Para educators are a group of teacher assistants that help with various aspects of our school. They have many tasks from pick up/drop off duties, lunch and recess duties, listening to students and being there for them, and assisting teachers. In this article, we will take a look into the experience of a very special para educator at our school: Joselyn Arriaga. 

Joselyn Arriaga actually graduated from our school with the class of 2022. She has now returned to the school to work as a para educator in the elementary side of the building. She is a para for a kindergarten classroom, but also works with K-5th grade during daily duties.

She is well recognized by many kids who receive her with loving hugs saying, “Hi, Ms. Joselyn!”

As a senior, Ms. Joselyn was a TA during her 6th and 7th periods for a kindergarten class and a 2nd grade class. This experience helped her to realize she wanted to become a teacher herself one day. To get more experience and continue to serve her Lotus community, Joselyn decided to return to Lotus while she attends college. 

“I enjoyed working with both teachers and the students. Those two teachers that I was a TA for were the ones that helped me get this opportunity. They, and some other of my amazing secondary teachers, recommended me. I then applied for the position and was hired.”

Joselyn Arriaga is currently studying to become an Early Childhood Education teacher. She is a hard worker and is dedicated to completing her full time online college courses while having a full time job at Lotus.

She described her greatest difficulty as time management. She said, “Having a full time job and doing full time college at the same time is not impossible, but it does get very challenging at times.”

College can be hard, but this job motivates her everyday and serves as a reminder to her everyday that at the end, all the studying she has made will be worth it when she becomes a teacher herself. Many para educators have similar intentions of pursuing education.

Joselyn explains, “I enjoy everything when it comes to being a para. All staff members are great people to be around. Parents are so kindhearted. The students are so amazing and loving, they are the best. I think my favorite part of it all is realizing that this is something that I truly enjoy.”

One of Joselyn’s favorite memories was when she created a fun experience for her students. “On their first day of school, I brought my puppy to school! The Kindergarteners were doing a scavenger hunt around the whole school where they searched for the puppy. In the end, they actually found my puppy in their classroom. They were able to meet her, hug her, and the smiles on their faces were priceless!”

Throughout this journey, she has learned so many things from being a para so far. However, one of the most important things she has learned is being gentle with herself and knowing that it’s okay to make mistakes. “I’ve realized I need to remind myself that I am still a human being, and that I make mistakes. I may not always be the best, but I am learning everyday to help me better myself, and that is very important.”