1. Training Skilled Paraprofessionals Bringing a Life Skills Class to a Community College to Create a Real Life Lab Presented by: Joseph H. Davis, Professor, Teacher Education, Lehigh Carbon Community College jhdavis@lccc.edu

3. Cast of Characters Parkland School Area School District, Orefield, PA Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schnecksville, PA

4. Concept: I Create a true, full inclusion community on a college campus. Students with special needs will experience life away from a traditional high school in an age appropriate environment.

5. THIS BECAME WIN/WIN! Concept II: College students interested in special education careers will serve as peer mentors to students with special needs.

6. Proposal/Formation For years parents of exceptional students wanted “more beyond grade 12” PASD wanted students “included “ in the community LCCC wanted a “special education teacher training/paraprofessional training lab”

7. May 4, 2012-meeting of the minds! Some people thought we were crazy! When you trust all at the table IT WILL WORK! Chemistry/Karma!

8. Logistics:( admimastrative) Room Time/Day ( Fridays!) Transportation Parkland Staffing LCCC Staff Insurance/Liability Contracting between schools

9. Human Resources: Parkland 11 Students with special needs, ages 18-21, program was written into their IEPs( SUPER TEACHERS!) 1 Teacher, 1 Paraprofessional (GREAT PROFESSIONAL ROLE MODELS) 3 Administrators ( GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM!)

10. Human Resources : LCCC 15 dedicated students!: ages 18-39, all full-time students, all work in addition to being students, all give up their Fridays for 30 weeks to be mentors! 1 aging professor who gets to play bocce ball and kickball!

11. Preparing Mentors: Recruiting Screening ( good standing/clearances) Orientation Contracting

12. Joining our “Tribes” Parent orientation Ice Breakers

13. The Program: 8:00 am-9:30 am Dave/Tara teach (LCCC students often observe) 9:30am to 11:00 am, Parkland students join LCCC Mentors for peer appropriate activities 11:00 am to 11:45 am, we all meet in college dinning hall for lunch/socialization

14. Samples of activities planned by LCCC Mentors (real life special education lab) Working out in college fitness center Shooting pool Wii Game room Basketball skills Soccer skills Bocce ball

15. I-pad Table games (HEADBANDS!) Cooking/baking Socializing ( DEVELOPING SOFT SKILLS THAT CANNOT BE TAUGHT IN A CLASSROOM)

16. What do mentors gain? soft skills opportunity to plan/conduct special education activities in real classroom/real time, LCCC staff is there to support, evaluate and observe. Role modeling from LCCC instructor, Parkland teacher and Parkland Paraprofessional

17. Mentor gains (cont.) Confidence Satisfaction Exposure to various SED careers Exposure to employment potential (Parkland administrators have expressed an interest in hiring mentors who are graduating) Genuine recommendation

18. Non-mentor students: Uses program as a special education observation lab ( I can explain activities to students) Parkland students attend my SED classes Parkland students are included in LCCC student activities (Sprout Film Festival, Student Car Wash)

20. What’s in it for me? I become a Special Education/Phys. Ed. Teacher one day a week! I meet with public school special education staff weekly. I see my students in a relaxed athmosphere.

21. How does this recruit and train paraprofessionals? Exposes them to professional role year one/two of college. Allows them to serve in a meaningful professional capacity Places special education in a higher profile on campus, draws in non SED majors to the profession.

22. FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPANTS 100% positive-students-parents- mentors

23. Q/R?