Hello!- Introduce yourself here! (Click and post reply)

Hi Everyone, Thanks for visiting. I hope all of you are planning on attending the 21st National Paraeducator Conference in Minnesota on May 2-4. Should you need information, please see our Web site at www.nrcpara.org. See you there! :lol: Marilyn

ear Christopher, Thank you for taking on this new responisiblity. I feel this forum will not only be a valuable resource for information, but also will be a place of contact for encouragement :!: My placement is in special education. Never have I felt more qualified and contented in my life as working with the teenagers at Seneca High School in Seneca MO. I am able to combine life experience, instinct and training to reach the children and see good results. My supervisor is really a co-worker and there is mutal respect and appreciation. I have already met a few members who although may have serious concerns regarding their position, always make a positive comment. The para educator in true form is the one who labors for the love of it. :) I trust I can learn to Navigate my way through the different avenues you have prepared for us. Katherine

I am a para pro at a high school in Ohio. We have been working on a job description packet to help new paras so they have an idea what their job entails. If anyone has a good packet that their school uses I would appreciate any ideas you may have. I have been in the special ed program for 18 years and every year my job changes. This year I am in 4 inclusion classes, Biology, Geo Science, Horticultue, and Algebra. I have more work then ever before. It doesn't get better, it becomes more hectic, and little gratification. Thank you for your help.

Does Medicaid send funds to the school district for each individual child that has to have a one-on-one aide?
I realize that they pay for therapists.

I am one-on-one aide to a disabled student in a wheelchair. She lacks a lot of muscle coordination and requires help in writing, picking up things, completing schoolwork, and finding pages in her book. I also help in transferring her to chairs and bathrooming and taking her from class to class, and helping her with her feeding and care. Her brain is pretty sharp, but she needs help physically.

I was just asked to help with another student because the district can't afford to hire another aide for that student.

My question .... Wouldn't it be possible that funds would be available for getting the other child a one-on-one aide. How does that work?

The problem with me doing both jobs is that I am also helping aide the disabled student's teacher with a large class and help most of the teachers with other things when they need me.
I am usually correcting papers or doing some other task for the teacher, while keeping an eye on the child's needs.

I don't have a lunch break, since I help the child. And the only break time that I get will be used in helping the child with downs syndrom. She is a sweetheart and I wouldn't mind working for her, but I also know her mother would like a full-time one-on-one aide for her. And frankly, I sometimes need some down time.

Hi,
my name is Michelina and I would like to apply for a job in Waterbury CT I am currently working with the mentally challenged and disable in a day program.Is there anyone out there that could give me some information about how to apply at Para Pro? Thanks

I am so glad I found this site. My name is Patricia I've been a Para Pro 11 years and have worked with children for over 28 years. I am the Computer Lab Director at my school. I work for a small school in a small town but we do great things here. We have a very loyal group of people in this area. We're having some problems right now with bus drivers and paraprofessionals. We have a big problem here with that. Over the years our role in the classroom have diminished and we're been made to take on the roll of a bus driver against our will. No one will help or listen to us. We are working 12 hour days everyday. Bus drivers are under paid, so there is a shortage their. I don't mind helping out but they have combined the two jobs. Aide/bus driver is the title. It doesn't apply to the bus drive only the Aide. I can be fired if I don't drive bus.
I am good at my job, the children love me and I have worked hard to gain the respect and trust. I'm on the School Improvement Council ,
worked on the Schools of Choice Project, BES Strategic Plan Committee,MAPP Testing Proctor, Compass Learning Administrator,Academy of Reading and Math Administrator grades k-6. What or who can help us with the problems we are having ? Can we be made to drive bus for high school , middle school children and be paid para pro pay?
I love this site even if I didn't need answers. Your site is very easy to understand and use.

I am repeating myself!

My name is Ms. Grant and I work with special needs students in LA. I love what I do which has been about 15 years now. I have always felt that anything I can learn about my job will simply help me do it better. I hope that is what I can get here...

Hello Everyone,

I am Colleen, I'm 41 years old and just moved here to York, South Carolina from Maine last August with my boyfriend and his mother. A move that all three of us feel was a good one for us. We also brought our pets with us. I have a pekines dog that turned 3 on my birthday. Plus she was a birthday gift last year to me from a family member. My boyfriend brought his cat that is bigger than my dog, A.C. is 6 years old. Then there is Taco, he is my boyfriend's mothers small dog, he is about 7 years old.
Since moving here we have added a kitten that is now about nine months old, full of energy and fun. His name is Yibit. No more pets. PLEASE!!??

I have three children that are now grown and on their own. They have all graduated from high school, my son had also graduated from a technical school for Urban Forestry and has twin girlas almost two years old. He lives in New Hampshire. My two girls are slowly working toward their college degree's as well. One is now married. She lives in Ohio, the other in Maine.

