Kimberly Thibodeau never lets a student off the hook until they’ve given the best effort they can muster that day. With her in-depth knowledge of each child, “Ms. Thib” tailors the lesson to the needs of whoever’s struggling, firmly insisting that they can do it.

If you’re picturing a classroom teacher, you’d be wrong. Thibodeau is a paraprofessional: one of over a million educators who work side by side with America’s students, giving personalized instruction and care while earning poverty wages.

When I taught English at a high-needs public school in Springfield, Massachusetts, I shared a classroom with Ms. Thibodeau. I was amazed at how she remembered everything. She knew our students’ living situations, what their siblings were up to, who responded best to which sorts of encouragement, and who needed to be reminded to eat breakfast. Thibodeau told Jacobin why she loves her job: “We have the ability to really get to know our students and that allows the student to be more successful.”