We have to say, it’s been a hard few weeks at ParaEducate. But we think you’d like these snippets of blog set ups we have this week.
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week. And we are proud of many of the teachers who helped us to get here as we stand and the teachers we work alongside.
We all have that teacher, the one that got us going or said the one thing that reminded us of our reality. Formal or informal, all school staff, should be honored this week. Everyone does something for the eight hours a student is at school.
We mentioned earlier that ParaEducate has been having a rough time lately. We’ve been responding to campuses with crises. Fortunately, most of the campuses in question are having specific issues and we’re providing some background training to those campuses.
Just to give some perspective on responding to crisis issues that come up with students:
- Before an issue comes up, make sure to know the campus flow chart for who handles what sorts of issues. If you need to get student help, knowing who to speak to helps speed the process along.
- You are a mandated reporter. Even if you need to be in the office when you fill out the appropriate paper work, you need to fill it out.
- Schools have a response chart for after school incidents. How and when staff get contacted is important. Even if the message that needs to be passed on is “be twenty minutes early on [this day] to receive important information regarding a student on this campus.” Everyone should be involved. You should know what this chart is and where you are on this chart. And this chart needs to be available somewhere you can find easily at home and on the road as necessary.
- In the event of a crisis, sometimes you aren’t the person who is going to fix it. You are here to learn from this event, be aware of rumors on campus, to help facilitate appropriate conversation if necessary. And most of all you’re there to support the others who this affects the most.
- In the event of a crisis attracting media attention: be aware of social media. Follow up on the event if you must but avoid comments, reading or adding to the comments.
- Staff should never talk to media outlets. Leave the comments to any legal entities representing the district. You are entitled to your opinions, and they, and you, deserve your privacy.
It’s the end of testing this week or perhaps the mandated tests have passed you by, and we’re going to remind folks that as the year winds down, it’s not time to stop reinforcing preferred behaviors or following a visual schedule. Have plans in case of the activity isn’t going to work out.
Before we totally sign off for the week, ParaEducate will end the academic year on May 26. We have a public event on May 9, check our Facebook and Twitter accounts to find out where we land!
Do you have any comments about this week’s blog? Do you have a question for us? Would you like to be a guest blogger? 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 interested in providing materials, information, and strategies for people working in special education inclusion settings for grades K-12. ParaEducate, the blog, is published weekly during the academic school year on Thursdays, unless a holiday. ParaEducate shares their findings at conferences, through their books, and their academic adaptations.
