Farewell to ‘a fabulous paraprofessional’
Posted on: Oct 21, 2019
For 20 years, Tammy Stern came alongside students at Delano Elementary School and helped them find greater success in the academic, social and behavioral realms through her work as a paraprofessional.
On Friday, Sept. 20, her co-workers bid her farewell on her last day at DES as she and her husband prepared to move out of state. The following Monday, DES Principal Darren Schuler highlighted Stern’s work during his monthly report at the school board meeting, calling her “a fabulous paraprofessional.”
“The thing I appreciated most about Tammy is she really worked hard for student independence,” Schuler told the board. “We know paraprofessionals are there to help guide the students in a lot of different ways, but I think in the back of their mind they know that creating student independence is why they’re there, to eventually move that student off on their own. Tammy was a magician at doing that. She was very talented at finding ways to back off and let that student be successful without (extra assistance).”
If Stern was a particularly effective paraprofessional, it may have been due in part to her training and previous work experience. After obtaining her social work degree, she was a Wright County social worker for 10 years before her family moved out of state. When she returned, she began looking for a job where she could be home with her children during summers and school breaks. A school position fit that bill, but it took three attempts for three different positions before she was able to secure her job as a para.
“At the time the principal was Rich Katzenberger, and he was always afraid that I would take a job and quit and go on to something else. It turns out that wasn’t an issue,” Stern said with a laugh. “Twenty years later, I’m still here. I just really enjoy working with the kids. Every day is different, and you never know what you’re going to encounter.”
Stern spent the majority of her time working with students in special education, helping them in the classroom, pulling them aside for one-on-one instruction, and managing behaviors. What kept her coming back year after year?
“I think it was just the satisfaction of seeing the little bit of progress that some of the kids made,” Stern said. “Sometimes it might take months, but then it was such a big deal when it happened. And I’ve had the patience for it. Nothing really phases me or bothers me.”
Stern said she also appreciated the teamwork among staff members at DES, which is something she will miss as she and her husband move to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to be closer to their children. After two decades, she said the best part of her job has been watching former students grow up and thrive in high school and beyond.
“Twenty years seems like a long time, but at the same time it has gone fast,” she said.
• Another long-time DES para, Karla Otterness, left DES over the summer break after nearly 22 years on the job.
Post Categories: Elementary School