Exchange Sneak Peek: Addressing the Paraeducator Shortage with Social and Emotional Learning

At the 2025 Exchange, Kristin Asadourian and the Living Become team will present a poster showcasing a training program for paraeducators and its outcomes, highlighting key elements that enhance student engagement and prepare educators and students for future success.

A growing shortage of classroom support staff in key Massachusetts school districts inspired an innovative approach to training paraeducators by integrating social and emotional learning (SEL) into the training.

Rather than simply prepare individuals to pass the paraeducator certification exam, the team behind this program aimed to equip participants with the skills to support students with kindness, compassion, and confidence. The result: a forward-thinking program that has earned widespread praise for its creativity and impact.

To bring this vision to life, the team partnered with Kristin Asadourian of Living Become, LLC, an organization dedicated to career readiness and workforce development through SEL. Kristin and her team designed a curriculum that emphasizes:

• Building self-awareness and self-confidence
• Creating and maintaining safe and inclusive classrooms
• Fostering personal growth alongside student growth
• Modeling the attributes and behaviors valued by school communities

The Data Behind the Need

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 400,000 paraprofessional job openings nationwide, with employment in this field projected to grow 8 percent between 2024 and 2029. Massachusetts districts reflect this trend, highlighting an urgent need for skilled paraeducators.

The Solution

The program developed by Living Become addresses these challenges with a SEL-based 12-week training that guides participants on a journey of self-discovery.

1. Recruitment: Partnering with local career centers to identify underemployed or unemployed individuals
2. Skill Building: Teaching and modeling SEL competencies necessary to support students and classrooms effectively
3. Certification Preparation: Prepping participants to pass the ParaPro exam
4. Career Pathways: Partnering with local community colleges (free in Massachusetts through the MassEducate program) to provide degree opportunities and long-term career development

Transformative Impact

Bringing workshop participants on a self-discovery journey helped them build their self-efficacy. It was incredible to witness their growth and transformation, especially around education and being in the classroom. Many had had negative experiences while in school and were able to talk through their experiences and use them as motivation to support students in a way they never felt supported before.

Here’s what participants had to say:

• “The training is going very well. I love the self-discovery part. I feel as if it boosted my confidence in regards to becoming a paraprofessional.”
• “I’m learning a lot about myself. Things I was aware of, but revisiting them is always worth it. Love the social-emotional element they are connecting with learning/teaching.”
• “The training is very informative, with a more personal touch to helping students. Love the trainers & the material, along with the group activities. Getting us to connect with ourselves and one another.”

Broader Impact

The success of the paraeducator training program depended on developing a program that equips educators and students with future-readiness skills rooted in SEL. By fostering compassion, confidence, collaboration, and effective communication in educators and students, the program looks to empower a workforce that uplifts communities and strengthens society as a whole.

The views in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of CASEL.

Kristin Asadourian, MSW, is a personal development and social and emotional learning coach committed to advancing social and emotional intelligence in her clients. She founded Living Become, LLC as a vehicle to deliver workshops, coaching and talks to clients across the United States. Kristin guides young people and adults to live, work and lead based on their values.

Related Posts

• Exchange Sneak Peek: SEL Can Help Learners Chart Their Ways Through an Uncertain Decade
• Exchange Sneak Peek—The Power of Play: Partnering Schools and Community Organizations for New Orleans Youth
• Emotional Development for Educators: A Critical Need

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