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Para-educators’ Place
by Kris Childers, professional development coordinator
“Inclusion” is close to this Willis ISD aide’s heart
Kathy Spencer is an inclusion aide at Willis ISD’s Meador Elementary School, and she takes the “inclusion” part of her job title seriously.
“I think that each student should be made to feel important,” Spencer says. “I try to acknowledge them and make sure they [know] they are important.” Even a brief “hi” in the hallway or a quick pat on the back in the lunchroom can be a great way to make each student feel special, Spencer says.
Spencer began working as a para-educator five years ago to be close to her children. As they grew older and moved to middle school, Spencer’s love for her job kept her at the elementary level. She worked as a
library aide at Cannan Elementary for four years before taking the opportunity to be an inclusion aide at Meador. Her experience, Spencer says, has been an “eye-opener.”
“The most important thing I have learned is that each student learns differently,” she says. “I love to see the students’ faces when that light bulb goes off.”
Spencer’s work has opened some eyes, too. Her colleagues named her the Meador Elementary School Paraprofessional of the Year in 2008-09.
“I am very proud of what I do, and it was a surprise for me to know that everyone thinks so highly of me,” Spencer says.
Today’s lunch, tomorrow’s compost
Plano ISD should get a green star for the recycling taking place in its school cafeterias.
Forty-seven Plano ISD schools participate in the city of Plano’s organic recycling program. The program is a citywide effort; more than 75 local restaurants and businesses, including Wal-Mart locations and Frito-Lay, also take part. Since its launch in 2000, the program has grown every year.
At Plano ISD schools, parents, faculty members and students work together to run this cost-effective and earth-friendly program. Students are taught to separate their lunch waste into three categories: organic materials (food scraps and soiled paper items), recyclable materials (plastic and aluminum cans) and nonrecyclables.
The city then picks up the organic materials and delivers them to a composting facility, where they are turned into compost and sold under the brand Texas Pure.
You ask, ATPE answers
Q: What professional development opportunities are available to help para-educators better serve students with autism and autism spectrum disorders?
—Gayland Sherman,
Total Communication classroom one-to-one paraprofessional, Dallas ISD
A: Although educational aides are exempt from the Texas Education Agency’s continuing professional education (CPE) requirements, many would like the opportunity to learn more about autism spectrum disorders to better help their students.
Start increasing your knowledge with ATPE’s free online course Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Visual Strategies for Visual Learners. Your education service center (ESC) is another valuable resource. Visit your ESC’s Web site to find out which courses are being offered on autism and autism spectrum disorders, and speak with your administrators about attending.
A simple Web search will also turn up a plethora of resources. If you would like a ready-made list of links, go to the Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders’ Resources page at www.dads.state.tx.us/autism/resources.html.
©istockphoto.com/renplatt-recycle boy
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