Eight. (Two).

If you were wondering where we went on Monday, we saved it up for today. Today is a celebration at the ParaEducate office. It’s our eight-year since we’ve officially printed ParaEducate. So of course, we needed to wander down the history of our company.

We have to mention, first of all, it was not Renay’s intention to line up publishing on a leap year specifically on leap day. So that throws off our count. But in the last eight years, we became the little company that has managed to keep going.

While we were busy assembling ParaEducate in late 2011 and finalizing through January and February, an idea was bandied about one night at dinner. Could ParaEducate be that resource online for other educators in the country? We were not even thinking of the ‘world’ at that time. Eight years later, the simple answer is still “Yes!”

While our materials now go through a variety of checks that most of our work did not go through previously, we are still providing adapted materials for a variety of subjects and teaching materials. We still go to conferences and help folks understand the importance of including paraeducators at the table. We aren’t worried.

Where we started

Renay was sitting around on a rare summer afternoon without a direct thought when she realized that the upcoming academic year would introduce her to more staff and they would probably not know what to do. Renay made one phone call and then three emails. Nine months later, ParaEducate was there. And Renay still doesn’t do this alone, though it seems like it from time to time.

On the horizon

ParaEducate has been sitting on four books at about 80% completion for some time now. We will be getting to the final products soon. We are also working on a host of single materials and hope to be ready this summer. We are not going anywhere.

While tonight, we might celebrate, we also know the work will never be done. There is one more educator to inform, there is one more professional network to build, and then there are always more books to provide access in ways that others have not considered.

It seems fitting we end this way…

ParaEducate is a company providing materials, information, and strategies for people working in Special Education Inclusive settings for grades K-12, specifically Paraeducators, Instructional Assistants, or Paraprofessionals. We publish the blog during the academic school year. ParaEducate shares their works at conferences and online.

Above all Else…

We thank you for your support. We look forward to our next eight years.

Do you have any comments about this week’s blog? Do you have a question for us? Would you like to have an opportunity to pilot some materials at your campus? Find ParaEducate online here, here, here, here, and on our website. ParaEducate is a company providing materials, information, and strategies for people working in special education inclusion settings for grades K-12. ParaEducate, the blog, is published during the academic school year on Mondays, unless a holiday or announced day off. ParaEducate shares their findings at conferences, through their books, and their academic adaptations.