CARSTAIRS - More than two dozens Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) schools are now participating in the division’s Educational Assistant (EA) Collaborative Support Model, officials said.
The model involves two educational assistants who have experience working with students with complex behaviour needs.
Krista Clague and Theresa Kaczmarski initially served as educational assistants at Olds’ Horizon School and are now working with schools across the division, officials said in a release issued Nov. 18.
The program’s EAs work with other EAs, teachers and administrators to find practical solutions to a wide variety of student complex needs.
“What is working about this model is it is just-in-time support, focusing on developing skills that are required in specific situations. Also it allows EAs to work beside a colleague who understands their work and their role,” said Marcie Perdue, associated superintendent with CESD.
The model was developed with the involvement of two schools, including Carstairs Elementary, where it was piloted.
“Our school has benefited greatly from the EA collaboration model,” said Carstairs Elementary School principal Traci Upshaw. “Teachers and EAs feel prepared with the right tools and planned responses to challenging behaviours.”
School administrators from the southern Alberta Westwind School Division visited CESD recently to learn about the new collaborate support model.
