NRCP Conference 2009Paraeducator Professional Development – On-Line Style!

Our JourneyNo standard professional development for paraeducators in KentuckyIn 1999, the Paraeducators of Kentucky Project was started with the State Improvement Grant fundsInitially developed modules for face-to-face trainingA Paraeducator PD Cadre was convened in 2005 to begin development of on-line modules

On-line ModulesParaeducator PD Cadre included representatives from:KY Department of EducationDirectors of Special EducationTeacher Consultants in the area of special educationParaeducators from Title I and Special EducationPD Cadre initially developed 4 modules in Year 1 and returned with minor changes in representation to complete 4 additional modules in Year 2.

Our Journey ContinuesModule content and activities were developed by the Cadre and reformatted to meet Blackboard requirementsCurrently there are 236 participants enrolled with 138 module completions Working with the Kentucky Community & Technical College System to implement an articulation agreement

Current On-Line ModulesPARA 101: General Knowledge & ValuesPARA 102: Maintaining Safe & Supportive Instructional EnvironmentPARA 103: Assisting with Instructional PracticesPARA 104: Assisting in Assessment & Evaluation ProceduresPARA 105: Managing Behaviors & Enhancing Social Interactions of StudentsPARA 106: Communication & CollaborationPARA 107: Participating in Professional & Ethical PracticesPARA 108: Community-Based Job Coach

GoalThe main goal of the program is to equip paraeducators to better perform their roles and responsibilities in the classroom

25 Years & Still Learning

The PuzzleTo put together a puzzle you have to have all the piecesYou have to have a picture of the finished productIn order to successfully complete the puzzle, you HAVE TO HAVE the first two thingsWithout them it is like putting the puzzle together blindfolded

The BeginningAfter teaching preschool for 10 years in a daycare setting, I started working as an Instructional Assistant for the school systemOriginally it was because I would be on the same schedule as my kidsAfter 15 years it has become a career

In the BeginningMy first year for professional development, I was required to work opening or closing day, and have 6 additional hours My 6 additional PD hours amounted to:3 hours for Open House in the Fall3 hours for Open House in the SpringI had NO formal training

In the Beginning (continued)I was hired because of my 10 years of working with children without disabilitiesI was placed in a position to work with children with profound disabilitiesSome call it on-the-job training, I call it “baptism by fire”And yet I SURVIVED!

Over the YearsOver the years I have learned:The teacher is not always rightEvery student has SOMETHING to giveNot every situation is the sameParaeducators are at the bottom of the food chainIf you don’t laugh at it, you will go crazy

Paraeducator Summer InstituteIn 2008, I learned “I AM NOT ALONE”The Paraeducators of Kentucky Project presented a summer institute I never knew the Paraeducators of Kentucky Project existedAs a part of my required 52 professional development hours, I attended this summer institute devoted entirely to paraeducators“I was in Heaven!”

REENERGIZED!For the first time in 15 years, I felt there was a place for meI was given material on information that would have been so helpful years agoFor one thing, my RESPONSIBILITIES as seen by the Kentucky Department of Education

The Puzzle PictureBy the end of the 2-day Institute, I was seeing the picture of the puzzle that I had been putting together for 15 yearsIt didn’t have to stop thereI was told about the on-line professional development modulesI was excited to try these modules because I felt I was getting all the puzzle pieces at one time instead of one every so often

A New BeginningIn one of the first modules, we had a lesson on “Understanding Disabilities”You would think I would know all I need to know about disabilities – but there was more……Then there were the acronymsI learned BOC, BIP, MMD, FMDAnd all the other “words” that make up special education language

A New Beginning(continued)There was a lesson on the “Roles and Responsibilities” of paraeducatorsThis would have been handy at the beginning of my careerIt was nice to see that I was doing things right, but it was also disturbing to see there were some things that I should not be doing (lesson plans).

A New Beginning(continued)For years I had been doing progress monitoring and now finally I learned the proper way to do thisFor years I had been working with students with IEPs and now I was learning to understand what an IEP was all about

New Tricks for an Old ParaEach module that I have completed so far has a new idea or new approach that I can take to the classroomThis has in turn been very beneficial for my students as well as myselfOne of the biggest things that has been a hit is a suggested website:www.coolmath.com

A New and Improved ParaThe modules have empowered me with the tools to present myself in a more professional mannerThey have enabled me to bring fresh ideas and strategies to the table when working with the studentsI can now confidently express my thoughts and ideas with faculty and administration on a district levelI can access the modules anytime of the day or night

More To DoPart of our job is to instill in our students the desire for lifelong learningAs paraeducators, we must keep learning to improve our craftWe should search out and make the most of every opportunity Our future depends on it!

More InformationFor more information on the PEK On-Line Professional Development program, you may go to:www.ihdi.uky.edu/pek/

PresentersMarjorie SheffelParaeducatorCampbell County SchoolsMarjorie.Sheffel@campbell.kyschools.usBarbara LockerProject CoordinatorParaeducators of KentuckyHuman Development InstituteUniversity of Kentuckyblocker@uky.ed859-519-7374