1. SCRED Paraprofessional Conference 2017
Welcome Back!

3. Plan for the Morning: Half Day Participants
8:15 - 8:45
Rethinking the Role of Paraprofessionals
8:45 - 9:00
Transition
9: :00
Breakout Session minutes
10: :15
Transition (Refreshments available)
10: :15
Breakout Session minutes
Agenda in folder has breakout session room assignments. Also signs outside auditorium on the wall with this information

4. Plan for the Afternoon: Full Day Participants
11: :00
Lunch
Cafeteria
12:00 - 4:00
Para Toolkit (New Paras Only) OR
CPI Refresher (Crisis Team Members Only)
B100
B110 /B150 & B151

5. Housekeeping Will be available on SCRED Website soon!
Click on Services tab located at top
Select Special Education in dropdown
Click on Paraprofessional Conference under “ Training Resources” in the “Professional Learning” box
Meal changes at SCRED
Claim Forms are in folder
Please complete and turn in at end of day
Basket will be available at registration table outside auditorium
Meal tickets - yellow ticket, blue ticket
Registration key moving ahead. Need to register 7 days in advance; cancel 8 days in advance

6. New Staff
Who are the new staff at SCRED that I may be working with? Who are the new special education staff in the SCRED member districts?
Introduce Special Services Supervisors

7. The Role of a Paraprofessional
IDEA 2004
An instructional paraprofessional is a school employee who works under the direction of a certificated staff member to support and assist in providing instructional programs and services to children with disabilities or eligible young children. The support and assistance includes one-on-one or group review of material taught by certificated staff, classroom management and implementation of positive behavior support plans. Services may be provided in a special education class, regular education class or other instructional setting as provided in the student's IEP.
Give you a minute to look at how IDEA (our federal SPED law) defines the role of a paraprofessional

8. Rethinking the Role of a Paraprofessional
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Inclusive Approach
Enhancing Student Success and Autonomy
Fostering Independence
Found a video from Alberta Public Schools that I think does a great job highlighting all of the positive ways in which paraprofessional support our students and teachers, but also addresses what the research says about the potential negative side effects of having a 1:1 paraprofessional. It also gives some helpful strategies and tips to get us thinking about how we can redefine the role of a para. Would like you to sit back and watch keeping these key concepts in mind and then give you some time in small groups to discuss with some reflection questions.

10. Reflection
Reflect on one of more examples of how paraprofessionals are supporting students with significant disabilities in your district.
Is how they are doing their work supporting an inclusive approach and enhancing student success and autonomy? Why or why not?
How could their approach be changed to foster independence in the students?
What strategies have you found effective in enhancing student success and autonomy?
What do you see as possible next steps for continuing the conversation about rethinking the role of a paraprofessional?