I am also in college, I enrolled in Kaplan University Online for my Bachelor's in Communication, concentrating on Organizational Communicatons. After graduation I am in hopes to become a National advocate and speaker against Domestic Violence. For all areas of this subject. I also want to return to college for my Master's in interior decorating, this is a passion I have had all my life.

My boyfriend also attends Kaplan University with me. He is going for his Bachelors in Computers, concentrating on Web Design. He is in hopes to be able to start his own company. He already does repairs and sets them up if some one needs the help. Some of the things he does just amazes me.

I am 64 years young and completed 120 hours as of
May 2005. I worked for the schools when I was 20 and then decided to work for Corporate America. I retired in 2001 and lived in Acapulco for a spell. I am now back in the classroom as an Earobics Assistant )www.earobics.com), and a bilingual assistant. I plan to open my own Parent/Child Tutoring Center for ages 3-6. I do not want to be a classroom teachers, but I do love being an assistant. I watch how I am treated and how others are treated. YOU KNOW...lol
My favorite website is www.starfall.com.

My name is Jo Anna, a recent recipient of an Associates Degree and my major is para-education. I am 53 years old with two grown sons and one of them is a fellow peer at this same college, I only hope I have inspired him and given him the message that "You are never too old to learn".

There were 3000 fellow graduates this past May, 2007...the highest graduating class in the history of the Salt Lake Community college. Only 3 majored in para-education, I hope this better my odds.

I currently have a job as an educator to people with disabilities, to help them learn life skills such as shopping, finances, cleaning and personal grooming. The pay is slightly lower, but I worry that para-educators will be harder to keep due to lower pay scale. I am currently checking the scale of different school districts in the SLC area.

Just wanted to say hi to everyone, I know now where to come when I have questions.
my name is eddie and I am a paraprofessional in DC. I worked with kids who had both mild and severe disabilities for 8 years, last year I got assess and was sent to another school where I now work with teenagers who have behavior problems.

while introducing myself I have a question,do anyone out there know the dead line for all paraprofessionals to be certified? the date seem to keep changing ,maybe someone have heard something that I haven't.

hi again and i'm sure that you will hear from me again

Eddie

I just passed my test and was hired as a sub. teachers aide. I'm so excited!!! I'll be working at my children's school and couldn't ask for anything better. I'm looking forward to my first day.

Hi people I'm Kane. I am 25 years old and live in Kansas. I work in the Wichita School District full time as a Paraeducator and am currently working with K-2nd Grade Special Ed Children. I love it! Everyone take care and Happy Holidays!

I am currently a student studying to be a paraeducator. I have always wanted to work with kids. I have two of my own. My son started kindergarten this year and volunteering in his classroom has finally inspired me to finish my associates degree and get paid to do what I am already doing when I volunteer. I think that paraeducators seemed to be underpaid and lack acceptance as part of the educational team. Does anyone have any imput to this?

Hi, my name is Kim House and I just recently recieved my CDA and am thinking of going into the special education field. I am currently enrolled in some college courses relating to paraprofessionals. I have a few questions I would like to find out about if anyone would like to chat, especially if you're in Kansas!!

Thanks!

Hello, my name is Jill, and after researching many occupations, I've decided I'd like to be a Paraeducator. I injured my wrists and hands four years ago while in training to be a medical coder. I've been told by an occupational therapist that I need a job that is "a little of this, and a little of that"... nothing too repetitive (like data entry) or too heavy (I can pick up my mini dachshunds). I have found that I love to learn (I'm trying to teach myself Spanish), and I really enjoyed studying with other people. I especially enjoyed helping my friend in our class who is dyslexic and can only hear out of one ear. I don't have any experience with children so I have volunteered to help at an after-school program at our community center. Can anybody think of any reason I would have a problem doing this job in regard to a hand problem? I have a friend who is a PE teacher at an elementary school and she thinks I would do fine in this job. Anybody out there experienced tendinitis or carpal tunnel?

Hello!

Happy Mother's Day to the paraeducators who are also parents! Thank you, founders of the site, for making the NRC site possible!

Currently, I am studying special education (in grad school) and have worked in various settings as a paraeducator for about three years. My undergraduate degree was in the Communications field. In a recent class, the professor told me and my classmates about the importance of paraeducator/professional collaborations and I felt glad that the professor addressed the paraeducator role, as I have experienced how the role can be ignored. Paraeducators deserve credit for contributions made.
Thanks for listening!

Hi, I happened into this website by the grace of God and couldn't be more thrilled!!! I thought we paraeducators were alone in Texas. I have been a Paraeducator for 6 years, 4 in a Behavior Intervention Class, and 2 in Resource/Inclusion. It's great to finally have a place and people to share and compare ideas with. I am just sorry to learn that we are too late for this year's Conference. I had no idea there was a Nation Paraeducator Conference. I will look at all the information on the site. For now I just wanted to say, "Hi, and thanks for this site".

Hi, I am a elementary school library assistant in Texas. I am wondering if there are any other paraprofessionals here that work in the library setting.