New Teacher Diaries

Q: If I worked as a para before becoming a teacher, can I get salary credit for my previous work? Do my years of service apply for pension or can I buy back those years? Also, does my anniversary date change?

Mar 27, 2008 4:40 PM

A: There is no provision for teachers to receive salary credit for work as a paraprofessional. Also, your anniversary date, which marks the start date for moving up the teacher salary schedule, begins from the time you were hired as a teacher.
However, you can get pension credit in the TRS for your paraprofessional service depending on whether or not you were a member of the Board of Education Retirement System (BERS). If you were a BERS member, the years you were enrolled in that system can be transferred to the TRS, year for year. If you were not a BERS member, you will be able to buy back pension credit in the TRS for the years you worked as a New York City para. For more information about applying to either transfer or buy back pension credit, call a pension consultant in your UFT borough office.

Also, your paraprofessional service can count toward excessing and layoff credit, an added protection that you can apply for. Once you are appointed as a teacher, you will need an Application for Layoff Seniority Credit for Prior Paraprofessional Service, which you can download by going to the DOE Web site. Fill out this application and mail or deliver it to the DOE’s Department of Human Services at the address on this form. Be sure to keep for your records a copy of the form and any receipts you receive.