1. 30th National Conference for Paraprofessionals
San Antonio, Texas
Paraeducator Portfolios
Planning for Success
Suzanne Koprowski Carol A. Long
Waukasha County Technical College Winona State University
Pewaukee, Wisconsin Winona, Minnesota

2. Presentation Objectives
 Present portfolio development process
 Suggest alignment structures
 Give ideas for artifacts to document
qualifications
 Provide process for reflection

3. Portfolio Assessment
A performance assessment of
observable evidence or products
completed by an individual
over time.

4. Characteristics
 Ownership-work belongs to
paraeducator; each is unique
 Developmental-ongoing and updated
 Choice-paraeducator’s opinion counts
 Sharing and celebrating-appreciate each
other’s work

5. Purpose
 Display development  Encourage dialogue &
of knowledge & collaboration
skills  Evidence for retention
 Display range of  Evidence for
knowledge & skills advancement/career
 Reflect on ladder
professional  Professional activity
development  Personal satisfaction

6. “Eighty percent of success is
just showing up.” Woody Allen

7. Teaching Vision Statement
Carol A. Long
To provide classes which encourage the professional
development of students through:
•modeling caring, civil, and respectful
interactions,
•accommodating differing learning styles,
•encouraging students to take responsibility for
their own learning,
•facilitating the acquisition of knowledge and
skills through active learning,
•providing information that is current, complete
and best practice, and
•honoring diversity and appreciating creativity.

8. How to Begin?
Brainstorm:
What are my strengths?

9. Gather Evidence of Knowledge & Skills
Professional Conference Artifacts, work Philosophy
licenses or brochures samples statement
diplomas
Higher education Letters, references, Pictures of Evaluations or
program recommendations learning centers, feedback
brochures materials
Certificates of Personal notes of Pictures of Reflections
training appreciation classroom
displays

10. “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is
what keeps
you going.” Jim Ryan

11. How to Organize?
 Physical Properties
 Three-ring binders
 Document protector sheets
 Heavy stock paper
 Divider tabs

12. How to Format?
What Content?
Varies according to the purpose of
the portfolio for example,
interview, evaluation, licensure, or
higher education requirements

13. Alignment Structure
 State standards or competencies
 No Child Left Behind
 Preparation program standards or
outcomes
 Professional organization standards
 District/personal goals
 Evaluation criteria
 Student IEP goals

14. Portfolio Components
1. Introduction 2. Official Records
 Personal Statement  Diploma
 Resume  Transcript
 Letters of  License
reference/
recommendation
 Acquired skills list
 Vision Statement

15. Components Continued
3. Professional 4. Personal Philosophy
Development Statements
 Formal training  Characteristics of an
 Professional effective
affiliations paraeducator
 Philosophies –
education, reading,
classroom
management

16. Components Continued
5. Work 6. Work service
Samples/Artifacts 7. Honors, awards, or
 Photographs recognitions
 Videos 8. Professional
 Coursework artifacts evaluations
 Actual documents or
forms
9. Personals
 Technology 10. Goal statements
11. Other

17. NCLB
 Assisting with teaching reading.
 Assisting with teaching writing.
 Assisting with teaching mathematics.

18. NCLB “Highly Qualified”
Artifacts
 Reading/Writing/Mathematics
 Samples
 Lesson plan reflection
 Examples of corrective feedback related to
student writing
 Graphic organizer used to reinforce math
concept

19. Reflection
requires looking at information, considering
events, studying what happened, & drawing
conclusions to make changes in practice.

20. What now?

21. What are three goals you’d like to
accomplish?

22. Three Tasks/Goals
To start on the To improve your skills
portfolio & document in the
1. portfolio
2. 1.
3. 2.
3.

23. “Nothing done for children is
ever wasted.” Garrison Keillor