Maximizing Paraprofessional Potential (Professional Practices in Adult Education and Human Resource Development Series)

More and more private and public organizations are realizing the value of paraprofessionals -- defined here as employees who have high school educations and for the most part do not have four-year college degrees. As downsizing and budget reductions have eliminated many professional positions, paraprofessionals have brought both economic and social benefits to their employers. When organizations recognize the benefits of employing paraprofessionals, they then need assistance in training and supervising their new type of employee. This book presents a model of this specialized training that will guide trainers' efforts from the start-up phase through ongoing training. It will also help supervisors with specific issues related to training and supervision, such as maximizing productivity; dealing with conflict; creating job descriptions; conducting meaningful evaluations; identifying specific performance deficits; rewarding outstanding performance; and motivating paraprofessionals toward excellence.