Local 4098 Members of the Month
January 2020
Support Staff at Margaret C. Ells Pre-School

From left to right
Shauna Wilson, Connie Gumlaw (back), Megan Kelliher, Karina Dise, Dawn O'Neil (back), Zamayka Davila, Jillian Veautour (back), nurse Darlene Vooris-Lape (middle), Alyssa Rosario and Cassandra Ricardi (front), next to the nurse,Veronica Taylor, Francisca Takyi, Kimberly Hauver and Vincent Williamson

Para-educators and LPN's at Margaret C. Ells Pre-school provide valuable support for the preschool students. Research on pre- school education shows that attending quality pre-school programs promote social and emotional growth, improve literacy, boost pre-math skills,helps develop motor skills and prepares children for kindergarten.

Michele C. Campbell, Principal writes: "Paraprofessionals at Margaret C. Ells Pre-School are an integral part of the work that we do everyday for our students. At Ells we are building the foundation for not only our student’s academic future, but we are preparing them for life. Just like a great house starts with a solid foundation, the work that we do with our children compares to that.

Our paraprofessionals reinforce lessons presented by teachers by reviewing material with students one-on-one or in small groups. They also help teachers work through issues with individual students and help meet the needs of mainstreamed special education students by making modifications to lessons as needed. They physically assist students with tasks like eating, using the bathroom, (at times) riding the bus and moving from one classroom to another. They prepare demonstrations or visual aids for specific lessons.

Our paraprofessionals enforce school and class rules to help teach students proper behavior. They help teachers with recordkeeping, such as tracking attendance, grades and conducting trials. They assist teachers in preparing for lessons by getting materials ready. They help supervise students in class, between classes, during lunch and recess, and on field trips. When a teacher is absent and there is no substitute teacher to take over the classroom, the paraprofessional steps into that role. Paraprofessionals at Ells also participate in the school community through serving on various school committees and are active in school events after school. We could not do our job effectively without our paraprofessionals. They are truly the unsung heroes in classrooms."

Congratulations and thank you for Making A Difference