Keyed In, Logged On, Charged Up! Paraprofessionals Connecting with 21st Century Learners

Keyed In, Logged On, Charged Up!Paraprofessionals Connecting with 21st Century Learners
Introduction and Welcome
Keynote Speakers:
Gina R. Scala & Marilyn Likins
May 12, 2011
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

How did we get to where we are?
1965 ~ 10,000 aides ~ responsibilities ~ clerical
1997 ~ 300,000 aides
1999-2000 ~ 621,000 aides
2006-2007 ~ 54% of 6 million students with disabilities spend 80% of time in general education (3,240,000)
2009 ~
387,845 certified special education teachers nationally
455,820 paraeducators in special education
~US Department of Education: Data Accountability Center
~John A. Caliso

Time is spent in…
Providing instructional support in small groups
Providing one-on-one instruction
Modifying materials
Implementing behavior plans
Monitoring hallways & study halls
Meeting with teachers
Collecting data on the learning needs of individuals with exceptionalities
Providing personal care assistance
SPENSE, 2003

So what they say…
Paraeducators have become an essential part of the special education team in developing individualized services and playing an increasingly prominent role in the instruction of individuals with exceptional learning needs.
CEC Knowledge & Skills

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)Exciting News
Newly revised Knowledge & Skill Standards for Paraprofessionals
Just approved in April
Discussed in Session 8
Provide a foundation for training, evaluation and supervisory practices.

National Paraeducator Leadership Forum
Sponsored by the NRCP -- May 2010
The purpose was to give State and National leaders a concentrated block of time to systematically address several critical issues.
While conferences allow us to share our programs and results, they are not the most effective vehicle for in-depth discussion and problem solving.

State & National Paraeducator Issues PROCESS

Forum Issue #1
CREATING A PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT (PD) STRUCTURE FOR PARAEDUCATORS THAT:
PROMOTES CONSISTENCY STATEWIDE AND
FOSTERS LOCALLY DEVELOPED PD TIED TO DISTRICT AND SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLANS.

Forum Issue #2
TRAINING (EMPOWERING) TEACHERS TO PROVIDE SUPERVISION AND DIRECTION TO PARAEDUCATORS

Forum Issue #3
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR ADMINISTRATORS TO ESTABLISH APPROPRIATE DISTRICT AND SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURES TO SUPPORT TEACHER/ PARAEDUCATOR TEAMS

Forum Issue #4
CULTIVATING LEADERSHIP AT THE NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS TO ADVOCATE FOR AND COORDINATE PARAEDUCATOR:
INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN
IMPLEMENTATION AND
EVALUATION.

Forum Issue #5
BUILDING SUSTAINABLE CAREER PATHWAYS FOR PARAEDUCATORS
Developing partnerships with local, state and IHEs, SEAs & LEAs to establish policies, standards, and systems for career pathways.
Paraeducators and teachers should be actively engaged in the process at all levels.

COMMON CHALLENGES
Clarification of roles and responsibilities
Lack of awareness:
State and local administrators
Legislators (state and national)
Teachers
Lack of leadership at national, state and local level
Inflexibility of higher ed. structures & restrictions
Funding to support research and training
Insufficient research

Think about this…
“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.”
~Harry S. Truman

CONCERNS
ESEA Reauthorization
IDEA Reauthorization
Funding
Maintaining Status Quo

Just a thought…
“Coming together is a beginning.
Keeping together is a process.
Working together is success.”
~Henry Ford

What Must Be Done
Advocacy
“You must be at the table or you will be on the menu”
Leadership
Implementation of Knowledge & Skills
“Drip, Drip, Drip, Away”

PARAEDUCATORS
P ~ professional
A ~ attitude
R ~ responsible
A ~ ability
E ~ excellence
D ~ diligent
U ~ understanding
C ~ challenges
A ~ authority
T ~ take a risk
O ~ obligation
R ~ reduce effect
S ~ success

National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals (NRCP)
National Paraeducator Leadership Forum
Process, Summary & Analysis disseminated through:
E-newsletter
Contact us through website: www.nrcpara.org

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Keyed In, Logged On, Charged Up! Paraprofessionals Connecting with 21st Century Learners

by National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals on May 12, 2011

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Keyed In, Logged On, Charged Up! Paraprofessionals Connecting with 21st Century Learners — Presentation Transcript