🎙️ Unsung Heroes: The Impact of Paraprofessionals in West Ada

Paraprofessionals are the unsung heroes of our schools 👩‍🏫👨‍🏫 — supporting classrooms, building connections, and making a difference in students’ lives every single day. In West Ada, there are 486 special education paraprofessionals working directly with students — and that doesn’t even include the many library assistants, Title I paras, or student support assistants who support learning in other ways.

In this episode, we sit down with Kelly Brownholtz from Sawtooth Middle School and Tricia Hendrickson from Rocky Mountain High School to explore their journey, their impact, and their advice for the future. 🌟

From sharing what led them into the role, to walking us through a “day in the life,” Kelly and Tricia open up about the challenges and joys of their work. You’ll hear stories of collaboration with teachers 🤝, one-on-one student support 🎒, and the unforgettable moments that keep them inspired 💡.

We’ll also dive into the bigger picture: how the role of paraprofessionals has evolved 📈, what they wish more people understood about their impact, and the powerful message they’d share with the broader community about why paraprofessionals are essential to education. 📚✨

Whether you’re an educator, parent, or thinking about becoming a para yourself, this episode will give you a deeper appreciation for the critical role paraprofessionals play in student success, learning support, and school culture across West Ada. 💙

#WeAreWestAda #Paraprofessionals #StudentSuccess #ClassroomSupport #EducationPodcast #TeachingSupport #SchoolCommunity #SawtoothMiddleSchool #RockyMountainHighSchool #InspiringEducators #UnsungHeroes #StudentAchievement #BehindTheScenesInEducation