How I Went from Paraprofessional to Lead Teacher: 6 Tips


| by Buffi Burk

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I started my teaching career as a paraprofessional in a kindergarten class. 

There was no master plan — I took the job simply because it would give me the same schedule as my children. But I quickly fell in love with education, and I knew: I’d found my calling.  

Today, I’m a full-time kindergarten teacher in Guam as well as an adjunct professor for Moreland University. For anyone else looking to jump from paraprofessional to lead teacher, this is my advice: 

Be a learner. 

I had a great relationship with my lead teacher. She was firm but fun, and she taught me how to set classroom boundaries and expectations. She taught me about state assessments and lesson plans, and before long, she was letting me run entire lessons on my own.  

I know not every paraprofessional has the same experience, but if you have a good lead teacher, take advantage of that. If you don’t, find other teachers you admire and learn from them. 

Then, learn everything you can on your own. Read articles and books. Go to trainings, even if they’re not mandated. Be well read and a lifelong learner.  

Surround yourself with positive teachers. 

In every school, you’ll find teachers with positive attitudes and teachers who complain about their students, about the parents, about admin — about everything. 

If you spend time with the complainers, their attitude will rub off. Instead, surround yourself with people who are joyful about teaching.  

Choose a quality Educator Preparation Program.  

I was initially going to school for psychology. I couldn’t really tell you why, it just seemed like everybody in the ‘90s wanted to be a psychologist.  

Once I decided to earn my professional teaching license, I enrolled in Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program, and in 2015, I earned my Initial Educator Certificate in Guam. 

I did the master’s add-on with Moreland as well, earning my master’s in educational research. 

I chose Moreland because it was flexible and 100% online. The program was practical and hands-on, and it gave me vocabulary and context for some of the things I was already doing in the classroom.  

Your EPP helps set your foundation as a teacher, so make sure it’s a quality program. 

Build relationships with your students.  

On the first day of school one year, one of my third-grade students looked up at me and said, “So, when are you leaving us?” 

I’d been in Guam for 17 or 18 years at that point, but I was still considered an outsider. The students expected me to bail. 

I looked back at her and said, “Girl, I’m not going anywhere.”  

Whether you’re a paraprofessional or a lead teacher with decades of experience, I cannot overstate the importance of building relationships in your classroom. You can’t just give your students a list of rules and expect them to immediately fall in line. 

Instead, get to know your students. Try to understand where they’re coming from and why they might be behaving a certain way. It won’t solve every problem, but I’ve been teaching for 27 years without many serious classroom issues, and I attribute a lot of that to the relationships I build with my students. 

Get organized. 

As a paraprofessional, you have to stay on top of everything your lead teacher needs from you. That’s a full-time job. Now add to that: 

  1. All the requirements of your Educator Preparation Program 
  2. Studying and prep for your certification exams 
  3. Paperwork and payments for your background check, license application, and any other steps your state requires 

If you’re not organized, it’s likely something will slip. 

Plus, organization is a skill that will serve you throughout your teaching career.  

Enjoy your breaks.  

I cannot stress this enough: When summer comes, just be done and go have fun. 

If you’re ready to earn your professional teaching license, Moreland’s TEACH-NOW program is a great place to start. The application only takes about 15 minutes, there’s no cost to apply, and you’ll typically hear back within two business days. 

Good luck!

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