Paraprofessionals
Paraprofessional Board
Meetings for 2026-2027
| 2026-2027 Para Board of Directors Meetings: | 2026-2027 Para General Membership Meetings: |
| September 24 | September 29 |
| October 8 | October 20 |
| November 12 | November 17 |
| December 10 | December 15 |
| January 14 | January 19 |
| February 11 | January 23 |
| March 11 | March 16 |
| April 22 | April 27 |
| May 13 | May 18 |
| June 10 | June 15 |
Designed by Demetrice J. Wheeler, SEA Paraprofessional President
| “Paraprofessionals bring skill, patience, consistency, and compassion to every school day. Their work makes learning more accessible, classrooms more inclusive, and students more supported. They are not extra help. They are essential educators.” — SEA Paraprofessional Department |
Paraprofessionals are essential educators
Knowledge is one of our strongest forms of protection. This page brings together information about workplace rights, union representation, evaluations, assignments, safety, leave, professional development, certificates, and career growth. If you have questions or believe your rights may have been violated, document what occurred and contact your SEA representative. You do not have to navigate workplace concerns alone.
A message from your Paraprofessional President:
I designed this resource page to give SEA paraprofessionals one clear place to find reliable information about workplace rights, training opportunities, professional growth, and union support. My goal is for every paraprofessional to feel informed, respected, connected, and empowered in their work.
Demetrice J. Wheeler | SEA Paraprofessional President
Know your rights at work
Union representation: If you reasonably believe a meeting could lead to discipline, ask for SEA representation before answering substantive questions. Contact SEA promptly for guidance.
Contract and job information: Review the current paraprofessional collective bargaining agreement, salary schedule, job description, and district policies that apply to your position.
Pay, hours, and breaks: Keep your own record of hours worked, missed breaks, additional duties, schedule changes, and any work requested outside your regular assignment.
Assignments and duties: Ask for clear instructions, appropriate training, and clarification when duties appear outside your job description or raise safety concerns.
Evaluations and performance: Request copies of evaluations and written concerns. Read documents carefully, add a written response when appropriate, and contact SEA before signing anything you do not understand.
Safety and student support: Report injuries, hazards, threats, and unsafe conditions through the proper district process. Ask for training and support needed to carry out assigned student plans safely.
Leave and accommodations: Use official district procedures for leave and workplace accommodations. Contact SEA if you need help understanding how policy, law, and the contract apply.
Fair and respectful treatment: Document discrimination, harassment, retaliation, bullying, or inconsistent treatment. Preserve dates, names, witnesses, emails, and other relevant records.
Job changes and opportunities: Review contract rules and posted procedures related to vacancies, transfers, displacement, seniority, layoffs, and recall. Ask SEA for help before deadlines pass.
Prepare for a workplace meeting
Before the meeting
- Ask for the purpose of the meeting in writing.
- Save relevant emails, schedules, notes, and directives.
- Write a short timeline with dates, people, and facts.
- Contact your SEA representative if discipline may be possible.
During and after the meeting
- Take notes and ask for clarification.
- Answer accurately; do not guess.
- Request copies of documents presented to you.
- Write a dated summary afterward and follow up with SEA.
Suggested words: “I am requesting union representation before this meeting continues. I am ready to cooperate after I have had the opportunity to speak with my representative.”
Training and professional-growth links
Always confirm eligibility, approval, pay status, clock hours, cost, and registration deadlines before enrolling. Event dates and requirements can change.
SPS staff training
District announcements, required courses, and internal registration. Some content requires an SPS staff login.
SEA paraprofessional resources
Current paraprofessional CBA, salary schedule, leadership information, and related resources.
Open the SEA Paraprofessionals Page
SEA events and announcements
Current union events, news, and organization-wide resources.
Visit Seattle Education Association
WEA-WIN courses
Search courses by topic, audience, delivery format, and online availability.
Washington paraeducator certificates
Review the Fundamental Course of Study, General Certificate, subject-matter certificates, and advanced certificate.
Free state online learning
PESB online courses, including approved training connected to paraeducator subject-matter certificates.
OSPI certification
State information about Washington’s paraeducator certificate types and certification process.
Visit OSPI Paraeducator Certification
NEA ESP learning
National ESP professional learning, leadership development, conferences, webinars, publications, and career resources.
ESP Growth Continuum micro-credentials
Competency-based professional learning designed for education support professionals.
Building Winning Teams
Micro-credentials for effective paraeducator-teacher teams.
Explore Team Micro-credentials
ESP peer mentoring
Resources for onboarding, peer support, and leadership development.
Before you register
| Confirm | Questions to ask |
| Audience and approval | Is the training open to paraprofessionals? Is supervisor or district approval required? |
| Date, time, and location | Is it online, hybrid, in Seattle, elsewhere in Washington, or out of state? What time zone applies? |
| Clock hours or certificate credit | How many hours are offered? Which certificate requirement can they satisfy? What documentation is issued? |
| Pay and release time | Is participation paid? Is release time available? Who approves overtime or additional hours? |
| Cost and reimbursement | Are registration, travel, lodging, meals, or materials covered? What is the reimbursement process? |
| Records | Save confirmation emails, agendas, completion certificates, clock-hour forms, receipts, and transcripts. |
For families and community members
Families and community members are welcome to explore the public training and professional-learning resources on this page. Some SPS registration systems and member-support services require staff or union-member access. Individual workplace concerns, personnel matters, and representation requests remain confidential.
Our Commitment to One Another
| We pledge to know our contract, protect our rights, document our concerns, support one another, and speak up when working conditions affect our members or the students we serve. We will continue building a paraprofessional community grounded in dignity, respect, fairness, safety, and collective strength. |
NEA ESP Bill of Rights Pledge — Washington
The National Education Association’s ESP Bill of Rights calls for fair compensation, recognition and respect, safe and healthy workplaces, affordable healthcare, paid leave, professional learning and career advancement, reasonable workloads and staffing, secure retirement, protection from privatization, and the right to bargain.
Washington is part of the national ESP Bill of Rights movement. SEA paraprofessionals, other Washington education support professionals, families, colleagues, and community supporters can add their names to the national pledge and help demonstrate the strength behind this campaign.
Sign the ESP Bill of Rights Pledge | Explore the ESP Bill of Rights
