PAGE 12
VALLEY PROFILES
Thursday, March 26, 2020
KEY
Continued from page 11 students. They trust me, they come to me for help, and if I’m not here, some of them would fall behind,” said Amy Raebel, St. Peter Middle School special education (SPED) paraprofessional. According to Raebel, the paraprofessional educators in the St. Peter district are in such demand that current paras have to carry twice the case load they would normally cover. On a normal day, Raebel follows six to seven students at a time, recording homework assignments, helping them take notes, assisting them with math and reading, and making sure any homework they have completed has been turned in to their instructors throughout the day.
Jamila Said, an ELL paraprofessional works hard to break down barriers for the Somali youth in St. Peter schools. Said is well respected and appreciated by many students, and assists any student when they ask for help completing classroom assignments. (Heather Gordon/St. Peter Herald)
Luis Moreno, a paraprofessional at St. Peter Middle School, has been working for the district for four through other institutions to ensure months. Moreno works with students, such as 7th grader, Nicholas Wilmes, to complete classroom personnel are protected and trained assignments when help is needed. (Heather Gordon/St. Peter Herald) properly to do specific jobs, so this Being appreciated goes a long way, According to Raebel, working as a should also be the case for parapro- behind, as well as the benefits of sick School in 2012. If a student is struggling with an time, health care, and paid leave. but without the funds necessary to St. Peter para isn’t the only job many fessionals, as well. assignment or requires special Said made the choice to make this “I made the decision to become a continue to train local paraprofes- A of these educators have. Many have arrangements for testing, that sionals, that passion and commit- a two, even three jobs, just to make “Our families depend on us, as these move in order to assist the growing para when I realized there were no para will discuss modifications Somali and Muslim community Somali speaking paras to help the ment to helping students can only e ends meet. And even then, they can children’s caregivers, to meet the with the appropriate teacher. If a h in the St. Peter school district with younger generation learn to speak last for so long. barely scrape by. needs of their children while they student becomes agitated and has t language and religious barriers. English in school and also help with are in our care. Without proper an outburst in the classroom, the c integrating our (Muslim) traditions “Paras deserve appreciation for their In the late 1980s, the wage for local training and appropriate wages, the para will remove them from the f “I am an important pillar in the in school, as well, ” she said. unwavering dedication to our chilparaprofessionals was between $8-9 demand for these positions will only classroom or situation, and resolve l Muslim community in St. Peter, dren. We, as a community, need to an hour, according to retired para, increase, ” Carlblom said. the issue. Some students tend to and I find it very important to assist show them our support and conJulie Carlblom. “I was more than take out their frustrations on their tinue to progress towards finding happy to find employment at that Sick pay and paid personal days do all members, both young and old, paras by hitting, biting, punching, in learning English and to become the means to make coursework not exist in this line of work, and and kicking and until the behavior is time with such a wage,” Carlblom more comfortable in St. Peter,” available,” Carlblom said. “If we deescalated, these paras remain with said. “The problem is, despite the in- the cost of health insurance would really want our paras to be good this student until they can return to creased cost of living and the growth barely be covered by their paychecks. explained Said. Being an EL para is more than being at what they do, we have to show in population in our community Most must depend on other means the classroom. an aide to the teachers, explained Although Said has not been a para them they are important.” today, the wages for paraprofession- to acquire health insurance. Said. When there are language barfor very long, her involvement als seems to be frozen in time.” riers, she will translate. When there within the community has been long Soderlund agreed. For Jamila Said, becoming an Engare children disrupting a class, or standing. She has seen her three sons While the role of paraprofessional lish Learner (EL) paraprofessional students walking the halls, or a child With the role of paraprofessional, “We need to do a better job requires no more than a high school meant leaving her 18-year custodial and four daughters through St. Peter upset over a particular situation, there are duties most could not, or schools, since her first daughter retaining the paraprofessionals diploma, advocates say there should job at Gustavus Adolphus College Said is there to steer that student in would not want to handle. graduated from St. Peter High in our district. As a successful still be some sort of online coursethe right direction. businessman of 34 years, and work or additional specialized cerOne would tend to assume such a having raised my own family tification courses available to train She has many students hug her in position would allow for some sort these individuals annually, instead here, I know business, and I know the hallways and tell her how much of hazard pay, if you will. One might of the same generalized training that the school district is run by they appreciate what she has done also assume that with the daunting program required at the beginning the people,” he said. “In order to for them. Said is not just a para to list of duties and responsibilities recruit new paras, changes need of each school year. the EL students. She is a friend, a these individuals take on each and to be implemented, and training confidant, a translator, and a voice every day, they would be rewarded should be updated.” “I recently gave training to the for those too afraid to speak up. with a paycheck that reflected their local paraprofessional community contributions. Paraprofessionals fill the gaps and found that my curriculum for Many children lack structure or stawhere others cannot. They work elementary level paras would not fit bility at home, and this is why they But at the end of the day, the paratirelessly, for the love of their the criteria needed for a high school come to school. Without the help of professionals within local school students. They are rewarded with level para,” Carlblom explained. these paraprofessionals, those childistricts, and beyond, bring home love and hugs on a daily basis, and dren may not have the confidence wages that barely meet poverty level According to Carlblom, paras are in carry on, because they know they or drive to move forward and would standards. For example, the require- need of age appropriate training and Amy Raebel has been a Special Education paraprofessional at are making a difference. otherwise be at risk of dropping St. Peter Middle School since 2012. Raebel has developed strong ments to apply for a Habitat for student specific training, in order out of school or lacking in the skills interpersonal relationships with her SPED students, but also with Humanity home requires a $25,000/ to meet the standards and criteria other students as well. Raebel can often be found assisting several needed to meet the standards necesyear income to pay for an affordable of each student. Proper training sary to graduate. students at a time. (Heather Gordon/St. Peter Herald) mortgage; most full-time paraproand accommodations are made fessionals would not meet even that standard on their own.
A para and so much more
Lot of work, little pay
