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1998 Minnesota Paraprofessionals of the Year:

Mark Feeley, Lonnie LaRose, Betty Sue Neal

From ParaLink, Spring, 1998

Paraprofessionals make a difference in the lives of students, parents and staff in their school districts and communities every day. This year the Minnesota Paraprofessional Consortium received numerous quality nominations for "Paraprofessional of the Year," making the process of selecting a winner very difficult. The Consortium choose three. Congratulations to Mark Feeley, Lonnie LaRose, and Betty Sue Neal. The Consortium would like to thank all who took the time to nominate paraprofessionals for this award. Minnesota should be very proud of the exceptional work that paraprofessionals do around the state.

Mark Feeley

Mark Feeley began his work as a paraprofessional in the Bloomington Public Schools in 1992. In the last six years, he has supported students with physical and mental impairments. Mark is an exceptional paraprofessional in his gift in knowing when to be supportive and when to encourage independence in students. He is incredibly creative in adapting materials to meet individual needs. Mark is positive, calm, gentle and has a deep conviction about meeting the unique needs of his students.

Mark demonstrates a genuine interest in the lives of his students. In addition to his role of paraprofessional during the school day, he attends students' extra curricular activities and volunteers in school sponsored social group activities after school hours.

Mark's colleagues and co-workers consider him an extraordinary asset to their school. His students hold him in the highest regard and consider him a positive role model. As one student said, "Mark can find the good in every person, a lesson in every experience."

Lonnie LaRose

Many people at Crossroads School and Vocational Center ISD #15 consider Lonnie LaRose their hero. She has been a paraprofessional there for 15 years and works with students who have Emotional Behavior Disorders, and students with Level V EBD. She serves about 125 children through an entire school year.

Lonnie was recently confronted with a serious illness. She has used this life situation as an opportunity to help students understand how a person's attitude and strong work ethic can make a difference in the way one decides to live his/her life. Lonnie continues to inspire both students and staff with her openness to share her experience and grow from the adversities that life presents.

She is exceptional in her strategies to meet the needs of her students in a meaningful and impressionable style. Lonnie is involved with many extra activities in the school. One example is her involvement in the Cultural Diversity Committee. She has created several opportunities for her students to learn about other cultures, such as having a Native American family teach students how to make a headdress. Lonnie shows commitment, enthusiasm, and loyalty to her work. She is an outstanding paraprofessional.

Betty Sue Neal

How do you appropriately thank someone who has given so much to her community by her work as a paraprofessional? This is a question that Menahga Public School has had to face, because Betty Sue Neal, a paraprofessional in the district for 24 years, is retiring. Betty has worked with hundreds of students during her years with the district and has had lasting impressions on all of her students.

Betty has dedicated a major portion of her life to the education of Menahga students. She lets students know that they are special and can be successful. She has an instinct for her role as a paraprofessional, and teachers feel that Betty is the one, who in fact, has taught them so much about working with students.

Menahga is proud of Betty, and as one colleague said "…people of all ages would be honored and thrilled to see Betty chosen 'Paraprofessional of the Year'. She is already this school district's Paraprofessional of a Lifetime."