Congratulations to Lisa Anton from Union High School!
Central Rivers AEA Paraeducator ABC 2023-24 Award Winner Lisa Anton from Union High School with Jason Toenges, principal
We were excited to bring back the Above and Beyond the Call (ABC) of the Paraeducator Profession Paraeducator Award to honor the hard work and dedication of the schools employed by Central Rivers AEA.
This award allows us to highlight paraeducators’ incredible service to our schools and students. Often working without fanfare and behind the scenes, paraeducators are the lifeline for teachers to provide the individual attention so many students need to unlock their academic potential. Through continuous daily successes, students are allowed to maximize their education because of the efforts of paraeducators. Some important things to know:
Help us celebrate each of the paraeducators nominated by their colleagues, the supervising teachers, administrators, and families of the students they serve. There were a total of 66 paraeducators nominated from across Central Rivers AEA. Each nominee received a certificate to recognize their nomination. Entries were evaluated against the Six Paraeducator Competencies:
Of those 66 nominees, 10 were chosen and surprised at their schools to honor them! Of those 10 award winners, one was chosen to be Central Rivers AEA Paraeducator ABC 2023-24 Award Winner! This year’s winner is Lisa Anton from Union High School in the Union Community School District.
- “Lisa helps cultivate a classroom environment where mistakes are seen as opportunities for learning and improvement.”
- “Mrs. Anton believes EVERY STUDENT CAN LEARN regardless of any learning disability, learning level described, or otherwise stated in an “F” page or IEP.”
- “Mrs. Anton is truly an asset to our educational community, and her positive influence extends beyond the classroom.”
- “Mrs. Anton helped MANY students in the school to connect to Kate especially throughout the last year by leading the charge of making baskets, writing cards, collecting jokes, sharing stories, connecting them to Kate when she became more ill and could not be as active with her friends at UHS.”
Central Rivers AEA Paraeducator Award Regional Winners
Harley Froning, Mason City High School
- “She is a proponent not just for her assigned students, but all the students in the classes she is in, as well as all of the students in the building.”
- “She has a great way of communicating with the students so they do their work. Her tone of voice is calm and caring.”
- “Harley is a great advocate for all of her students. She believes in their capabilities and always encourages them.”
Diane Grassley, Dike Elementary – Dike New Hartford Community School District
- “She possesses a deep understanding of content and adapts seamlessly to various learning styles.”
- “Diane is highly regarded as a co-teacher, going above and beyond to support not only her assigned students but also others in need, even during her personal time.”
- “Diane’s dedication to student well-being and academic progress is unmatched, making her a valuable asset to the school community.”
Amber Linthicum, Ackley Elementary – AGWSR Community Schools
- “Amber is one of the most positive, encouraging people I have the honor of working with.”
- “Amber is committed to learning the needs of each student she works with and is open to feedback in order to do the best that she can.”
- “Amber does an amazing job of making each student she interacts with feel important, unique, and special.”
Tracy Macbeth, Marshalltown High School – Marshalltown Community School District
- “She goes above and beyond to ensure that her students can fully participate in class activities, even spending her own time “brailing” worksheets and assessments”
- “Tracy’s kindness and respectfulness extend to all she works with, and she willingly assists whenever needed, prioritizing her students’ needs while also advocating for their inclusion and safety.”
- “Tracy’s willingness to learn and collaborate, coupled with her dedication to her students’ well-being, makes Tracy an invaluable member of the school team.”
Mary Reed, Fairview Elementary – Grinnell Newburg Community School District
- “Mary goes above and beyond by attending visits outside of her contract hours. She makes a point to introduce herself, take part in the visits to gain insight of student interests and to form a relationship not only with the student, but their family.”
- “Mary greets students and families with a warm smile and welcome.”
- “Mary is the “lead” academic coach for preschool and community partner programs. In this role, she supports the other coaches (para-educators) on Professional Development opportunities and with ethical challenges that arise.”
Bob Ritter, Forest City High School
- “Mr. Ritter is “all” about kids.”
- “Bob wants all students to feel welcomed and loved when in his room.”
- “We have one student whose native language is Spanish. While Bob doesn’t speak Spanish, he is always ready with Google Translate to have a conversation with the student.”
Laura Stefl, Lou Henry Elementary, Waterloo
- “Laura is ready and willing to use all forms of communication, such as sign language, verbal language, written language, pictures, and more.”
- “Laura is a rock star when it comes to managing behaviors.”
- “Laura teaches an American Sign Language class after school twice a week.”
Amanda Warrington, Lincoln Elementary – Osage Community School District
- “Amanda demonstrates a natural ability to recognize students’ needs, encourage their strengths and motivate them to dig deeper when tasks become challenging.”
- “She regularly uses student-first, positive language, models classroom expectations, and implements classroom visuals and social stories to help all students be successful.”
- “Students in our classroom thrive on familiar rules and routines which leads them to be successful during their school day.”
Karla Wheeler, Waverly Shell Rock Middle School – Waverly Shell Rock School District
- “Karla is a go-getter in all instructional settings.”
- “One of the most remarkable qualities of Karla is her ability to cultivate positive relationships with students.”
- “Karla even offers a “babysitting” course for students.”
For questions or more information, reach out to Kay Schmalen, Director of Professional Learning.