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Para-educators’ Place
by kris childers, professional development coordinator
First person: “We mold the minds of the next generation”
by dorothy crawford, red oak isd content mastery instructional aide
In my lifetime, I myself have had struggles academically. I was not the “cream of the crop” in school, and I did not have parents who pushed me to do better or pushed me to get a college degree. My greatest push into this career was my niece’s pregnancy. Doctors expected her child to be born with several birth defects and learning disabilities. My nephew was born without any issues, but I still felt the desire to help students like this. I started working with students in Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities (PPCD). Then I moved on to the high school level and started working with the students in the Severe and Profound Unit. I worked with these students on many different things, and I even got to go with them to the Special Olympics. Seeing the excitement and smiles on their faces was breathtaking.
For the past four years I have worked in Content Mastery. I can relate to these kids. I am that student—the one who needs a different way to learn. I’m not here for monetary reasons; I am here for the students, my “kids.” The little hills that we take for granted with “normal” kids are mountains for these special-needs students.
It is imperative that every child has the opportunity to receive a fair chance. All of the students in the classroom to which I’m assigned are challenged to some degree. Some are challenged by learning disabilities and others by emotional disabilities.
If educators are to be successful in the classroom, we have to make sure that all of our students are a success. We have to carry all of the students—even if we must carry some of them in a (metaphorical) wheel barrel. This will help our students to be empowered and equipped to go to college, receive their degrees and be contributing members of society. We mold the minds of the next generation. We make the difference.
To me, an outstanding para-educator is an individual who will go the extra mile. This could be helping a student study for that hard biology exam or making sure a student who doesn’t have lunch money is able to eat. My students are not in the top 10 percent of their class. They need a little extra something. I’m there for them. I try to find different learning techniques for them when they have trouble learning information the “regular” way. Some of these students just need a little push, and it is awesome when they receive it.
Some of our students also just need someone to listen to them and a little “mothering.” Sometimes a little hug can go a long way!
Certification resources
- Through College for All Texans, educational aides can receive need-based exemptions from higher education tuition and fee payments. For initial eligibility requirements and to download an application, visit www.collegeforalltexans.com and search for “educational aide exemption.”
- Do you have questions about educator certification in Texas? The Texas Education Agency (TEA) now provides answers through a live chat system. To access this service, visit www.tea.state.tx.us/sbecchat.aspx.
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