Becoming A Paraprofessional

Funny thing. During that time, my anxiety disorder had reached its apex. Every day was a struggle. During those sessions, though, my anxiety would evaporate about halfway through the first song. The children’s joy would win me over and help me relax.

It was such an enjoyable time that, upon graduation, I applied to be a substitute paraprofessional. I have stayed with the Macomb Intermediate School District ever since, working with a wide range of age groups and a wide spectrum of students with disabilities.

Being a paraprofessional for decades has let me see many trends in education come and go, but one thing remains: my desire to see a student accomplish something they couldn’t do before. To see in them what they or others may not see.

And hey, my teachers saw something in me, too. They chose me to be a part of something I would not have foreseen for myself. They helped me, and by helping me they helped all of us.

My life would be vastly different if these mentors had not acted upon whatever they saw in me, a troublemaker with a mullet. I remain a tiny cog in a great, big system. Through my colleagues and my union, I keep learning and growing, the same as my students.

Incremental growth is what we work toward in special education. We strive for small breakthroughs, right along with our students and their families. We cling to every speck of progress, every single day. These incremental gains add up over time, and what was once thought unobtainable is obtained. Some goals are met, some goals are smashed through and some remain sadly out of reach. But the push and the drive are never lost.

Resisting attacks on education

That’s why, during this strange time when the president of the United States wants to slash federal programs like special education and even to eliminate the Education Department, it’s up to us to push back.

We must meet this moment by championing dignity and opportunity for everyone, particularly the most vulnerable kids and their families. In our union, we stand with working families. We fight for higher wages, lower costs, safe working conditions, a secure retirement and a voice at work.

And with all the chaos going on in Washington, D.C., it’s more important than ever that we carry this fight to our members of Congress, the courts and the court of public opinion, and make children and working families the priority. The reason — the driving force — is our kids.

They offer perspective, an ear for our stories, and are there to push and drive us, just like we do with our students. It all works together like a giant root system bringing life to a tree.

I am not a teacher. I am a paraprofessional and educator who is part of an educational team. We work every day to see our students’ potential reached and to make sure our students are respected and loved as individuals. It is a wonderfully giving, painstaking, frustrating, awesome and amazing job. I am humbled and honored to have had a role in this profession and in our students’ and staff’s lives.

These days I’m coming to terms with being an “old-timer” who is only too happy to regale people with tales of yore. But I also have the experience and wisdom to offer a warning to the new gang in Washington: Don’t destroy what you are trying to fix. Don’t cut the rug out from under our special needs students and our working families. You may be acting on behalf of billionaires, but we will keep fighting for safe, welcoming and fully equipped public schools for all.

What a gift I have been given all these years. Because of my great educators, I became an educator. Because of my profession and my union, I get to help the children who need the most help to grow and thrive.

To all our students, school staff, parents and everyone in the school community: Thank you sincerely for being a part of our journey. Let’s keep going.

Republished with permission from AFT Voices.