PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATORS
Help Your Special Education Teachers Build Strong, Long Lasting Working Relationships with the Paraprofessionals Who Work Under Their Supervision
WHAT WILL THEY LEARN?
Build A Team
In the first section of the training, your teachers 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 their classroom. This aids with retention and better job performance.
Train A Team
Here your teachers will learn why it is important to train their paras and gives them explicit instruction on how to provide this training 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 your teachers the importance of having systems and procedures in place for when issues arise or more direct training is needed. This section instructs teachers on how to be an effective leader through communication and how to rate job performance.
Be A Team
This unit will teach special educators the importance of intentionally building relationships by getting to know the para and by having their backs during stressful situations. By following the steps in this unit, your teachers and the paras assigned to them will grow into an actual team.
Q & A
When presenting this information in person, I receive lots of questions regarding specific situations. In this section, I will explain four of those questions and how I would respond in those particular instances. Teachers are then allowed to submit their own questions and will receive direct feedback and advice.
WHY DO YOUR TEACHERS NEED HELP IN THIS AREA?
Because they 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?
The Sped Prep Academy® Provides Teachers With the Tools They Need to Appropriately Train and Supervise Paraprofessionals
By training your teachers using this method, you are providing them with everything they need to successfully build a strong department, and as a result, build a strong special education program for your district.
Get access for your whole staff today
Of course not all educators are created equal. Some of your 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 to train all my teachers?
YES!
This training has been found to be highly useful for even the teachers who seemingly "have it all together." By providing this professional development program to all teachers, you will strengthen the skills that each individual teacher needs to improve, and bring ALL employees to a higher level of productivity. Strong professional development is a WIN-WIN for the entire district.
Your teachers 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teachers can I train?
What does implementation of the training look like?
How does everyone get access
What is my role in facilitating the training?
Is a new binder needed each year?
Get access to the course
You are just seconds away from the essential training, resources, & support you need to help your staff become more productive and effective in their jobs
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!!!"
Imagine being able to provide your special education teachers a proven, step-by-step process to help them train their paraprofessionals and in turn boost retention and productivity throughout the district
Let me show you how!
Why should you trust me?
If You're Not 100% Satisfied...Neither Am I
"Professional development is the only strategy school systems have to strengthen educators' performance levels." -Learning Forward.org
By providing professional development to your teachers in a format that is individual in nature, well organized and addresses real challenges they face in their schools and classrooms, your teachers will find value in what they are learning.
AND...no more complaining about PD that is "one-size-fits all", "a waste of time", or "irrelevant."
Have a question?
Email me at [email protected] and I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have.