NEARI ESP of the Year 2010

‘Connections’ drive ESP of the Year

A long time school volunteer, Barrington’s Cheryl Palumbo jumped at the chance to become a teacher assistant for an autistic student. It was a five hour/day position, she said, but “I never worked five hours.” That was 17 years ago, and she hasn’t looked back since.

Palumbo was named 2010 Educational Support Professional of the Year during the annual NEARI ESP Day dinner November 18. Stunned at her selection, she didn’t say much beyond thanking the applauding crowd in the room.

A few weeks later, with some perspective, she gives this advice to her fellow ESP members. “Get involved in the union – it’s the only way to see change happen. Mentor incoming people – everyone gains in the end. Maintain a strong liaison between your students’ homes and school. Help them feel confident and secure – that’s how they’ll learn best. Keep working to raise the bar for our profession.”

Some of Palumbo’s work has indeed been devoted to raising the bar. Taking her knowledge as a special education para, she worked with a former principal and director of special education to develop protocols for goal-setting and evaluating teacher assistants, resulting in the statewide adoption of the Teacher Assistant Appraisal Manual. She and her colleagues presented the information at a national conference for para-educators, and many states and communities have replicated the process.

Several years ago, Palumbo was selected by the RI Department of Education to join with a special educator and a reading teacher to conduct a series of workshops. She serves as a district-wide teacher assistant mentor, and, as such, is in charge of professional programs for incoming support professionals.

The emphasis on professional development carries into Palumbo’s Association work as well. She is a member of the B.E.S.T. (Barrington Education Support Team) Professional Development Committee, along with the Evaluation Committee, Executive Board, and Sunshine Committee.

Still, she has hours left in her day to devote to projects such as food, toy, outerwear and school supply drives for inner-city schools. Closer to home, she has rallied members of her school staff to work at a soup kitchen during the holidays, coordinated the B.E.S.T. Gingerbread Express donations, and led a team of teachers in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

But it’s what happens in the classroom that gives her the most satisfaction. She wrote in her nominee statement, “My greatest personal achievement is the deep connection that I foster and maintain with the students that I have had. I see them as people that have a lot to offer.”

Much like an elementary student, she says her favorite part of the day is recess – “as long as it’s a beautiful day.”

Speaking of her special education charges, she explained, “There are so many opportunities outside for teaching the children. We help with social interactions. We’re directing them in how to foster friends, and learn the rules of games. We’re also guiding them in models of good behavior – and that goes for all the students.
“I can’t see myself not being here, in this role. The money’s not great, but the rewards are.”

ESP of the Year 2009