When hiring a paraprofessional, it’s important to get a sense of their experience and philosophy. These para interview questions will help.
Effective interviewing is essential for finding the right paraprofessional to join your special education classroom. Asking the right questions during the interview process can help ensure that they are the best fit for your class and that they bring the skills and experience you need.
In this article, you will find advice on what interview questions to ask when looking for a paraprofessional to join their team.
41 of the Best Para Interview Questions
While not all of the questions below may be appropriate for your school, they can be easily adapted to work for your situation.
Choose the para interview questions that you feel will give you the best understanding of the person applying for the position.
Question 1
If you disagree with something the teacher is doing, how do you address the issue?
Question 2
How do you handle conflict with co-workers?
Question 3
What do you feel is your role as a paraprofessional in a life skills classroom?
Question 4
Can you start each day by giving each student a clean slate and not holding what happened yesterday against the child?
Question 5
Can you run in the case of elopement?
Question 6
Do you know how to work without having your phone out for personal reasons?
Question 7
How do you feel about changing diapers and helping students on the toilet?
Question 8
How do you feel about feeding students and tube feeding?
Question 9
Situational questions such as: If Stephanie was agitated because she couldn’t complete her work and it was time for you to work with her, what would you do?
Question 10
Are you willing to lift (can you lift)?
Question 11
In your opinion, how important is adult attendance in the special ed classroom?
Question 12
Can you chase and redirect students without picking them up?
Question 13
Are you comfortable using a radio to call for assistance?
Question 14
We are mandatory reporters would you be able to report possible issues of abuse or neglect?
Question 15
Why do you think teaching life skills is important?
Question 16
What do you do when you get angry?
Question 17
How comfortable are you with technology?
Question 18
What is the biggest draw to working in a class like this?
Question 19
What would some of the biggest challenges for you be working in a class like this?
Question 20
Would you describe yourself as an active person?
Question 21
How are you with multitasking?
Question 22
Are you comfortable with collecting data?
Question 23
What would you say the key is to a good work relationship?
Question 24
Would you consider yourself thick-skinned?
Question 25
What makes you a good fit for this position?
Question 26
Do you have the initiative to do things that you see need to be done without being asked or told to do so?
Question 27
Can you focus on the positive rather than the negative or tell a student what they should be doing rather than what’s not right?
Question 28
Would you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?
Question 29
Can you handle kids kicking, hitting, scratching, biting, running, talking back, etc.? How do you handle student aggression?
Question 30
Do you know what an IEP is?
Question 31
Do you think all children are capable of growth and learning?
Question 32
What do you think causes negative behaviors in children? How do you correct negative behavior?
Question 33
What familiarity do you have with dealing with children with multiple and/or complex disabilities?
Question 34
What do you think is the most important thing a student can learn from you?
Question 35
Do you have a sense of humor?
Question 36
If a parent comes to you with a question or concern about their child’s education, what do you do?
Question 37
What do you feel your strengths are? How about your weaknesses?
Question 38
How do you like to receive communication and feedback?
Question 39
What do you do to handle stress?
Question 40
What do you feel is the most important job of a paraprofessional in a special ed classroom?
Question 41
What is your understanding of confidentiality?
Things to Look for in a Para
When hiring a paraprofessional for your special education classroom, it is important to look for someone who is patient, organized, and has the skills and experience needed to work with children with special needs.
Not everyone is a good candidate for a para, and that’s okay. The questions above should help you determine how the candidate would do in a para position.
Ideally, they should be well-versed in behavior management strategies and understand developmental disabilities. They should have good communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with teachers and other professionals in the classroom.
Most importantly, they should be passionate about working with special needs children and committed to providing them with quality instruction.
