Daily Archives: April 18, 2019

For ESPs, Being the Best for Students Requires Continuous Learning

It’s common knowledge amongst educators that professional development for education support professionals (ESPs) is largely non-existent or irrelevant, if offered at all. Whether five or 20 years on the job, ESPs receive limited access to career learning opportunities unless they provide it themselves. “Everyone thinks professional development is for teachers only,” says Matthew Powell, custodial supervisor at Central Elementary School in Mayfield, Ky. “But ESPs also need the opportunity to learn and grow in their careers.” After working for 12 years as a special education paraeducator, Powell returned to college to complete a bachelor’s degree in educational studies. To meet […]

Dynamic Duo – Helping Rural NH Meet its Education Needs

Written By: Beth Fornauf | UNH Department of Education | beth.fornauf@unh.edu When Kayla Croteau earned her M.Ed. in secondary education from the University in 2015, she never imagined that she was only three short years away from another teacher education experience – this time as a teaching mentor for the University of New Hampshire’s Teacher Residency for Rural Education (UNH-TRRE) program. UNH-TRRE, a teacher preparation program designed to prepare elementary and secondary math and science teachers to work in rural, high-need New Hampshire schools, is working with its second cohort of future teachers. These UNH students, known as teaching residents, […]