The Para Place

Linda Mariotti was our keynote speaker this morning and gave a wonderful presentation titled, "Educating the Whole Child with 21st Century Skills"

She discussed the differences between digital immigrants and digital natives and contrasted the skills of 20th century educators with those needed by 21st century educators. Are you ready for our 21st century students?

More about Linda:

Linda began her career as an educator in 1971, teaching middle school English in California. Moving to Utah in 1985, Linda taught English in junior and senior high schools in Granite School District. She moved to the district office as a secondary language arts/foreign languages curriculum specialist in 1992. After receiving her administrative credentials in 1996, she worked as an intern administrator, assistant principal at both the junior and senior high school levels, and then as a junior high school principal. Linda returned to the district office in 2000 as the director of curriculum services. The following year she assumed her current position of assistant superintendent.

The conference had begun and last tonight leaders from all over the country and world gathered here in Salt Lake City to discuss successes and challenges in their own states and countries, including three visitors from China.

The last half of the meeting was spent going around the room to hear about good things that were happening with paraprofessional all over the world. There was a lot of information and coordination that came really fast, but here are a few of the notes I was able to write down:

If you were there and I missed anything or you would like to add a website, just leave a comment!

Susan Simon From Iowa:

Iowas has now had voluntary paraeducator certification for 10 years, with large numbers of people certified.

Barbara Jo Stahl from Minnesota:

Barbara shared a new series of graduate level courses: Practical Strategies for Supervising Paraprofessionals, with online classes coming soon.

Ashleigh Molloy from Canada:

More and more people taking on the paraeducator role. Unfortunately still no national organization for paras.

Jill Morgan from Wales:

Learning Support- a publication for teaching assistants in primary schools. A growing number of publishers producing books for teaching assistants.

Ritu Chopra from Colorado:

Working with the Para Center on a training program for who want to become teachers. Statewide paraprofessional training, under part C of IDEA. Setting standards with a coalition focusing on roles and responsibilities, also developing a curriculum (15 courses) train the trainer model.

Elena Sandoval-Lucero fro Colorado

Working on bilingual issued for teachers and paraeducators in urban settings.

Donna Broyles from Arkansas:

Focusing on how to work together as a team and a para to teacher initiative with community colleges and universities and partnering with school districts to get paras into that pipeline.

Carla Mitchler from California:

with the California CSEA with 80,000 paras in their membership. California just had their 12th State paraprofessional conference, open to anyone who wants to go. They also have a paraeducator task force and a magazine with tips for paraeducators.

Marilyn Likins from Utah:

Asked by the state to write a handbook for instructional paraeducators that wil go out to paraeducators, administrators and teachers. Working with the Professional Employment Center on career pathways for a para to teacher program.

Sue Koprowski from Wisonconsin:

We had an active task force that provided a lot of training through state and regional conferences as well as stronds within the teacher conferences. Unfortunatley in January the funding was dropped. Working on establishing more avenues for students to move on to get teacher education.

Kent Gerlach from Washington:

Washington State has 14 competencies that paras must get within three years. Now focusing on school administrators and teachers- we have worked some paraprofessional interview questions for special educators. Concerned about the appropriateness of some training packages.

Betty Montgomery from Maryland:

Established a new Paraeducator Coordinator position to work with paraeducators and instructional data assistants.

Sally Murek from Maryland:

150,000 students, 200 schools and 2400 paraeducators in their district. Making sure the voice of the para is heard and that training is happening. Working on university partnerships. 60% of their 2400 paraeductors already have a 4 year degree.

Anna Lou Pickett

Ann Lou wrapped things up saying, "I'm sitting here listening and getting cold chills up my spine because we have made so much progress. However sometimes it feels like we are reinventing the wheel." She gave everyone the advice that whenever progress is made to make sure that there are people and policies in place so the progress will continue after you are gone.

This is a great article that answers the questions, What do Paraeducators Do?, What Training Do Paraeducators Receive?, and What Standards Are There for Paraeducators?.

From the article:

Paraeducators generally work under the supervision of the teacher. "Para" means "alongside of" and, like paralegals and paramedics who assist and support lawyers and doctors, paraeducators assist and support teachers in a variety of ways.

What are Para-Educators?

The full schedule for the 2009 National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals Conference is now available! There are over 70 sessions over three days including:

• Establishing Policies & Systems That Strengthen Teacher & Paraeducator Teams
• The Power of Positive Relationships: Effective Behavior Management for Paraeducators by Paraeducators
• CSI: Critical Support Interventions for Managing Difficult Behavior
• Preparing Paraeducators to Assist Students with Autism
• An Online System for Reducing Bullying, Improving Schools, and Connecting with Community
• and many, many more....

You can also find the scheduling information for the Keynote Speakers, Lunch Forums and this year's Special Events.

If you have been waiting to take a look at the schedule before you register, go take a look and Register Today.

• 2009 Conference Schedule
• 2009 Conference Special Event
• 2009 Conference Registration

Three quick updates:

1. We have a great lineup of Keynote Speakers for the 2009 conference.
2. We sent out a newsletter last week, you can read it here in case you missed it.
3. A few people experienced technical difficulties in submitting their proposed conference sessions at the end of last week so we have extended the deadline for the Call for Papers to this Friday, November 21st.

Thanks- keep an eye out for more Para News coming soon!

If you are looking for someone to cheer for on the television show Survivor this season, consider throwing your support behind Susie Smith. Her official bio lists her occupation as a hairdresser, but in an article titled, 'Survivor' mom back in Iowa from Gabon we learn that Susie is a paraeducator in a resource room in an elementary school:

Smith, who also works as a para-educator in the resource room at Lincoln Elementary School, said she tried out for the show because she wanted to achieve something for herself while showing her students and others that all it takes to transform life is to try.