St. Tammany Parish School Board celebrates National Paraprofessional Appreciation Week.

Louisiana Special Education Flowchart

(ST. TAMMANY, LA) St. Tammany Parish School Board designates the week of April 18 as National Paraprofessional Appreciation Week.

The resolution is designed to show appreciation for the paraprofessionals in the St. Tammany Parish school system. It acknowledges the vital role paraprofessionals serve in St. Tammany, such as providing assistance to teachers in a collective effort to educate all students in the parish including students with exceptionalities. They serve as a critical link between a child and their learning environment which provides new experiences intellectually, emotionally and socially. The demand for paraprofessionals has grown greatly due to meeting the needs of the children they support. Paraprofessionals continue to exceed the standard expectations through professional development training and the relationships they’ve maintained with their staff. The majority of the children they support tend to be the most vulnerable and challenging.

Roslyn Hanson, 61, district two representative, supported the nationally recognized week at the school board meeting because she appreciates the work that paraprofessionals do.

“Our paraprofessionals are an integral part of the support system for all of our students. Many of these employees work in small groups with our students with exceptionalities. They provide not only academic assistance but also a sense of emotional support. Annual recognition of our paraprofessionals is certainly warranted,” Hanson said. 

The minimum qualifications for becoming a paraprofessional include being a U.S. citizen, being at least 20 years old, having an associate’s degree and high school diploma. Aspiring paraprofessionals must also meet the certification standards set by the State Department of Education and the St. Tammany Parish School Board.

The responsibilities of paraprofessionals include assisting students with exceptionalities and assisting their teachers in providing appropriate programs for the students. The activities must achieve the Individual Education Program (IEP). The IEP program consists of a team who is responsible for determining the special education and services the student needs to receive. The IEP also aims to identify the objectives and goals the student will work to meet with the student’s IEP team. Paraprofessionals are also required to perform complex medical procedures which include catheterization, suctioning, ventilator care, gastronomy feedings and oxygen monitoring, among others. Additional responsibilities include assisting the student in self care activities such as lifting, positioning, transferring, assisting in mobility, feeding, and toileting. 

Kimberly Gardner, 47, Assistant Superintendent, Students with Exceptionalities and Federal Programs, has taught education for 20 years, but has been the assistant superintendent for three years. She seeks adults who understand the vast responsibilities of the job. Gardner said the paraprofessionals’ responsibilities vary based on the students they support daily. 

“We look for those who know that all children can learn and reach levels that may not be understood when first meeting them. We look for staff with compassion, communication skills, understanding and flexibility. It is also essential for them to de-escalate a child when he or she gets upset without taking things personally,” Gardner said.

Gardner also added some children can be difficult to work with, which adds to the daily complexities of the job.

“The daily challenges include understanding the child’s full disability and what behaviors may come with that. We also have non-verbal students; therefore, paraprofessionals may have to learn how to communicate with the students they will be working with. Many of our students have medical needs that some adults are not familiar with, so this takes time to learn and receive training on,” Gardner said.

Gardner added paraprofessionals, including Katie Singleton, deserve the recognition.

Singleton, 29, Aide II, said the most challenging moment of being a paraprofessional is helping the students in expressing their emotions. 

“One of the most pressing challenges is seeing the kids struggle with emotion management and reactions to the ones that feel unmanageable. I used to struggle with anger issues and I want to help these kids with what they struggle with,” Singleton said.

Singleton added because there is a lack of time with the students throughout the year, forming relationships with the students can be difficult. However, she loves her job because she loves helping the students who need the support. 

“I love being someone these kids can rely on and be authentic with. It feels amazing and this job allows me to be helpful to anyone who needs me. I find my job very satisfying because it challenges me to think of how I can help and listen to the needs of others. I have the opportunity to give back to the world in some way,” Singleton said.

Singleton also said her favorite part about her job is the respect she has earned from her peers and administration because she is seen as an equal member of her school community.

For any questions or further interests regarding paraprofessionals, please contact steve.alfonso@stpsb.org or kimberly.gardner@stpsb.org 

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