Approximately 80 teaching assistants are currently employed by the Wayland school district during the 2025-26 academic year. Teaching assistants and ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) tutors work with teachers and students throughout the pre-K Post secondary levels, with the highest concentration employed in the three elementary schools: Happy Hollow, Claypit and Loker.
Many of these assistants support inclusion classes while others work in substantially different programs at all levels. Additionally, there are ABA tutors in specialized programs at Claypit. All provide critical support for the students in the district.
Most public and private schools in Massachusetts have teaching assistants.These employees are often referred to as teaching assistants, aides or paraeducators. Each district has a unique set of students with different needs, so the number and types of teaching assistants will vary widely, even year-to-year.
“There are no specific criteria in Massachusetts that warrants an aide,” said Director of Student Services and Title IX Director Ronnie Kessler. “Each district has their own criteria and process. A one-to-one is considered a very restrictive placement and thus is not used without significant data to support the need. Each time there is a one-to-one aide assigned to a student it is accompanied by a plan of fade. This is to ensure we are helping students to become independent learners.”
Roles of the teaching assistants
School assistants in Wayland work a 30-hour work week and a full school day. They are sometimes assigned to one student but more commonly they support a class of children or multiple students in the classroom. In the classroom, a teaching assistant may be there to help students with academic support, or to support students by following the mandates in an individual educational plan.
Their tasks could center around helping students with emotional, behavioral or life skill needs. The assignments of teaching assistants in any particular district will differ and their placement and are directly determined by the specific needs of the students. Other daily responsibilities could include helping with academics such as reading or math, aiding students with hands-on activities, walking with students as they transition from class to class, and even providing students with life skill support such as dressing and eating. Teaching assistants also interact with students struggling socially or emotionally.
The activities may vary but the goal is the same: assistants are there to support their students, help them to meet the objectives of the lesson, and provide them with equal access to the activities in the class. Because they often work with students individually or in small groups, strong bonds are formed between them and their students.
Many students feel very comfortable with the assistants and rely on them for having a successful day. Teaching assistants provide a positive presence for all of the children in the room.
Sophie Krumholz, a second-grader at Happy Hollow gives her classroom teaching assistant, Ms. Pond high marks.
“Although Ms. Pond usually works with a small group of students, she’ll always answer our questions,” Krumholz said. “She’s always calm and really nice!”
Celebrating teaching assistants
Teaching assistants play a special role in the daily lives of students, often forming strong bonds and treasured relationships. One of Wayland’s teaching assistants is Ingride Francour. While you may not have known her name or met her at a Parent Teacher Conference, she may very well be your student’s favorite school employee. Francour is making great connections and working hard to support the middle school students.
“Ingride goes above and beyond to support her students,” Kessler said. “She often supports them in after school activities and sends pictures to parents. Ingride also goes out of her way to support students who struggle socially. She will engage other students in games during lunch to help students have additional social opportunities.”
Teaching assistants are an integral part of the school community. National Paraprofessional Appreciation Day falls on the first Wednesday of April each year. This year Wayland Public Schools will honor our paraprofessional staff on Paraprofessional Appreciation Day on April 1. Each school in the district will have their own special celebration to recognize these unsung classroom heroes.
It’s common for these paraprofessionals to work in a school while simultaneously taking college courses to become certified as a special education teacher. Working as a teaching assistant, provides them with firsthand experience working with students and also familiarity with the district. In the last three years, three teaching assistants working in Wayland have become certified special ed teachers. All three have remained in the district.
Most cities and towns in Massachusetts have experienced a shortage of teachers and teacher aides following the pandemic. Wayland currently has openings for two special ed assistants at the high school and at Claypit.
To entice more candidates for teaching assistants throughout the state, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education implemented the Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant Program. This grant aims to provide financial aid to those paraprofessionals currently on the pathway to becoming Massachusetts certified teachers.
To learn more about specific eligibility requirements, information can be found at mass.edu. The 2026-2027 Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant Program application will be available on April 1, 2026.
