PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATORS
Before I tell you all about this program, let's talk about who this is really for...
This program is for you if you are a special educator or related service provider who is fed up with your role of managing paraprofessionals and you've been tip-toeing through your school days trying hard not to rock the boat or go head-to-head with some strong personality types.
This program is for you if you struggle with being an effective leader because you weren't adequately trained to be a boss to anyone and aren't prepared for this new role.
And this program is for you if you are committed to putting in the work to make this the year you finally move past the "I don't know how to be a boss" mentality and build the team you've always dreamed of for your staff and your department.
Whether you...
- Are new to the field of special education and have no clue how to be a boss to anyone
- Currently have one or more paraprofessionals under your supervision and are struggling with how to be an effective leader
- Have been in the trenches for a while but you want to learn how to grow and nurture the relationships you've already made
You're in the right place, and I'm going to tell you exactly how this course will give you the tools, inspiration and support on your journey to becoming an amazing leader for your staff.
By the end of this course, you will have learned how to...
Build A Team
In the first section of the training, you will learn how to interview and hire the most qualified candidates and how to set them up for success before the paraprofessional even begins working in your classroom. This aids with retention and better job performance.
Train A Team
Here you will learn why it is important to train your paras. Through your own training you will get explicit instruction on how to train your paras using the included paraprofessional handbook. Once the handbook is printed, only minor changes will need to be made to it each year.
Support A Team
This section shows the importance of having systems & procedures in place for when issues arise or more direct training is needed. This section instructs you on how to be an effective leader through communication and how to rate job performance.
Be A Team
This unit will teach you the importance of going above and beyond to intentionally build strong relationships by getting to know the para and by having their backs during stressful situations. By following the steps in this unit, you and the paras under your supervision will grow into an actual team.
And you will get your questions answered in a Q & A
When presenting this information in person, I receive lots of questions regarding implementation. Here, I identify the four most common questions and how I would respond in those particular instances. You are also encouraged to ask questions on the live webinars each week.
Ready to Enroll?
What Others Are Saying
Bethany R.
"Last year was my first as a Special Ed teacher and the hardest part was working with my paras! I am determined to set up better relationships/communication with them moving forward. This resource is amazing and exactly what I need. It covers areas I wouldn't have thought to on my own and is easy to edit parts to fit my needs. Thank you for this terrific resource!"
Barbara W.
"When my principal emailed us and said she wanted a binder for our paras by the end of the week, I just sat there and stared at the email for a while. I had no clue what to include in this binder.. what would be helpful, what would be beneficial, what would they actually want or need.... Then I came across this resource! I am so happy I found it. You took all of the guess work out of this process for me. Thank you"
Lauren Z.
"This is, by far, the BEST para handbook I have come across. Thank you so much for creating a truly wonderful, thoughtful, and useful resource!!!"
Why Do You Need Help In This Area?
Because you don't receive enough (or any) of it in college
IDEA 2004 allows school districts to use paraeducators to assist in the provision of special education and related services to children with disabilities, provided the paraeducators are appropriately trained and supervised by qualified special education personnel.
"Appropriately Trained"
As a special education teacher who has worked in this field for over 25 years, I have seen first hand that our teachers are not being prepared to "appropriately train" their paraprofessional staff.
In fact, Kansas University, who has the #1 ranked Special Education Masters program in the country, does not include any coursework for directly supervising and training paraprofessionals.
How can we "appropriately train" our paraprofessionals when we ourselves are not "appropriately trained" to do so?
According to Learning Forward.org...
"Professional development is the only strategy school systems have to strengthen educators' performance levels."
By providing professional development to yourself in a format that is individual in nature, well organized and addresses real challenges you face in your schools and classrooms, you will find value in what you are learning and then pass the knowledge onto your staff.
AND...no more complaining about PD that is "one-size-fits all", "a waste of time", or "irrelevant."
I'm Already Confident as a Leader...Is This REALLY For Me?
Of course not all educators are created equal. Some teachers are already strong in their abilities to effectively supervise staff and build a cohesive team that works well together for the benefit of the students, department and school.
So you might be asking yourself, do I really need this training?
YES!
This training has been found to be highly useful for even the teachers who seemingly "have it all together." This professional development program is for ALL teachers. We all have our strengths and we all have blind spots where we need to improve. This training will bring ALL teachers to a higher level of productivity.
