National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals Newsletter

National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals

• Welcome Back to School
• 2007 Conference
• Call for Papers
• State Leadership Group
• National Paraprofessional Training in Deafblindness: A Model for Distance Education

Welcome Back to School

Once again, it is time to prepare ourselves for a new year. For many of you it will mean participating in professional development opportunities as well as working together to organize rooms and prepare materials. It will mean thinking of the students you'll be meeting, or how those you know will grow, this year. It is an exciting time; one that will bring changes.

One change in particular is the implementation of IDEA 2004 regulations. Watch for opportunities to learn more about important changes, such as: Response to Intervention and Early Intervening Services. You can find a link to the actual regulations as well the CEC Press Release in the NRCP news section.

We would like to thank those of you who were able to make the 2006 Conference in Minnesota. We had a great turnout and a lot of fun. Mark May 2 - 5, 2007 on your calendar and join us in New Mexico. The theme of the conference is "Ensuring Student Success- Teams that Work" which emphasizes the important role instructional teams of teachers and paraeducators have in helping kids learn, grow and achieve success. Please join us and consider submitting a proposal to present.

We wish the very best as you begin the new school year. Enjoy your role in working with students. It's one of the most important jobs in the world.

2007 Conference

http://www.nrcpara.org/conference

Don't miss the chance to attend this year's conference!

26th Annual National Conference on the Training and Employment of Paraprofessionals
Building the Future- Ensuring Student Success- Teams that Work

May 2-5, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque

The theme for the conference is "Ensuring Student Success- Teams that Work" National, state and local presenters will discuss critical issues facing paraeducators, their supervisors, and state and local administrators as well as innovative ideas and strategies to use in your workplace.

Mark your calendars today!

2007 Call for Papers

http://www.nrcpara.org/conference/call-for-papers

Visit the Conference page to find more information about presenting at the conference. Please submit your proposal before October 27th, 2006.

State Leadership Group

The 2nd annual State Paraprofessional Leadership Networking Session will hold a pre-meeting Wednesday, May 2nd from 4-6 p.m.

This session is open to "State Para Leaders", that is, people who are engaged in activities to promote paraprofessional leadership at a variety of levels within their respective states. If you are interested in joining the State Paraprofessional Leadership Group, please e-mail Peggy Hayden at: phayden@fctvplus.net

From the Field

Strengthening Teacher and Paraeducator Teams: Partnerships are Essential

The use of paraprofessionals with children who are deafblind is increasing. The "No Child Left Behind Act" has mandated the availability of qualified staff for all students. Paraprofessionals who work with children and youth who are deafblind not only need training and specialized skills in deafblindness, but they must also meet their states standards for paraprofessionals. Currently, there are no preservice training programs in the United States that are designed specifically for paraprofessionals in deafblindness that also interface with state paraprofessionals standards.

The SKI-HI Institute at Utah State University, in Logan, Utah, has addressed this need through a project funded by the U.S. Department of Education: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). This project is a national online preservice training program in deafblindness that is useful for paraprofessionals, interveners, special education teachers, regular education teachers, related service providers, parents, and other service providers. The training includes three semesters (nine credit hours) of online coursework in deafblindness, the content of which is based upon the nationally approved Competencies for Training Interveners to Work with Children/Students with Deafblindness. The coursework has interactive components which allow students to network with the instructor and with other students from around the country.

Beginning Fall Semester of 2006 the coursework is being field tested at three sites. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has attached the training to their Interpreter training Program, Mount Wachusett Community College is offering the coursework in their Human Services/Deaf Studies option, and Salt Lake Community College has incorporated the training in their Paraprofessional Program. Currently there are 60 students participating in the field test. The curriculum is being evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the content and the method of delivery.

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Contribute to the Newsletter

The National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals is looking for articles for the next edition of the newsletter. If you have a state or local model program that you would like to highlight, training tips, an inspirational story or anything that think might be of interest to others in the paraprofessional field please send it to newsletter@nrcpara.org. Thank you.

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