Presentation at the 2011 National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals Conference by John E. Szalkiewicz & Maureen A. Pearson.

1. Supporting Paraprofessionals:A District’s Journey from Action Planning to Handbook Development John E. Szalkiewicz & Maureen A. Pearson Supervisors of Special Education South Windsor Public Schools South Windsor, Connecticut

2. South Windsor Background Suburban School District (Hartford County) District Reference Group (DRG) - B Number of Schools: 7 5 Elementary Schools 1 Middle School 1 High School Total Student Population: 5,153 Special Education Identified: 584

3. Continuum of Services

4. Specialty Programs Preschool Outreach Program (6 sessions) Intensive Preschool Outreach Program (Autism – 2 classes) Intensive Elementary Program (Autism – 2 classes) Intensive Middle School Program (Autism) Elementary Medically Fragile Program Middle School Medically Fragile Program Middle School Functional Skills High School Functional Skills (2 classes) Middle School STEP (Behavioral/ED) High School STEP (Behavioral/ED) High School PEP (Behavioral/ED – off site) Project Worth Transition Academy – 18 to 21 year olds 179 Students

5. How many paraprofessionals do we have?

6. 130

8. Need for comprehensive evaluation tool

9. High number of paraprofessionals

10. Budgetary Constraints

11. Need for fiscal responsibility

12. High number of paraprofessionals

13. Need for building level administrative accountability

14. Appropriate usage of paraprofessionals

16. Key Findings Need for a comprehensive job description Need for a comprehensive evaluation instrument Additional fiscal responsibility Building administrator accountability Look closely at the usage of paraprofessionals Ongoing professional development (paraprofessionals and teachers)

18. Development of an Action Plan Goals Objectives Responsible Staff Date for completion Shared with a sampling of the district’s administrative team for feedback, support, and shared ownership Shared with Union leadership Presented to the Board of Education

20. Development of Documentation Job Description

22. Development of Documentation Job Description Job Description review for paraprofessionals

24. Development of Documentation Job Description Job Description review for paraprofessionals Paraprofessional Evaluation

26. Development of Documentation Job Description Job Description review for paraprofessionalsl Paraprofessional Evaluation Paraprofessional Self Evaluation

28. Development of Documentation Job Description Job Description review for paraprofessionals Paraprofessional Evaluation Paraprofessional Self Evaluation Evaluation follow-up

30. Development of Documentation Job Description Job description review for paraprofessionals Paraprofessional Evaluation Paraprofessional Self Evaluation Evaluation follow-up Intensive needs documentation

34. Development of Documentation Job Description Job description review for paraprofessionals Paraprofessional Evaluation Paraprofessional Self Evaluation Evaluation follow-up Intensive needs documentation Building administrator’s paraprofessional request documentation

36. Paraprofessional Handbook

38. Sharing/Training Administrators Case Managers/Teachers Union leadership Building administrators reviewed handbook/documents with paraprofessionals Case managers reviewed job description and expectations with paraprofessionals Special Services administration provided an update to the BOE on the action plan

39. Strengths of Our Work Development of processes and documentation Paraprofessional Handbook Building level administrator “buy in” Paraprofessionals feeling supported/valued Added fiscal responsibility Improved communication Action plan update provided to BOE More improved allocation of paraprofessionals

40. Areas in Need of Improvement Ongoing review of paraprofessional allocation Maintaining professional development and training opportunities within contracted time Supervisory versus Instructional usage Parent understanding of paraprofessional roles in regard to student needs and benefit Including paraprofessionals in creating a sense of community at the building level

41. Questions? John E. Szalkiewicz Supervisor of Special Education jszalkiewicz@swindsor.k12.ct.us Maureen A. Pearson Supervisor of Special Education mpearson@swindsor.k12.ct.us