Your paraprofessionals will feel supported
Retention rates for both teachers and paras will increase
District culture and commitment will improve
In 2015, (20 years after I first started teaching) the idea of this type of training seeped its way into my consciousness and I thought to myself...Why wasn't something like this created before now? I would have loved to learn from a seasoned, experienced special educator who knew what I was going through by living it every day for 20 years.
So take a step in the right direction and start the school year off by supporting your teachers.
What's Inside the How-To Guide?
Unit 1: Build Your Team
The best way to staff a special education program is to do the hard work up front, and interviewing is the first step to building a team.
Within this first unit, you will learn how to interview prospective paraprofessionals by getting an idea of what questions to ask.
You will then learn the importance of clearly communicating your expectations so that your prospective staff member knows exactly what they are signing up for and to ensure they are a right fit for your program.
Before pulling the trigger, let them observe your program for a day or two so they can see how your department operates and what will be expected of them as an employee.
Unit 2: Train Your Team
So why exactly do we need training for paraprofessionals? Well did you know that only 22 % of the states have professional development programs to assist paraprofessionals in their efforts to attain highly qualified status!?
That's only 11 states, and unfortunately, mine didn't make that list. But whether or not your state has a program or not, training HAS TO BE DONE. Training the paras who work in our rooms benefits everyone...the district, the teachers, the paras themselves and most importantly the kids.
In Unit 2, you will be introduced to the cornerstone of the entire course...the paraprofessional handbook. Here you will receive a Powerpoint file that you can edit and print for each para you supervise. You will watch videos on how to put the binder together and how to train your staff using the elements provided for you.
Unit 3: Support Your Team
By now, you have the knowledge of how to hire the best candidate and how to actually train them once they are hired.
Now we will move into Unit 3...Support Your Team. This is where the real work begins. The day in and day out support that your paras will need in order to do their jobs effectively and to make your program the envy of the district.
Unit 3 covers everything from communication to help understanding the IEP and from training to allowing paras to have input into our program. I have learned that if you don't support your team, you won't have a team.
Unit 4: Be a Team
You have hopefully learned a ton of new information about building, supporting and training your special education paraprofessionals.
In the last unit of the How-To Guide for Training Paraprofessionals, we will learn how to Be a team. It's easy to just call yourself a team but it's a whole different matter of actually BEING a team.
In the these 3 lessons, I will teach you how to build relationships with your staff and how to BE a team.
You will be given access to one unit per week so that you have ample time to dive into the lessons, self-reflect and make plans BEFORE moving onto the next.
This is done to protect your time, attention and focus while sparing you from the intense overwhelm that stops most teachers from throwing in the towel too soon.
The Program + Bonuses
(Because we all love extra stuff!)
When you add it all up, the value you're getting is over $600.
But because I'm super excited to welcome you into the course AND you are a listener of my podcast, I'm giving you the opportunity to enroll in How-to Guide for Training Paraprofessionals TODAY at the special price of just...
If you're not satisfied, neither am I
No questions asked money-back guarantee
Now I want you to know that I do offer a money back guarantee but I’m only looking for serious action takers...those of you who know they need help becoming a better leader and are willing to put in the work to learn a better way.
So if you purchase the course and decide this isn’t for you...that you are content with the way things are operating for you...I respect that and won’t ask any questions. You can receive a full 100% refund after 7 days of the start of the course.
Talk about low risk!
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm feeling overwhelmed with the stress of being a leader. Are you sure I can do this?
I'm a new teacher and don't know what I don't know yet. Is it too soon to take this course?
My staff is so set in their ways, how will this ever work for them?
When I join, will I be getting immediate access to all the units and lessons?
Is a new binder needed each year?
Will Jennifer be available and accessible to answer questions if I get stuck?
Why should you trust me?
I personally cannot wait to guide you over these next few weeks...
Creating a cohesive, well-ran special education department has literally changed my life.
I've experienced first hand what it feels like to transition from the "I don't know how to be a boss" mentality, to being at the helm of a highly successful and highly praised special education department.
More than anything else, I want to share that with you today.
If you are a special educator or related service provider at any point in your career, you owe it to yourself to at least take a risk-free plunge to see what your new life could look like.
I want you to experience for yourself the freedom that comes with implementing this program, and to take real, tangible steps to transform the lives of your paraprofessionals.
Should you choose to accept my invitation, I personally guarantee that these next few weeks will completely and utterly change the way you do business as a special educator.
I look forward to meeting you personally inside the Sped Prep Academy® course.
💗 Jennifer