Paraprofessionals' pay even worse than teachers'

June 12, 2008 12:15 am

I've heard enough about teachers' salaries. Yes, beginning teachers should make more money for what they do these days. (And anyone who has not spent a day in a classroom has no right to say anything about teachers' salaries.)

But what about the salaries of school employees who are not teachers?

I am a paraprofessional (teacher's assistant) in an elementary school. I teach small groups of students, help with bus duty and breakfast duty, take over for teachers as needed, answer phones, make copies, help the custodians, and boost children's egos when they need a hug or have a problem.

Want to know what my salary is for all that since no one probably has any idea? Take a guess, and make sure you are holding your chin so your mouth doesn't fall open.

I signed a contract for the 2008-2009 school year for a salary of $17,600. How I am supposed to make ends meet, as a single person, on that salary?

Sure, some will say, "Well, go get a job someplace else that pays more." But why should I have to? I like my job here. Otherwise, you won't have any decent, moral, hard working people teaching children in Stafford schools anymore.

Who can afford to continue working in Stafford County for the salaries we get? How much money do the people at the School Board Office make? I'm sure it's not $17,600 a year.

Marie Jackson

Stafford