Paraprofessional Internships
Paraprofessional internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience, mentorship from working paraprofessionals, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Roles are concentrated across Education, with Hays USD 489 and IDEA Public Schools among the employers posting roles now.
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Description
Role Mission: The English Language Learner (ELL) paraprofessional position is ideal for a bilingual candidate looking to gain valuable experience in Exceptional Student Education teaching, particularly when it comes to accommodations for our scholars who are still in the process of learning the English language and are currently operating at a limited English proficiency level. This position is also ideal for a candidate who has at least 30 college hours, wants challenging work, and is seeking the opportunity to advance in his or her education career.
What We Offer
Compensation
- Compensation for this role is set at an hourly rate ranging between $15.00 for 0 years of experience and $18.00
- Hourly co-teachers earnings are paid out over a 12-month period
Other Benefits
We offer a comprehensive benefits plan, covering the majority of the employee premium for the base medical plan and subsidizing the majority of costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children. Some of the special benefits we offer at IDEA include:
- Paid Family Leave: Eligible staff may receive up to 8 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, based on their tenure with the organization and caregiver designation.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Staff members may apply for up to 50% of tuition paid toward a qualifying degree program, up to $5,250 maximum per year subject to manager discretion and budget availability.
- Employer-Paid Mental/Behavioral Health: 5 face-to-face counseling sessions within a year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work-life services available at no cost.
Other benefits include dental and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and an employer paid 403(b) retirement matching of up to 4% of your annual compensation. IDEA may offer a relocation allowance to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.
What You Bring
Qualifications
- Education: High School Diploma Required OR High School Equivalency Diploma issued pursuant to State Board of Education rules required; an Associate degree OR at least 30 hours of college credits preferred
- Experience: Experience working with children with cognitive and/or pervasive developmental disabilities strongly preferred
- Bilingual candidates or candidates with experience working in dual language setting preferred
- Licenses or Certifications: Willingness to pursue, or currently enrolled in program for a Special Education Paraprofessional Certification preferred but not required
Knowledge And Skills
- Capable of physically assisting students with special needs as required (positioning, lifting, transferring, restraining)
- Ability to use dual languages, or language learning strategies to instruct students and manage student behavior
- Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to adjust and adapt to a multitude of situations in the school environment
Responsibilities
What You’ll Do -- Accountabilities
- Assist in the educational and social development of students under the direction and guidance of the facilitator and classroom teachers
- Assist in the implementation of individualized communication assistance including interpretive/translation services (ESOL/ELL) and communication board
- Provide support for individual students inside and outside of the classroom to enable them to fully participate in activities
- Work with other professionals, such as speech therapist, social worker, occupational and physical therapists
- Provide assistance in interpreting school program needs and pertinent information to parent in the targeted home language
- Assist classroom teachers with maintaining student records
- Support students with emotional or behavior concerns and assist them in developing appropriate social skills
- Assistance with daily school activities, like note-taking, lesson internalization, reading comprehension and grade tracking, may be required.
- At some campuses, monitoring of student testing situations may be needed
We look for Team and Family who embody the following values and characteristics:
- Believes and is committed to our mission and being an agent of change: that all students are capable of getting to and through college
- Has demonstrated effective outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them
- Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly
- Works with urgency and purpose to drive student outcomes
- Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change
- Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization
- Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes
- We believe in education as a profession and hold ourselves to high level of conduct, professionalism and behaviors as models for our colleagues and students
About IDEA Public Schools
At IDEA Public Schools, we believe each and every child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to a multi-state network of tuition-free, Pre-K-12 public charter schools. IDEA Public Schools boasts national rankings on The Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report’s top high schools lists. IDEA serves over 80,000 college-bound students in 143 schools across Texas, Florida, Ohio, and is on-track to maintain its legacy of sending 100% of its graduates to college. When you choose to work at IDEA, you are part of our IDEA Team and Family. You will work alongside team members who set and reach ambitious goals every day, are excited to continue to grow with IDEA, and work relentlessly to make college for all a reality.
Staff Experience
At IDEA the Staff Experience Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members. Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here!
