Around kids the paras refer to the teacher by last name and vice versa; in the lounge and when kids are not around it is first name. Just because they are not hired as a teacher does not mean they are any less important in the school. I have a class with 18 of the most challenging students in the grade levels and my class would not be able to run as smooth as it does if the para wasn't there to help supervise and keep everyone on task.
It doesn't matter to me. The adults I work with are welcome to address me either way. I don't even mind when they use my first name is used in front of the students. It's nt like they don't know I have a first name. It is printed on their schedules and report cards.
When I subbed I did so in classrooms where my cousins were. So I would go in and tell the students that so and so is my cousin, so if they call me my first name, then I would tell them my first name...the look of shock on some of their faces was priceless, but so and so is going to try hard to call me Mrs so and so...LOL!!!
