New program helps paras become teachers

Scheduling, admittedly, was a big part of why Carla McConnell got into education in the first place.

While she volunteered with the booster club at Newton’s Sunset Elementary once her children started attending the school, she graduated to a bigger role when her youngest entered preschool — with the timing allowing her to take a position as an instructional aide at Sunset.

“When our youngest was going to preschool I wanted to go back to the workforce a little bit,” McConnell said. “I looked around and being a para or instructional aide fit perfectly with their school schedule. At that time, I did it because I could be in their school at the same time; I didn’t need any child care. That’s how it started, and then I just loved it so I’ve just stayed here.”