To Apply
Please submit your application online through Jobvite. It’s in your best interest to apply as soon as possible. IDEA Public Schools in Florida intends to promote and establish a Drug-Free Workplace Program to maximize safety and productivity in the workplace, enhance our competitive position in the marketplace, without experiencing the costs, delays, and tragedies associated with accidents that result from drug or alcohol abuse by employees. A Drug-Free Workplace means that all of our employees must remain Drug-Free both on and off the job, and free from alcohol on the job. In holding to this policy, all staff members will undergo drug testing prior to starting in their new role with us.
Background Screening Requirement
Employment in this role is contingent upon successful completion of a background screening through the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. For additional information, please visit the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse Education and Awareness website: https://info.flclearinghouse.com
IDEA Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability, in admission or access to, or treatment of employment in its programs and activities. Any person having inquiries concerning the organization's compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), may contact IDEA Human Resources at (956) 377-8000.
Description
Role Mission: The English Language Learner (ELL) paraprofessional position is ideal for a bilingual candidate looking to gain valuable experience in Exceptional Student Education teaching, particularly when it comes to accommodations for our scholars who are still in the process of learning the English language and are currently operating at a limited English proficiency level. This position is also ideal for a candidate who has at least 30 college hours, wants challenging work, and is seeking the opportunity to advance in his or her education career.
What We Offer
Compensation
- Compensation for this role is set at an hourly rate ranging between $15.00 for 0 years of experience and $18.00
- Hourly co-teachers earnings are paid out over a 12-month period
Other Benefits
We offer a comprehensive benefits plan, covering the majority of the employee premium for the base medical plan and subsidizing the majority of costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children. Some of the special benefits we offer at IDEA include:
- Paid Family Leave: Eligible staff may receive up to 8 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, based on their tenure with the organization and caregiver designation.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Staff members may apply for up to 50% of tuition paid toward a qualifying degree program, up to $5,250 maximum per year subject to manager discretion and budget availability.
- Employer-Paid Mental/Behavioral Health: 5 face-to-face counseling sessions within a year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work-life services available at no cost.
Other benefits include dental and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and an employer paid 403(b) retirement matching of up to 4% of your annual compensation. IDEA may offer a relocation allowance to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.
What You Bring
Qualifications
- Education: High School Diploma Required OR High School Equivalency Diploma issued pursuant to State Board of Education rules required; an Associate degree OR at least 30 hours of college credits preferred
- Experience: Experience working with children with cognitive and/or pervasive developmental disabilities strongly preferred
- Bilingual candidates or candidates with experience working in dual language setting preferred
- Licenses or Certifications: Willingness to pursue, or currently enrolled in program for a Special Education Paraprofessional Certification preferred but not required
Knowledge And Skills
- Capable of physically assisting students with special needs as required (positioning, lifting, transferring, restraining)
- Ability to use dual languages, or language learning strategies to instruct students and manage student behavior
- Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to adjust and adapt to a multitude of situations in the school environment
Responsibilities
What You’ll Do -- Accountabilities
- Assist in the educational and social development of students under the direction and guidance of the facilitator and classroom teachers
- Assist in the implementation of individualized communication assistance including interpretive/translation services (ESOL/ELL) and communication board
- Provide support for individual students inside and outside of the classroom to enable them to fully participate in activities
- Work with other professionals, such as speech therapist, social worker, occupational and physical therapists
- Provide assistance in interpreting school program needs and pertinent information to parent in the targeted home language
- Assist classroom teachers with maintaining student records
- Support students with emotional or behavior concerns and assist them in developing appropriate social skills
- Assistance with daily school activities, like note-taking, lesson internalization, reading comprehension and grade tracking, may be required.
