2001 Paraprofesssional of the Year

Judy Spears - Grandma, Mother, Teacher, and Friend

By Angela Swanson

"You're lucky to catch me at home, so you'd better do this now," was Judy Spears' reply when I phoned to ask if I could schedule an interview. I scrambled for my pen, and we began. By the end of the conversation, I understood why I needed to grab my opportunity.

Judy Spears is one busy woman who devotes almost all of her time to children. With six children of her own, three foster children, and 32 grandchildren, Judy and husband Greeting have rarely had an empty house or quiet hour. In addition, her home is considered a retreat for several of the children in the neighborhood and Judy is always prepared to offer snacks, games, and a place to relax. She enjoys the fact that kids are comfortable in her house and offered with a note of contentment, "We once had 26 kids staying at our place. Our house is the hangout."

In addition to spending time with her family and the neighborhood children, Judy has also been working as a paraprofessional at Ponemah Elementary School for the past 26 years. When asked what motivated her to maintain such a child-centered schedule, Judy replied simply: "I guess you have to love kids to work with them." And she clearly does.

During her years at Ponemah, Judy has worked with children from kindergarten up through high school in the capacities of tutor, mentor, cultural liaison, classroom observer, confidant, disciplinarian, and counselor. Her cooperating teacher from the past year, Shelly DeJean, stated: "[Judy's] consistency and nonjudgmental attitude has enabled students with the most difficult of behaviors to feel secure, safe, and make appropriate choices to be successful. If a child's well-being and learning is at stake, one can be confident that Judy will be there to advocate for the child."

Judy not only assists and advocates for students, but also helps teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals, and parents to understand each other and the culture in which they are working. According to Bonnie Hand, a special education teacher at the school, "Judy is always willing to answer questions about the Native American culture and help non-Native staff understand about traditions in the community. She is a great liaison with the community."

One of the biggest challenges of her job is knowing that some students have a tough time at home. In these situations, she is caring and careful, letting students know that things should not be that way, but also reminding them that people make mistakes and need to be understood. She encourages students to have hope that things will get better. When she is truly challenged by behavior, she tries to observe the student carefully and avoid triggers.

At the end of the day, Judy maintains her energy by thinking about the kids. "Children are hilarious. They are listening and paying attention at all times and will say the honest truth." When asked what she considered to be the most rewarding aspect of her job, Judy replied with something that seems quite small: "When the kids can make it to the next break. Some kids are sad, some are angry. We just try to make it a good day for them. I am really glad when the kids go home happy." Judy definitely pays attention to the little things and they, in turn, make a big difference. "I try not to go to work angry because the kids can tell. I like to go to work in a good mood because it pays off in the long run." And she is truly loved. In fact, most of the students at the school affectionately call her "Grandma." Tanya Enns, a speech therapist at the school who has looked to Judy for support and advice, stated endearingly: "I now feel at home with my job at Ponemah Elementary School, and every morning I remember why when Judy Spears meets me in the hallway with a smile and the words 'hello friend.'"

Toward the end of the interview, Judy paused for a moment, then said, "Listen. It's quiet in the house now. Everybody must have left. This is strange." For a woman who has spent most of her life raising, teaching, and caring for children, a quiet home must be a strange thing indeed. Realizing the rareness of the moment, I said my thanks and encouraged her to enjoy the peace, but knew she would soon be surrounded by grandchildren, children, and neighborhood kids. And nothing could make her happier.

Mary Ann Holtzleiter - One Day at a Time, Once Child at a Time

By Donna Patterson, Coordinator, Minnesota Paraprofessional Training Project

When asked, "Why are you a paraprofessional?" Mary Ann Holtzleiter says simply, "I love kids!" This one statement sums up the dedication that has driven her nearly 22-year career of serving students in the Minneapolis school district as an educational assistant. The results of this dedication are evidenced through the high level of praise generated by many students, parents, and colleagues, which culminated in her being co-recipient of the Paraprofessional of the Year award. This honor was awarded to her in the presence of her peers, from all over the state, at the annual Minnesota Paraprofessional Conference held at Ridgewater College in Hutchinson, MN on May 5, 2001.

Mary Ann began her career in the Minneapolis schools on a part time basis in 1979 doing hearing screenings. In 1985, she began working full time as an educational assistant for the district. Longfellow School was her home school from 1982 until 1991. Restructuring of the pre-school programs in 1991 brought her to Pillsbury Math, Science, and Technology (MST) Elementary School in northeast Minneapolis to work in the Early Childhood Special Education classroom, where she's been ever since. Mary Ann was impressed from the start with the dedication of the teachers she has had the opportunity to work with over the past 22 years. Their model of service has been reflected in the fine educator that Mary Ann has become.

A day in Mary Ann's life

Pillsbury School is an early start school, which means Mary Ann arrives at 6:40 every morning for bus duty. Riding the bus with the students means that she is the first person the children see at the start of their school day and the last one they see as they wave goodbye. She helps build the important home-school connections and makes sure that each student both starts and ends their school day safely and with a smile on their face.

The positive climate at Pillsbury School adds to Mary Ann's positive attitude about her vocation. True collaboration and teamwork permeate the environment. Parents and other visitors often comment that they cannot tell the difference between the teachers and the assistants because each staff member's main focus is on the development and care of the students. In addition to working in the classroom, Mary Ann contributes as needed in IEP meetings, problem solving, and planning. The mutual respect and admiration between teachers and assistants is evident as Mary Ann talks of her colleagues. This positive environment is a result of true team effort in every sense of the word.

Although the Paraprofessional of the Year award was one of the highest honors she has received, when talk turns to the award she always includes the thousands of other paraprofessionals that are equally deserving of this recognition. In Mary Ann's words, "Educational assistants are a hard working and dedicated group of people and they enjoy what they are doing. I am only one who represents all the others and they all deserve this honor." Mary Ann believes adequately and competently trained paraprofessionals make a difference in children's lives. As a mentor, Mary Ann has helped other educational assistants learn the process of creating and writing their own professional development plans and she enjoys working with her peers. But she would not give up her work with children as an educator. For her, the thrill of helping a child learn new skills, develop new abilities, and form a positive educational outlook is its own reward.

And that is exactly what keeps Mary Ann coming back to school - the children. Their smiles, their greetings, and helping them to like school. The rewards in her work dim any challenges she may encounter. These children, and hopefully many more children in the years to come, are fortunate to have Mary Ann Holtzleiter laying a foundation in her own special way. Simply, one day at a time, one child at a time.