paraprofessional

noun

para·pro·fes·sion·al ˌper-ə--prə-ˈfesh-nəl

-ˈfe-shə-nᵊl,

ˌpa-rə-

: a trained aide who assists a professional person (such as a teacher or doctor)

paraprofessional adjective

Example Sentences

There is at least one paraprofessional in each classroom.

Recent Examples on the Web Judith Geoffroy, a 63-year-old paraprofessional in the Integrated Learning Center, died but her official cause of death had not been confirmed according to a statement released Wednesday. —

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2023 Classified staff includes custodians, bus drivers, nurses and special education paraprofessionals. —

Neal Earley, Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2023 Twenty-one individuals signed up to speak at the meeting and Judy Fox, representing the district’s union for school secretaries, nurses, campus monitors, tech support and paraprofessionals, spoke first. —

Elizabeth Owens-schiele, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2023 The superintendent said personnel reductions in the proposal include 1.5 full-time paraprofessionals, 1 full-time educational technology teacher, 1 full-time TMS interventionist, 1 full-time financial accountant, and a part-time speech language pathologist. —

Steve Smith, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2023 Jadon Ringland faces two felony charges of making terroristic threats after a January incident that occurred in his Hightower Trail Middle School classroom, which is for children with autism and intellectual disabilities and has one special education teacher and one paraprofessional. —

Harriet Sokmensuer, PEOPLE.com, 6 Aug. 2021 Parents and staff worry about the impact on students and staff if principals can’t find the money for school deans, assistant principals at small schools, paraprofessionals, school culture facilitators and college transition advisers. —

Ethan Bakuli, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2023 Classroom teachers and paraprofessionals often use noise-canceling headphones, weighted vests, and tinted glasses to help students avoid excessive sound and light. —

Lisa Jo Rudy, Verywell Health, 7 Mar. 2023 For Illinois educators like Trisha Meyers, a paraprofessional in Crystal Lake, the statewide scarcity of substitute teachers has created hardships this fall that state and federal recruitment and retention programs will not resolve in the short term. —

Karen Ann Cullotta, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paraprofessional.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of paraprofessional was in 1962

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near paraprofessional

paraproctium

paraprofessional

Parapsida

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Paraprofessional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paraprofessional. Accessed 31 May. 2023.

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