Jan Black, 2004 Paraeducator of the Year

Jan Back received the 2004 Paraeducator of the Year Award. The award was announced at the 11th Annual State Paraeducator Conference in Yakima Washington. Jan received a plaque to display in her school and a star pendant to regularly remind her of the significant difference she makes in the lives of children and peers. Jan has been a paraeducator for 21 years and a bus driver for 23 years in the Finley School District.

The following are comments taken from the nominations submitted by paraeducators, teachers, the principal, supervisors and students:

Staff Comments:

Jan has been supportive of her peers by encouraging them to take the ETS assessment and believing in their ability to succeed. She has been actively involved as secretary with the union for many years. She has worked out sensitive issues with members and does not choose sides when doing so. She actively listens, and then offers her suggestions. She doesn’t say a negative word about anyone or anything.

Her skills for working with struggling readers are inspirational.

She is steady and patient when working with students individually and in small groups. This skill, over many years has enabled many struggling students to become proficient readers.

She excites students with the way she approaches a reading lesson.

The kids look forward to working with Jan because she is kind and gentle with them, yet she expects them to follow the rules and to do their best work. The students make a good effort to cooperate with her as a result.

In her other role as a bus driver she inspires students to have a love for reading. She reads books to the children while they are waiting their turn to get off of the bus for breakfast and has reading materials available on her bus so student’s can read to and from school.

Student Comments:

Mrs. Black is a very sweet person. She will help you with your spelling, your righting and even play games when your done. Sometimes she will let you pick out a book. She always says” Do what is expected and do your best.”

Mrs. Black is helpful to me in my special class. Mrs. Black is a nice bus driver to all of the kids. Mrs. Black is a good game player and has lots of good jokes.

Mrs. Black is so nice she reeds to us. I really wish I could give her 1,000,000,0000,000 dollar. And she is really helpful. That is why I like Mrs. Black.

“I love kids. Me and Mrs. Black”

Mrs. Black is very beautiful. You are the very best miracle that I have ever knew. You are the best paraeducator.Thank you Mrs. Black for your dedication to the education of our children!

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