.
In order to qualify for full-time employment, it is required to begin as a substitute special education teaching assistant (paraprofessional). You must serve at least 25 days on the substitute roster to qualify for full-time employment. You should obtain state certification as a Teaching Assistant. (NYCDOE, 2010,-Page 18)
SETA's work with a diverse group of students, such as those with emotional disorders, behavior disorders, challenges with
communication, as well as students with various kinds of physical, intellectual, or other kinds of
disabilities. SETA's often, in the work place, have the opportunity to work with and come in contact with students of various ages, as these kinds of conditions can develop in
early childhood, as well as be diagnosed later in childhood and…
