Special Education for Beginners | Managing Paraprofessionals, Special Education Strategies, First Year Sped Teachers, Special Ed Overwhelm, Paperwork for Special Education Teachers

Kickstart the School Year With Your Paras: 3 Must-Do Actions

• Episode 221

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Welcome to the final episode of our July Paraprofessional Series! This month, we’ve talked mindset, delegation, communication, and even heard directly from paras themselves. 

But today’s episode is all about action—because a strong team doesn’t just happen… it’s built. And it starts with YOU.

In this episode, I’m walking you through 3 simple but powerful steps you can take to start the school year off right with your paraprofessionals. These are the exact things I wish I had started doing earlier in my own career—and they’ve made all the difference.

Whether you’re working with one para or a whole team, this episode will help you lay the foundation for a school year built on respect, clarity, and collaboration.

What You’ll Learn:

  • How to get your hands on a free 10-step guide to build team culture 
  • Why every para deserves a handbook and where to find one
  • Five essential questions to open the lines of communication from day one

Resources Mentioned:

Next Month’s Sneak Peek:
August is all about back-to-school success! I’ll be sharing tips for setting up your classroom, building a master schedule, and managing your caseload without overwhelm. Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

✨ Let’s kick off the year with confidence and collaboration. You’ve got this!

Writing individual impact statements based on a student’s unique disability  and needs can be a big struggle AND a big time suck.! And in case you haven't noticed...extra time is not something you have a lot of.

My IEP Impact Statements Growing Bundle will give you  the resources you need to make writing impact statements a breeze.  





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Speaker 1:

Hey there, welcome back to Special Education for Beginners. Over the last month, we have taken a look at what it really takes to build a strong relationship with the individuals who support our classrooms in such a meaningful way, Whether you refer to them as paraprofessionals, parapros, teaching assistants, EAs or some other term. We simply could not do our job without them. We have discussed mindset, delegation, handling conflict, and we even heard comments from the paras themselves about what they need and want from you. So today I want to wrap this July series up by giving you something incredibly practical a step-by-step plan for how to start the year off strong with your paraprofessionals. Because, as you've heard me say probably a million times this past month, having a great team does not just happen. It is built and it starts with you. Whether you are working with a paraprofessional who has been in the district a while, or you will have someone brand new in your department, whether you have one para or 10, how you begin the year sets the tone for everything that follows. So in today's episode, I'm walking you through three actionable ways to start the year off strong with your paras. These steps are practical and easy to implement and I promise you, if you implement them, you will not only set your team up for success, but also create a classroom culture rooted in clarity, respect and collaboration. Let's get to it. Hey, special educator, are you overwhelmed by the absurd amount of paperwork on your to-do list? Do you wish you had the skills to build a rock rock solid team with your staff? Do you find yourself scouring the internet for how to meet the needs of each student on your caseload? Well, hey there. I'm Jennifer Hopperberg, an award-winning veteran special education teacher and current instructional coach, who has walked in your shoes through each of these challenges and yes, I have the metaphorical blisters to prove it. I have cried your tears and felt your pain, and now I'm here to support you in the way I wish someone would have been there to support me. Listen in each week as my guests and I dish out practical wisdom to help you handle all the classroom curveballs that are thrown at you and learn how to laugh in spite of the chaos, to celebrate those small yet significant victories that only a special educator can understand. So are you ready? Wipe your tears and put on your superhero cape, because together we are going to learn how to survive and thrive in the ever crazy, completely overwhelming laugh, so you don't cry. Profession of being a special education teacher. So what I have for you today aren't just nice ideas. They are the same steps I wish I had started using earlier in my career, like way earlier.

Speaker 1:

For over 20 years, I worked alongside paraprofessionals without a real system in place. We got through the days, sure, but it was often reactive and I didn't always give them the tools or the clarity they deserved. Not because I didn't care, but because I didn't know what to do or how to do it. I didn't know how to delegate without sounding bossy. I didn't know how to communicate expectations clearly. I thought that if I just worked hard enough and modeled what I wanted, my paras would automatically follow my lead. But what I learned is that leadership takes intention, it takes communication and it takes structure. So let's get to those three steps.

