Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1133200
12 Summer 2019 | wyoea.edu Brandi McCoid: e Path to Becoming an Education Support Professional What was your path to becoming a paraprofessional? I started as a life skills coach working for Peak Wellness in Torrington. I was working with a child through Peak Wellness at Head Start. The classroom teacher told me I would be a great asset as a paraprofessional. So, I completed the school year with the student I was assigned to and then I applied to be a Teacher's assistant at Head Start. I worked there for seven years before returning to college fulltime, thinking I wanted to be a special education teacher. I continued in the schools as a substitute and I realized that as a paraprofessional, I would be teaching and infl uencing students without all the stress associated with teaching. So, I became a paraprofessional. I have come to understand that my work as a paraprofessional is just as important as a teacher's. How long have you worked as a paraprofessional? I have just completed my fi fth year as a paraprofessional in Guernsey, which is the community where I live. Why do you love your profession? My goal every day is to make kids feel that they are important and they can learn. Half of our kids are growing up in poverty with parents who cannot care fully for their needs. I know that my students need me to care, pay attention to their needs, and help make school a safe place to learn and grow. I want kids to know that if they need anything, Miss Brandi is there for them and I will do anything to help out. Why did you join the WEA? I wanted to be a part of something that would help me make things better – for the community, for our schools, for all the people that work there, but most especially for the students. How did you get selected to go to the NEA ESP Conference in March 2019? I received notifi cation from WEA that any ESP member could apply to be chosen to represent Wyoming at the conference. So, I wr ote a letter explaining why I wanted to go – how I am involved in my school, community, and local union. A few weeks later, I found out I was elected and I was so excited to get to go to Las Vegas for the fi rst time in my life! What did you learn at this conference? Tell us about your experiences there. Oh, man! I learned so much. I attended training sessions and got to hear keynote speakers. I interacted with other ESPs from across the United States. There was one session I attended called "The P in ESP is for Power". That aff ected me very deeply and I still think about it. What I learned is that we all have diff erent issues we face in our work, but we are all involved for the same cause. We want to see children succeed, and not just academically – we want them to grow into prosperous, happy citizens. Tell us what has inspired you to become more involved as a leader in WEA? I think the lack of ESP members in our school made me want to build that up. Someone has to take a stand, assume the responsibility, so why not me? Sometimes someone just has to step up. I was inspired by everyone I met in Las Vegas and especially by NEA Vice President Becky Pringle's speech – I became convinced that I could make a diff erence. From left: Elise Robillard, Brandi McCoid of Guernsey, Arthur Huron, Bob McCarty of Torrington (WEA's 2018 ESP of the Year) and Kay Pingree of Ft. Washakie (WEA's 2019 ESP of the Year) at the NEA National ESP Conference in Las Vegas in March 2019. From left: Bob McCarty, Brandi McCoid, Kendra Cross, Elise Robillard, Grady Hutcherson, and Greg Herold in Torrington in May 2019 for an ESP dinner. From left: Bob McCarty, Brandi McCoid, Kendra Cross, Elise Robillard, Grady Hutcherson, and Greg Herold in Torrington in May 2019 for an ESP dinner. Brandi McCoid (L) of Guernsey and Kay Pingree (R) of Ft. Washakie celebrating ESPs at the NEA National ESP Conference in Las Vegas in March 2019. Brandi McCoid (L) of Guernsey and Kay Pingree (R) of Ft. Washakie celebrating ESPs at the NEA National ESP Conference in Las Vegas in March 2019.