District celebrates Minnesota Paraprofessionals week Jan. 20-26
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has declared the week of Jan. 20-26 as Paraprofessional Recognition Week across the state. Osseo Area Schools uses the term Education Service Professional (ESP) rather than paraprofessional, but semantics aside, the district recognizes and celebrates the incredible work this group of staff members puts into each day of work. Their roles span a wide range of responsibilities, including assisting special needs students with bus transportation, kitchen work, behavior intervention, academic support, before-and-after school care and much more.
Here’s a little information on just a few of the district’s outstanding ESPs, who work hard each day doing sometimes invisible work to keep schools running smoothly.
Bertie Williams- Arbor View and Willow Lane Early Childhood Center
When you walk into a classroom at Arbor View or Willow Lane early childhood centers and meet Bertie Williams, you immediately feel her warmth, care and genuine, bright smile. Williams spent her first eight years at the district working at Park Center and Osseo senior high schools and Osseo Area Learning Center, but since 2002 she has worked in Community Education’s Early Childhood & Family Education program. Williams has been a consistent source of support, encouragement and positivity and makes every student feel seen and cared for, including the staff.
“Bertie’s heart and her life is working with children and families, and every day she gives 150% to making their lives fun and happy and better.” shared Sara Hanzlik, an early childhood teacher who has worked with Williams for a number of years. “She loves it and she keeps doing it so she can provide support for families across our community.”
“Everything I do every day supports families, supports teachers and staff,” Williams said.
When asked what she wants the greater community to know about the important role of Educational Support Professionals in Osseo Area Schools, Williams said, “As an ESP, we’re a partner for developing the minds of young people. You are not alone, we see you, we care about you.”
Williams has helped countless students over the past three decades, both children and adults, by building and maintaining relationships, which she says is key. “For a lot of the children, I also knew their parents. It’s sort of like I’ve developed a village mentality through my work because a lot of families I see in the neighborhood or in the community.”
Outside of the classroom, Williams is dedicated to helping families and individuals through Supplementary Angles of Community Services (SACS), a 501(c)(3) human service organization based in Brooklyn Park that she established in 1985 which provides assistance to individuals and families in meeting their basic needs.
Felicia Cornell - Garden City Elementary School
Felicia Cornell is spending her tenth year at Garden City this year, where she has stepped into a new role as the school’s family involvement coordinator after working in the school’s Pre-K classroom during prior years.
Though she still spends time with students while supervising recess, lunch, and providing classroom support where needed, Cornell now spends much of her time coordinating school volunteers, organizing fundraisers and planning events to help increase family engagement and build a positive climate within the school community.
“I’ve always had a passion for teaching and working with kids,” Cornell said. “I started working in banking, but one day I just decided I wanted to pursue my childhood dream of being an educator of some sort.”
Cornell recently led the charge on a new winter festival event at the school, which took place in December, and now she’s making preparations for upcoming National African American Parent Involvement Day events in February, among other initiatives.
“My biggest goal is to bring newfound traditions to our school, students, families and staff members,” she said. “I want everyone to feel seen, heard and celebrated.”
Rachel Olson- Fernbrook Elementary School
Rachel Olson has worked as an ESP at Fernbrook Elementary School for 28 years, supporting students in the classrooms according to the classroom teachers’ schedules and curriculum. She enjoys working at Fernbrook for the family of coworkers, and the great families who attend and the community who support them.
“I like working with elementary school students because of their innocence and love of learning,” Olson said. “They are eager to learn, and it is great to see their faces when they are successful with it.”
Olson works with students in grades kindergarten through fifth, pairing with the same students each day throughout the school year, and often throughout their time in elementary school to help build relationships and create continuity for the students. While there is no typical day for Olson, one guarantee is that she will get her steps in for the day.
“My favorite part is that it is never the same. Kids' behaviors are different; we go on different programs and field trips. It is never the same thing every day. It is always a new challenge,” Olson said.
A highlight for Olson during her time as an ESP was during COVID, when a parent of a former student reached out asking her to film a video congratulating him on his graduation and wishing him luck, since he couldn’t have a graduation party. She enjoys seeing students she has worked with be successful years on.
In her free time, Olson enjoys spending time with her family, including her grandchildren, as well as biking, gardening, reading and doing puzzles.
Dedereck Mitchell - North View Middle School
Dedereck Mitchell has spent the past five years working at North View Middle School, where he works one-on-one with students who need extra behavioral support during the school day. With a degree and background in criminal justice, plus 10 years of working in a similar role at a charter school before coming to North View, Mitchell said skills like de-escalation, calming and re-direction are in his wheelhouse.
“I like talking to the kids - that’s the best part of the job,” he said. “Everyday is something different.”
At times, Mitchell said he aids in academic support to help students who need extra help understanding their work or to understand why a particular subject is important for them to learn about. More of the time though, he said he’s there to offer a space to work on a student’s emotional and mental health needs.
“I know I did my job when I see the kids outside of school and they’re still happy to see me,” Mitchell said. “I can be a friendly, familiar face who helps them when they need it so they can get back to class.”
Paris Martin- Osseo Middle School
Paris Martin started in the district working in Kidstop but transitioned over to work as an ESP at Osseo Middle School (OMS) after realizing they wanted to work with students a bit older. Martin is in their first year as an ESP at OMS.
“I love working with middle schoolers. They are so funny and creative. They have their jokes but still manage to relate it back to what we are working on in class, which I find so interesting,” Martin said.
Martin’s favorite thing about being an ESP is that each day brings something new and they are constantly moving around. They enjoy working with different students and helping out in different classrooms. Martin really enjoys working with and learning from the great staff at OMS.
“The feeling of seeing a student where they were at the beginning of the year and then seeing how much they’ve grown and progressed is the best part of my job. Especially some of my sixth graders, they have been getting used to middle school and succeeding and I feel so proud,” Martin said.
In the future, Martin hopes to work as a music teacher. When not working as an ESP, Martin enjoys painting, crocheting, dancing, singing and playing instruments.