Speaker 1:

These three steps will help you lay the foundation for a positive and productive year together. The first is to download the free 10-step guide to building a team culture right now or as soon as this podcast is over. I know that when the school year begins, you are juggling a million things, but if you are serious about building a strong team, then I want you to start intentionally. If you are serious about building a strong team, then I want you to start intentionally. Head over to spedprepacademycom slash team and grab my free 10-step guide to building a team culture with your paraprofessionals. It is short, it is actionable and it walks you through the foundational pieces of creating a strong, unified team. Things like setting expectations, defining roles, creating a positive communication loop. These 10 steps are the exact practices I used with my own teams over the years and I've boiled them down into a no fluff, get it done kind of format. So, before your parents even set foot in the classroom, download this guide, print it out and walk yourself through the steps. Even implementing just a few of them in the first week will create a noticeable shift in how your team works together. Again, that link is spadprepacademy, it's linked in the show notes and it's totally free.

Speaker 1:

The second step I want you to take is to choose and purchase a paraprofessional handbook. This is the one tool I wish I had had all along, but didn't Think about any other profession, whether it's nursing, law enforcement or even fast food. Each of those positions comes with a handbook, a guide, a set of clear expectations and reference points to help team members do their job well, and we, as the teachers, are given handbooks for all sorts of things. But for far too long, paraprofessionals have been expected to jump into incredibly complex roles with little to no training or direction, and that's where a parahandbook changes the game. It gives your staff something concrete to refer back to rather than relying on memory or hoping they just quote figure it out.

Speaker 1:

For over 20 years, I worked with paraprofessionals without ever having a handbook in place. In fact, I didn't even know such a thing existed, and if that's you right now, you're not alone. It's one of those resources few teachers talk about, but it is a total game changer. So the para handbook I created almost 10 years ago has gotten a new glow up. My brand new paraprofessional handbook has been revamped, updated and expanded to over 260 pages.

Speaker 1:

This resource is packed with behavior strategies, disability descriptions, data collection templates, sensory supports, legal reminders, inspirational quotes and professional development pages, and so much more. You can give it to your team in a notebook, which would be the most cost-effective way if you have multiple paras, so that you can buy it once and print one out for everyone. Plus, you can customize the editable version to meet the unique needs of your classroom. Take pages out you don't need, or add in pages you do need, or and I'm so excited that it's done you can get a beautifully bound, ready-to-go handbook on Amazon. It's in the final stages of review, but as soon as it's sitting on the Amazon shelves, I will add the link in the show notes. This version can be added to your Amazon wishlist or easily purchased by your district as part of your yearly classroom orders.

Speaker 1:

Both versions will be linked in the show notes, but even if you don't purchase one of mine, I urge you, as step two, to find one that will work for your team and get it prepped in time for school to start back. Once I saw the impact of having a handbook in place, I would never go without it again. It's time to give your paras the structure and clarity they need to survive, and because I want you to give your staff something that shows them you're serious about setting them up for success, I have put the TPT handbook on sale for one week only. So make step two of choosing a para handbook a reality today and save yourself a little money in the process. Again, the link is in the show notes.

Speaker 1:

And then the final step and honestly it's one of the most impactful is to talk to your paras Like really, really talk. Have an honest, open conversation during week one, during the first week of school, maybe during a planning period, maybe over coffee or snacks. Take the time to have an honest, open conversation and ask them these five questions what's something that will help you feel valued in your role? What's something you wish I understood better about your job? If you could change one thing about how we work together, what would it be? What helps you feel like a respected and equal part of the team, and what kind of support or training do you need from me to help you feel more confident? These questions came straight from episode 220, when I interviewed paraprofessionals from my past teams. Their answers were honest, vulnerable and eye-opening.

Speaker 1:

When you give your paras space to share before things get hectic, you're showing them that their voice matters and, in turn, you're going to learn things that help you be a better leader. So take notes, reflect, make adjustments and let your paras see that you are committed to making this year a team effort. So there you have it Three simple but powerful ways to start the year off strong with your paras. First, download the free 10-step culture guide at spedprepacademycom slash team. Two, implement some kind of clear, comprehensive para handbook. And three, have an intentional conversation to open the lines of communication. If you can do these three things, you're not just setting your pairs up for success, you're setting your entire classroom up for a smoother, more supportive and more collaborative year. Remember, you don't have to be the perfect leader. You're not going to be. You're going to make mistakes, but you just have to be a present leader. Start with these steps and you'll be amazed at the team you can build.

Speaker 1:

That is a wrap on our July series, all about paraprofessionals. I hope this month has left you feeling more equipped, more confident and more excited to lead your team with intention this year. Remember, the TPT paraprofessional handbook is on sale right now, half off until August 6. So don't miss out on that. As we head into August, I've got a brand new lineup of episodes planned that focus on back to school success from setting up your classroom to scheduling, to tips for managing your caseload without losing your mind. So be sure to hit that follow button so you don't miss a single one. Thanks again for spending part of your summer with me. I'll see you next month.