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On January 19, the Paraeducator Board heard presentations, including:
- Amendment passed to allow online synchronous learning as meeting the in-person Fundamental Course of Study training requirement (tab 2)
- Update on the district training data (tab 3)
- CCDEI updates to the program (tab 4)
To learn more about this meeting, please visit our materials folder.
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Cathy Smith, the Paraeducator Board’s first appointed Chair, has completed her term, following her final meeting in January. Cathy has been serving and supporting paraeducators since before the creation of the Board in 2017, through her own role as a paraeducator in the Olympia school district, workgroup participation, advocacy and outreach, providing legislative testimony, and playing a critical role in establishing the statewide training and certification program. She has never turned down an opportunity to strengthen the paraeducator profession.
Thank you, Cathy, for your service on the board and dedication to paraeducators across Washington.
Cathy’s farewell:
“Being a member of the Paraeducator Board has been a wonderful and gratifying experience. I have had a lesson in democracy like no other. In 2013, I joined a group of paraeducators who met with members of the Washington State Legislature to create senate subcommittees to determine if it would be necessary to create this Board. Washington needed a statewide approach to ensure all students were taught by highly qualified educators. Paraeducators provide the majority of instruction in programs to reduce the opportunity gap, but training for paraeducators was not equitable across the state. Some received it, many did not. In 2017, the Board gathered together for their first meeting. Since then, the Board has mandated the certificate program and developed training so that our most vulnerable children will have highly trained educators to help meet their learning requirements.
I would like to thank those who have held the vision of this Board and supported us through our first four years. Many of you have sat on subcommittees to help inform our work. Paraeducators have a unique perspective and it’s important that they have the opportunity to work with us to fine-tune our decisions. I’d also like to thank PESB staff who have engineered and assisted in bringing forth the decisions we have passed in legislation. I am confident that this team will carry our vision forward with great success.”
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On January 20, members from the Paraeducator Board and the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) participated in our annual hill climb, PESB's legislative advocacy day.
Hill climb is designed to strengthen relationships, facilitate effective policymaking, and position board members and staff as resources on legislation and policy matters. Throughout the day, board members met virtually with over 20 legislative partners.
We will continue to monitor legislative initiatives throughout the short session.
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Paraeducators are receiving training on the certificate program! As of December 15, 2021, districts have reported:
- 2,096 paraeducators have completed training on the Fundamental Course of Study and
- 2,776 paraeducators have completed training on the general certificate!
Paraeducators: don’t forget to notify OSPI’s certification office when you complete the FCS and training towards the general certificate. Learn how to create an account and record training completion.
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We’re excited to announce our third paraeducator listening session will take place on March 29. This event is an opportunity for paraeducators to share their roles during COVID-19 and their experiences receiving certificate program training. More information coming soon!
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Since Spring 2021, PESB has been leading a coordinated, community-centered effort to review and revise Washington’s educator standards to ensure their alignment with cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion (CCDEI) practices.
The revised standards will apply to all educator roles, including paraeducators, and will be used in the preparation of educator candidates and in professional learning opportunities throughout an educator’s career. The paraeducator standards of practice, which guides training for the Paraeducator Certificate Program, will be aligned with the new CCDEI standards.
The Paraeducator Board will consider updating the paraeducator standards of practice during their May and July meetings.
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- Yukari Amos
- Omar Escalera
- Pamella Johnson
- Lisa Markussen
- Doug Pace
- Cindy Rockholt
- Laura Rogers
- Lizzy Sebring
- Jamie Wells
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