The Para Place

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!

Betty Montgomery, Staff Development Specialist and Executive Vice-President of the SEIU Local 500 discusses paraprofessionals and why she enjoys attending the National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals Conference:

Thanks Betty!

2009 Conference Information

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.

You probably already know about our newsletter, but there are also a number of other excellent newsletters that focus on paraprofessional issues. As a new feature, we will be sharing with you some of the content in paraeducator newsletters around the country.

First up is the Para Post from the State of Wisconsin Paraprofessional Website. Here is a look at the three issues they published during the last school year:

• The Spring 2008 Issue has some great advice on dealing with behavior problems in class, including an articles on monitoring and recording behavior, aggression, and the ABC's of behavior.
• The focus of the Winter 2008 Issue is Diversity and includes information on insensitive behavior and supporting ESL students and minority groups.
• The Fall 2007 Issue includes some helpful tips as you begin the school year and includes a chart with information on what paraeducators may and may not do.

In addition to the articles noted above, each issue also contains links to helpful resources and a "Healthy You Corner" with tips and advice on taking care of yourself.

We are looking forward to new editions of the Para Post for the 2008-2009 school year. If you know of a paraprofessional newsletter, please let us know about it in the comments- thanks!

We have a number of videos from the 2008 National Conference that we will be sharing in the next few weeks. To begin with, here is a short 2-minute clip of Ann Lou Pickett, the founder of the National Resources Center for Paraprofessionals. Anna Lou shares how she became interested in paraprofesssionals, some of the early lessons she learned and the important roles that teachers and paraprofessionals play in the classroom. Enjoy!

This is an outstanding video to watch as you begin the school year:

From Dalton Sherman:

There's probably easier ways to make a living, but I want to tell you, on behalf of all of the students in Dallas, we need you. We need you now more than ever.

Additional Links:

• Every. Educator. Must. Watch. This. NOW!
• Drop EVERYTHING and Watch This Keynote!
• Full text of the speech
• Article on Dalton Sherman

From Ocala, Florida, a well done article on Katrina Lamar, a 24-year veteran teacher assistant who was selected as Marion County's School-Related Person of the Year. From Superintendent of Schools Jim Yancey:

"In addition to her family and professional commitments, and as a breast cancer survivor, she helps counsel others facing difficult times with this disease and the uncertainties of the future."

First-grade teacher Cecilia Raid wrote:

"In short, Mrs. Lamar makes our lives easier and happier here at Reddick-Collier by just being her wonderful caring self... We couldn't do it without her, and we don't want to try."

Read the rest of the article here: Teacher assistant nominated for state award

A video on YouTube of Sheryl Traetow, a paraeducator at Hansen Elementary School in Cedar Falls, Iowa accepting the Education Support Professional of the Year Award from the Iowa State Education Association.

Here are three more presentations from our recent National Conference:

Paraprofessionals Fueling Change

Dr. Ashleigh Molloy

| View | Upload your own

Building Foundations for Para-professionalism

Ann Birch, Dr. Jill Morgan

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Paraprofessionals As Certified Educators

Pamela O. Brucker, Southern Connecticut State University and Dana Corriveau, Connecticut State Department of Education

| View | Upload your own

Look for a page with all of the conference presentations coming soon!