Moline School Board Honors Outstanding WIU Paraprofessionals. The Moline School Board honored Western Illinois University (WIU) Early Childhood Education graduates Stephanie Dick and Guinevere Skovronski on February 10 for their achievements in the alternative pathway to licensure program for paraprofessionals. If you’d like to know more about the recognition of WIU paraprofessionals by the Moline School Board and the WIU program in detail, please keep reading the article below.
Moline School Board Honors Outstanding WIU Paraprofessionals
The Molive-Coal Valley School Board honored Western Illinois University (WIU) Early Childhood Education graduates Stephanie Dick and Guinevere Skovronski on February 10 for their accomplishments in the different career paths to licensure programs for paraprofessionals. Their commitment to advancing their education while continuing to work in the classroom demonstrates the success of WIU’s program in dealing with the teacher shortage.
Dick highlighted the adaptability of the program, which allowed her to balance work, family, and academics. She said, “The courses at WIU were online and allowed students to work at their own pace as long as deadlines were followed.” “If there were any Zoom classes, they were offered in the evening hours after school.”
Dick said that the program allowed her to observe students she was already working with for WIU assignments, enhancing her experience in the classroom. The ECACE scholarship covered tuition and books, reducing financial concerns and allowing her to concentrate on academics. Dick stated that “the ability to continue working and being paid in my current paraprofessional position relieved the financial aspect of school.”
“The online format allowed me to work from home and still be available to my family. I was able to access Western Online from my phone if I needed to check on things while at work or with my children,” Dick said. “A mentor assigned to each student helped answer questions, ensuring students remained on track,”
The influence of the program on professional growth is evident. “I was able to student teach in the building I was employed in, but instead of staying in my paraprofessional role, I was hired through the school district. My student teaching began in my classroom,” Dick said.
Student teaching is a final experience of the teacher education program (16 weeks). It offers candidates the chance to improve their teaching skills in Pre-K-12 classrooms and get regular support, guidance, and feedback from university staff through monthly video conferencing sessions and in-person observation of their teaching.
As she became a licensed teacher, she now manages IEPs and teachers in a blended classroom. She has also started a master’s degree to further her education and benefit her students. Skonvronski gave credit to the summer courses and the fully online format for enabling her to concentrate on her studies while attending to her obligations.
Skonvronski said, “The professors were understanding of family obligations. While working at a district school, our administration understood the importance of continuing higher education, not only to give us more confidence in becoming teachers but also to figure out our teaching styles.” The program’s role in highlighting the teacher shortage is significant.
“The program is addressing the teacher shortage by seeking out paraprofessionals who are already employed in a school district and have on-the-job experience. Having experienced individuals go through the Early Childhood program allows current employees to expand their knowledge and move up to higher educational positions,” Skovronski said. She further added, “This program has helped the teacher shortage simply by allowing adult learners to be in the teaching field. Adult learners have many reasons why they stopped going to school, such as health, raising families and multigenerational responsibilities. The program allows them to reach their full potential.”
Skovronski, who had been a paraprofessional for a decade, faced major difficulties at the time of the program. She said, “In the spring of 2023, I helped create and facilitate a Learning for Independence classroom, allowing our schools to reach more children with higher learning needs.” She was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer the same year but persevered. “Even with the disease, I was able to keep a 4.0 GPA and receive the Education and Human Services College Scholar award,” Skovronski said.
The Moline School Board’s recognition and honor of Stephanie Dick and Guinevere Skovronski demonstrate the significance of Western Illinois University’s (WIU’s) alternative route to licensure. As these graduates continue to influence the direction of education, others aspiring to progress in the field can draw inspiration from their experiences.