Improving the special education workforce through research based practices.
Having worked across special education settings as an behavior technician, a paraprofessional, special education teacher, and special education professor, I’ve seen it all. With over 20 years of experience, I know schools are incredibly nuanced spaces.
At Paraprofessional Training we believe we can improve student outcomes by providing paraprofessionals and teachers with knowledge, skills and strategies to work together to improve academic and behavioral outcomes for students. When staff get along, students improve.
I provide professional development, small and large group workshops, in-person and tele-coaching customized to your school and district’s needs. I specialize in working with students who exhibit challenging behavior and training staff how to collaborate effectively to improve workplace culture.
Get in touch with me to set up a (free!) consultation, or use the contact form at the bottom of this page to enquire whether this service is right for you.
Contact
➤ LOCATION
Based in Champaign, Illinois. Willing to travel.
☎ CONTACT
kary@paraprofessionaltraining.com
(773)886-9822
Training Topics
Increasing Staff Collaboration
It’s my belief that collaboration cannot happen until staff know how to communicate through open and honest conversation. In this training I provide knowledge and skills on how to have authentic conversations. Staff is taught how to provide one another feedback, how to prevent conflict, and how to manage conflict when it does occur.
Improving Academics Through Accommodations, MOdifications, and Universal Design
Keeping the bar high and providing a rigorous curriculum are essential for improving student outcomes. Through understanding student’s IEP’s, the accommodations and modifications each student needs, and through designing curriculum using universal design principals, teachers and paraprofessionals can improve students achievement. This training supports teachers in building their knowledge as well as understanding when and how to modify.
Creating Inclusive Settings
Breaking down the stigma and preconceived beliefs about disability is hard! In this training, we focus on what is and isn’t disability and how schools and teachers can propel student success or be the barriers to achievement. Staff are provided with tools and strategies to promote inclusion of students by teachers AND other students across school settings.
Paraprofessional On-Boarding
Providing paraprofessionals with knowledge about disability categories, the special education process, and IEP basics, improves their understanding of how to work with a variety of students across school settings. Additionally, paraprofessionals are provided with an array of tools and strategies to start confidently on their first day with students.
Understanding Challenging Behavior
Student challenging behavior is the #1 reason for added paraprofessional services. Teachers frequently site student behavior as a top reason for leaving the field. In this training, I provide a deep understanding of why students act out, how to replace and shape those behaviors, and how to use data-based decision making to monitor progress,
Customizing to your needs
Through a school or district-wide needs assessment, coaching and professional development is tailored to the needs of your faculty.
Let's Chat.
Use the form below to contact me. Please be as detailed as possible and include your school or district’s name and what led you to look for paraprofessional training in the first place.
If you have an idea of what kind of service you might need, include that too!