Welcome to PD Center

In this 2-hour module, you will: become familiar with the principles, standards, and policies that a paraprofessional must follow; understand how biases and differences can influence our practice supporting students and working with other professionals; and understand why continued learning is an important practice for paraprofessionals.

In this 4-hour module, you will: examine strategies for addressing the diverse learning needs of individual students; gain insight into how disabilities can influence development and affect both students and their families; learn how to foster growth, independence, and self-advocacy in students with disabilities; and, develop an appreciation for diversity and the value of individual differences.

In this 2-hour module, you will: demonstrate understanding of the unique learning needs of individual students, understand the impact of disabilities on development for individual students and their families, promote the growth of students with disabilities and encourage their independence and self-advocacy skills, and understand and value the diversity and individual differences.

In this 3-hour module, you will: understand the purposes and rationale of various types of assessments and data collection processes, as well as the link between these assessments and individualized instructional planning; apply multiple types of data collection strategies; and use strategies and methods to collect accurate data.

In this 5-hour module, you will: support paraprofessionals in enhancing their ability to distinguish the unique learning needs of students, identify High-Leverage Practices in academic instruction, explain the differences between instructional technology and assistive technology, and demonstrate the differences between various instructional strategies in academic instruction.

In this 2-hour module, you will: discuss the basic principles of behavior and consideration of how function plays a part, touch on classroom management and discuss user-friendly strategies to proactively and preventatively ward off any challenges within your classroom, and discuss the connections between positive behavior interventions and supports and multitiered systems of supports, demonstrating cohesiveness.

In this 2-hour module, you will: identify integral members of the school team, use effective strategies, collaborate with multiple team members, and improve student outcomes.

This series provides aspiring and current paraprofessionals with the foundational knowledge and skills required for entry-level certification. Through seven focused courses, participants build competencies in instructional support, classroom management, communication, and collaboration with teachers and families to effectively support student learning.

In this 2-hour module, you will: Identify the principles, standards, and policies that guide ethical practice a paraprofessional must follow; distinguish between implicit and explicit biases and how that influences our practice in supporting students and working with other professionals; and, realize the importance of continued learning for paraprofessionals.

In this 4-hour module, you will: recognize how culture and language impact communication styles and learning; understand the impact of speech/language development on learning; identify and support nonverbal communication methods, including AAC, and students’ use of self-assessment, problem-solving, and cognitive strategies; and, facilitate verbal and nonverbal communication to help students express thoughts and feelings and social connection.

In this 2-hour module, you will: demonstrate understanding of the unique learning needs of individual students; understand the impact of disabilities on development for individuals and their families; promote growth of students with disabilities and encourage their independence and self-advocacy skills; and understand and value the diversity and individual differences.

In this 4-hour module, you will: understand the difference among four types of school assessments; understand the link between assessment and instruction; use data collection procedures as directed by the instructional team; and follow student accommodations for classroom and standardized assessments as directed by the instructional team.

In this 5-hour module, you will: understand and apply diverse instructional approaches to support educators effectively; develop skills to implement, review, and reinforce instructional plans and learning activities; and master techniques for responsive instruction, including pacing, feedback, and prompt fading, under team guidance.

In this 2-hour module, you will: understand the legal requirements associated with behavioral interventions and positive behavior support plans; recognize that each school entity must have a Board Policy on positive behavior support,; recognize that paraprofessionals play a vital role in special education by modeling appropriate behaviors, attitudes, and social skills for students with disabilities; and facilitate positive social interaction and active engagement of students with disabilities in the learning process.

In this 2-hour module, you will: addressing the knowledge competencies of collaboration; examine how strong teamwork directly supports student success; understand different communication styles; focus on collaboration skills; and examine how to communicate effectively and actively participate as part of a team.

Building on entry-level foundations, this series advances paraprofessionals' skills through seven specialized courses focused on differentiated instruction, data-informed support, behavioral strategies, and deeper collaboration within instructional teams. Completion prepares participants for intermediate-level certification and expanded roles in supporting diverse learners.

Volunteers and paraprofessionals can make substantive contributions to the classroom environment. Participants will acquire the skills to support volunteers and paraprofessionals, including developing guidelines, explaining duties, providing training, and discussing standards.