If you work in education right now, you don’t need us to tell you there’s a paraprofessional shortage. You’re living it.
Paraprofessionals are the people who quietly make schools run. They’re the ones sitting beside students during lessons, helping with behavior support, and making sure kids get what they need. In the world of speech therapy, especially teletherapy, they’re the bridge that makes services possible.
So what happens when schools can’t find them?
Why Is It So Hard to Hire Paraprofessionals?
There are a few big reasons districts are struggling:
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Pay doesn’t match the workload. Paraprofessionals are asked to do a lot, but salaries are often lower than other support roles.
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High turnover. When better paying or less stressful jobs come along, many paraprofessionals understandably move on.
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Competition from other industries. Retail, childcare, and healthcare jobs sometimes offer higher pay or more flexibility than schools can.
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Budget cuts. Even when districts want to hire, the funds often aren’t there.
The end result? Schools are short-staffed, and teletherapy feels like an extra burden rather than a solution.
How Next Level Speech Therapy Steps In
This is where we’ve found a way to help. Next Level Speech Therapy, is the ONLY teletherapy company that additionally offers in-person paraprofessional support.
How are we successful? We’re able to pay paraprofessionals higher wages than many districts can offer. That means we can attract and retain more qualified candidates to work alongside our therapists and support students.
For schools, this takes a huge weight off of administrators’ shoulders. Instead of worrying about finding staff to assist with teletherapy, you can focus on what matters most: making sure students get the services they need.
Making Teletherapy Work for Schools
Teletherapy shouldn’t feel like another burden, it should feel like a relief. By tackling the paraprofessional shortage head-on, we’re helping schools turn a major roadblock into an opportunity.
Because at the end of the day, every child deserves access to speech therapy, no matter what’s happening in the job market.
If your school has been curious about teletherapy but stuck on staffing, let’s talk. We’d love to show you how it can work for you.
