- What do you know about our school?
- How has technology changed the way you work?
- What is your philosophy on discipline?
- How would you foster communication with students?
- How do you handle a student who won’t cooperate?
No special needs classroom is complete without support staff, and it always feels good to be prepared for an upcoming interview.
Stress no more! Get ready to feel confident and prepared at your next interview for a special education paraprofessional position.
Below is a list of 65 (and growing!) interview questions for paras, and a few questions you could potentially ask the interview team.
What is your role in the classroom and how do you handle situations that may arise within the team?
Our population of students require adults who are patient, loving, and dependable. Would your previous employer say you are patient, loving, and dependable?
Behavior is a form of communication and not a personal attack on you. How would you handle behaviors?
You are working with Max on matching letters. Max has a communication device. He starts to get upset and hits you. What do you do?
If a student begins screaming because he wants to do something else, what do you do?
Special Education Instructional Aide interview questions
What do you think is the most important trait for someone to have in this position?
There are many soft skills that a hiring manager may look for when selecting a new special education aide. They may ask this question to understand more about your own skills and how you assess the needs of this role.
Example answer: “I believe one of the most important traits a special education aide can have is patience. In my experience, patience can help when a child is having a challenging day, and it can also help make sure the students feel comfortable. With patience, I can take the time a student needs to understand a concept, so they feel supported in their educational development. A patient demeanor can calm a child and encourage them to keep trying to achieve their goals.”
In-depth questions
A hiring administrator may ask you some in-depth questions to learn more about how youve supported teachers in the past. Their questions can also help them understand more about your process for assisting in the classroom, handling student issues and communicating with parents about a students progress. Explore these examples of some in-depth questions to prepare for receiving them during an interview:
Questions about experience and background
Because being a special education teachers aide can be uniquely challenging, employers often ask prospective new hires about their experience and background. These questions also help the hiring manager learn more about your qualifications so that they can compare your experience to others applying for the position and determine the best hire for the role. Your answers can show an employer your commitment to the job and your ability to handle the situations you may be in as a special education aide. Here are some example questions a hiring manager may ask:
Special education teachers often have to manage students who are having behavioral issues. An interviewer may ask you this question to understand how you would handle a challenging situation in the classroom. In your answer, try to describe what steps you would take to diffuse the conflict and ensure that all students feel safe and supported.
Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and why you are the best person for the job. When answering, make sure to highlight your skills that match what they’re looking for in a candidate. You can also use this opportunity to show how passionate you are about working with special education students.
Special education teachers aide positions often involve working with students who have a variety of learning needs. Employers ask this question to make sure you are passionate about working with special needs children and can relate to the challenges they face in school. Before your interview, think about which age groups or subjects you enjoy most. Try to find an opportunity to mention at least one of these subjects or age groups in your answer.
This question can help an interviewer understand what you value in your role as a special education teacher aide. It can also show them how you might support the special education teacher you work with if you’re applying for a full-time teaching position. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about what you’ve seen from special education teachers and aides who have worked together effectively.
Special education teachers often use adaptive technology to help students with disabilities learn. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience using adaptive technology and how comfortable you are with it. If you do not have any experience, consider mentioning that you would be willing to learn how to use the technology.
WITH ADULTS
When working with the special education teacher, how do you see your role within the classroom?
How do you accept feedback?
How will you assist the classroom teacher(s) with modeling correct procedures?
How would you work with teachers who have more/less experience than you?
How do you plan to support the teacher and the students?
What do you do if the special education teacher asks you to do one thing with a student, but the teacher from the regular education class a student attends asks something different of you?
Tell us about a time when you had a difficult coworker and how the situation was resolved.
What would your reaction be if you observed a classroom teacher indulging in unfair acts?
Tell us how you would handle a classroom teaching disagreeing with you on something?
Tell us about problem solving steps or strategies that you could take to help support the classroom teacher and students in the classroom.
Example: “I am familiar with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. I worked for two years as a special education teacher’s assistant at my high school. My mentor was very knowledgeable about IDEA, so she shared her expertise with me. She taught me how to support teachers who were implementing accommodations under IDEA.”
Example: “I am passionate about helping children succeed in the classroom. I’ve worked as a tutor for several years, so I know what it takes to help kids overcome learning challenges. In my last role, I helped a student who was struggling with reading comprehension. After a few weeks of tutoring, she started understanding her lessons better and even raised her grade by one letter. This made me feel like I’m making a difference in someone’s life.”
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that governs special education in the United States. The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of special education laws and regulations. In your answer, try to show that you understand how IDEA impacts your role as an aide. You can also use this opportunity to explain any experience you have working within the parameters of IDEA.
Example: “I’ve worked with many special education students who had behavioral issues. I am used to working with them and know how to deescalate a situation before it gets out of hand. If a student is having a meltdown, I will first try to calm them down by speaking calmly to them and offering them praise or rewards. If they are still not calming down after several minutes, I will call my supervisor for help.”
Example: “I think it’s important to keep the same special education teacher for as long as possible because they get to know the students’ personalities, learning styles and interests. I’ve seen how much this can help students succeed in school. However, there are times when a new special education teacher is necessary. For example, if a teacher has an extended absence or leaves the district.”
FAQ
What questions do they ask in a special education interview?
- What do you enjoy most about teaching?
- Why did you choose to work with students with disabilities?
- What do you hope to contribute to the special education field?
- What’s the biggest challenge/reward in working with students who require special education?
- Why do you want to work in our school?
What qualities make you a great special education aide?
How do I prepare for a teacher’s aide interview?
- Do you have a background in education?
- What’s your experience working in a school setting like?
- Tell me about your time as a student.
- Have you performed clerical tasks before?
- How has your education and experience prepared you for this role?
- Have you worked as a teacher’s aide before?
