Cooperative Educational Services Paraeducator of the Year Named

Andrea Escobar of Six to Six Magnet School in Bridgeport has been named the 2019 Paraeducator of the Year for Cooperative Educational Services.

Escobar is an Instructional Aide who started her career at C.E.S. in 2015. She was nominated for the award by Six to Six teachers Patricia Barbano-Parczany, Dionne Couture and Sabine Januski.

The Bridgeport resident and native of Colombia is the seventh Paraeducator of the Year for C.E.S. and the first from Six to Six, which is one of four school programs operated by Trumbull-based C.E.S.

"I want to help the students to achieve their goals as well as lending a hand to the school community," Escobar said. "I remember my mom's words of encouragement and all the value she placed on education. I want to honor her with hard work, dedication, and much love for what I do every day. I will continue making the difference every day in our children's life."

"Andrea can put a positive spin upon on any challenge faced with a student and do her best in the most trying of circumstances with humor and humility," said Barbano-Parczany, who teaches music. "She thinks outside the box when working with a student and has interesting and inspiring ideas about what will motivate her student."

Januski, a seventh-grader teacher, praised Escobar for her commitment to students and support for staff. "She treats the students with respect and kindness while also holding them accountable," Januski said.

"Andrea is conscientious and does everything to the best of her ability. She is not afraid of doing more than she is required to," said Couture, who teaches science to seventh- and eighth-graders.

"This award means the world to me," Escobar said. "I think of my humble beginnings and I am amazed of how far I have gotten: From the factory floor, to the Post Office employed to Night College and now the result of this long trip to motherhood. I hope to be a role model to everyone in the community. I want to shout out that everything is possible if you put your heart in the things you do."

This honor makes Escobar eligible for the state Department of Education’s Anne Marie Murphy Paraeducator of the Year award, which was created to recognize the important role of the paraeducator in supporting student achievement. The award was renamed in 2013 to honor the memory of Murphy, a special education paraeducator who was killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting.

Criteria for the award are outlined by six standards identified from the National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals Model and include assisting teachers with: building and maintaining effective instructional teams, maintaining learner-centered supportive environments, planning and organizing learning experiences, engaging students in learning, instruction, assessing learner needs, progress, and achievement, as well as meeting standards of professional and ethical conduct.

The winner of the state award will be announced in September.

To see past C.E.S. winners, visit www.ces.k12.ct.us/page.cfm?p=3617.

Contributed photo