Amery Esp Bring Learning Home

Brenda Olsen, Judy Emerson and Louann Pechacek spearheaded an effort that has brought quality training for educational support staff to their community of Amery.

Like many of their colleagues, Amery’s Brenda Olson, Judy Emerson and Louann Pechacek have a thirst for knowledge that isn’t easily quenched.

But by working with the WEA Professional Development Academy (PDA) and the Amery School District, these ambitious paraeducators found a convenient way to satisfy that thirst not only for themselves but for many educational support staff in Amery and surrounding districts.

Emerson and Pechacek spearheaded an effort that has brought quality training programs for Educational Support Profession-als (ESP) to their rural community in northwest Wiscon-sin. Now paraeducators interested in earning an ESP Certificate – or just in keeping up with the latest in their profession – can do so without having to drive dozens of miles for classes. The classes come to them.

“I have to tell you, I am very proud of that group,” said Amery School District Special Education Director Cheryl Wesle. “They are very enthusiastic people.”

“These special people have found a way to make it convenient for themselves and other support staff to take classes on an ongoing basis to help them continuously become better at what they do,” said PDA Director Debra Berndt. “They serve as a model for others in similar situations throughout the state. They have proven that geography is no barrier for support staff to learn, grow and advance in their professions.”

The Amery training program is an offshoot of Emerson and Pechacek’s ongoing interest in professional development. As a result of their initiative, the Amery School District created a committee of paraeducators to address in-service needs. Last year, Emerson, Pechacek and Wesle served on it.

Because of Emerson and Pechacek’s past involvement in the WEA Professional Development Academy’s ESP Certificate program, the committee pursued development of local courses that would help interested support staff meet the requirements of the certificate program.

“We all agreed that the PDA program was a good model on which to base our trainings and we would work with that system,” Wesle said.

Working with Berndt, the committee developed courses that fit into the PDA’s program. In some cases, instructors were brought into the community from institutions such as the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, area Cooperative Educational Service Agencies, or WEAC, and in some cases Amery’s own staff would conduct approved courses.

Most of Amery’s paraeducators have participated, as have some from neighboring communities. So far, eight have completed the Level I certification and four have completed Level II certification through the PDA.

Emerson said even those who have completed Level II “continue to enjoy participating in local class offerings and attend any sessions offered.”

“They look forward to more challenges and hope WEAC will expand its certification and training program requirements,” she said.

“The classes were fun and the program has brought those of us interested in learning more information closer together,” Pechacek said.

Most importantly, Emerson, Olson, Pechacek and Wesle agreed that the ultimate goal is to improve the skills that help educators help children succeed.

“Being effective in working with special education children is important,” Emerson said. “Each child has special needs physically, medically and emotionally. The opportunity to take classes prepares us to meet the needs of interacting with our students in a positive way.”

“It makes us more prepared to help the teacher in the classroom,” Pechacek said. “There are always new things happening in the area of education. It is important to keep up in these new areas.”
Wesle praised the commitment of the Amery paraeducators and the role WEAC has played in offering a certificate program through the PDA.

“As the director, I have seen staff take ownership of this important training program,” Wesle said.

“Paraeducators are greatly valued in this district. This program has definitely benefited the district, the paraeducators and the children of this community.”

Posted February 12, 2002