- At some campuses, monitoring of student testing situations may be needed
We look for Team and Family who embody the following values and characteristics:
- Believes and is committed to our mission and being an agent of change: that all students are capable of getting to and through college
- Has demonstrated effective outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them
- Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly
- Works with urgency and purpose to drive student outcomes
- Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change
- Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization
- Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes
- We believe in education as a profession and hold ourselves to high level of conduct, professionalism and behaviors as models for our colleagues and students
About IDEA Public Schools
At IDEA Public Schools, we believe each and every child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to a multi-state network of tuition-free, Pre-K-12 public charter schools. IDEA Public Schools boasts national rankings on The Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report’s top high schools lists. IDEA serves over 80,000 college-bound students in 143 schools across Texas, Florida, Ohio, and is on-track to maintain its legacy of sending 100% of its graduates to college. When you choose to work at IDEA, you are part of our IDEA Team and Family. You will work alongside team members who set and reach ambitious goals every day, are excited to continue to grow with IDEA, and work relentlessly to make college for all a reality.
Staff Experience
At IDEA the Staff Experience Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members. Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here!
To Apply
Please submit your application online through Jobvite. It’s in your best interest to apply as soon as possible. IDEA Public Schools in Florida intends to promote and establish a Drug-Free Workplace Program to maximize safety and productivity in the workplace, enhance our competitive position in the marketplace, without experiencing the costs, delays, and tragedies associated with accidents that result from drug or alcohol abuse by employees. A Drug-Free Workplace means that all of our employees must remain Drug-Free both on and off the job, and free from alcohol on the job. In holding to this policy, all staff members will undergo drug testing prior to starting in their new role with us.
Background Screening Requirement
Employment in this role is contingent upon successful completion of a background screening through the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. For additional information, please visit the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse Education and Awareness website: https://info.flclearinghouse.com
IDEA Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability, in admission or access to, or treatment of employment in its programs and activities. Any person having inquiries concerning the organization's compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), may contact IDEA Human Resources at (956) 377-8000.
Paraprofessional Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
Tips for Your Paraprofessional Internship Search
Apply earlier than the posting suggests
Large employers recruit summer paraprofessional interns the preceding fall, often closing cohorts months before the term starts. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so roles appear year-round. Check for new openings regularly and apply as soon as a role fits your timeline.
Build a portfolio before you apply
Paraprofessional intern hiring teams expect limited work history, so give them something to assess instead. Document two or three classroom or independent projects with the tools used and the outcome achieved. For paraprofessional roles, that means case studies, fieldwork summaries, or structured observation logs that show applied skill rather than job titles.
Work campus resources and direct applications together
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your school, and recruiters there often move faster than online pipelines. Professors and career center staff frequently know which employers recruit from your program before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach.
Practice the actual paraprofessional intern screen out loud
Paraprofessional intern interviews often include scenario-based or case-style questions that test how you reason through real situations in the field. Practice answering out loud, explaining your thinking step by step, because interviewers weigh your reasoning process as much as the conclusion you reach.
Target structured intern programs built for new entrants
Larger employers in education and human services run cohort or rotational programs specifically designed to train people new to paraprofessional work. These programs recruit early and fill fast. Identify the ones aligned with your target sector, confirm their application windows, and submit in the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 100% of the paraprofessional internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you search, then filter by location and work type so you are not sorting through roles you cannot take. Applying only to roles that fit your situation keeps your effort focused.
Paraprofessional Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a paraprofessional internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A documented portfolio gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person and may screen candidates on the spot.
Can a paraprofessional internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for paraprofessional interns is consistent performance on real work, the team's open headcount at the end of the term, and how early you signal interest in returning. Position for a return offer by doing the work well without counting on the outcome.
When should I apply for paraprofessional internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, sometimes as early as September or October. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking regularly and applying as soon as a role fits means you are ahead of the wave rather than behind it.
Are paraprofessional internships paid?
Most professional paraprofessional internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer chooses to disclose it. Unpaid arrangements exist in certain nonprofit or research settings, so read each posting carefully before applying.
What should a paraprofessional internship resume include?
Lead with two or three complete, documented projects, naming the tools you used and where to see the work. For paraprofessional candidates that means linking to case studies, fieldwork logs, or classroom-based assessments that demonstrate applied skills. Add relevant coursework, list any classroom or volunteer experience in the field, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote paraprofessional internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the paraprofessional internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they attract applicants from across the country, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before seats close.
Can international students get paraprofessional internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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