Kids' Hugs and Successes Motivate Castle Elementary Paraprofessionals

Lindsey Karner and Sally Scheierl might have to deal with a tantrum or two in their jobs as paraprofessionals at , but they also get lots of hugs and the satisfaction of seeing their students make progress, they said.

The pair works in the Communication and Interactional Disorders (CID) program with third- and fourth-graders. Most of their students are on the autism spectrum, they said.

They work with nine students in their own classroom, and in mainstream classrooms, helping them with math and reading.

Their students' moods often determine how their workday goes, they said, and when one of their students is having a rough day—their jobs can be tough.

“You have to kind of round up all the other kids and help them have a good day and not be affected by the child that’s having a bad day,” Scheierl said, “and help the child that’s having a bad day have a better day.”

Scheierl and Karner sometimes get hit, kicked or screamed at, they said, but they also have rewarding times, when they can see they've gotten through to one of their students.

“When they do have a good day,” Karner said, “and you’re noticing the steps they’re taking to cool themselves down that you have taught them … it’s like aw, yes!”

The progress of one particular student who was nonverbal last year, but came back after the summer able to speak in full sentences particularly sticks out to the two, they said.

“It’s literally the coolest thing and I will never forget it,” Karner said. “The progress that that student had made—it was awesome.”

Karner and Scheierl’s supervisors say they work hard to help their students succeed academically, but they also take time to bond with the students on a personal level, said Castle Principal Allie Storti.

“They are incredibly patient with the students they work with,” Storti said.

Both women got into the field to help prepare them for their future careers. Karner, a two-year paraprofessional who has a degree in psychology, plans to go to graduate school to become a school psychologist, she said.

Scheierl, who is in her fourth year as a paraprofessional, said she is studying to become an occupational therapist.

Editor’s Note: Paraprofessional Recognition Week is Jan. 16-20 in Minnesota. Paraprofessionals work as instructional assistants, help out with special education classes, monitor lunchrooms and playgrounds, help in media centers and perform many other tasks in local schools. Oakdale Patch will be featuring a few paraprofessionals throughout the week, and we invite article comments and letters to the editor recognizing the paraprofessionals at your school.