Laura Stanley, Associate Teacher, Multi-Disabilities Support Program
Laura Stanley has been working as an Associate Teacher for CIU 20 for 15 years. She has worked in various programs and locations, with this being her first year at Asa Packer Elementary.
Laura Stanley has been working as an Associate Teacher for CIU 20 for 15 years. She has worked in various programs and locations, with this being her first year at Asa Packer Elementary.
Ms. Stanley says the most rewarding part of her job is "working with the students and seeing the progress made in goal work. Also, I love seeing the students smile and laugh." She credits her collaboration with classroom teacher Jessica Wall for the positive environment in the classroom, "I think that being supportive and working together creates a successful classroom. Help wherever needed and don’t wait to be asked, just do it."
Laura enjoys connecting with her students by singing to them and helping them play with their favorite toys. Her advice for a new employee starting out at the IU includes "be supportive, treat everyone with respect, and have fun. The students feed off of you, so give off good vibes."
Jessica Wall, Teacher, Multi-Disabilities Support Program
Jessica Wall started working for CIU 20 in 2019 when she joined the Partial Hospitalization Program as an Associate Teacher. She then worked as a Mental Health Worker in the same program before becoming a Teacher in the Multi-Disabilities Support Program at the end of the 2022 school year.
Jessica Wall started working for CIU 20 in 2019 when she joined the Partial Hospitalization Program as an Associate Teacher. She then worked as a Mental Health Worker in the same program before becoming a Teacher in the Multi-Disabilities Support Program at the end of the 2022 school year.
Ms. Wall says the most rewarding part of her job is "working with the children and seeing their progress...when you see a student fully understand a new concept or master a goal, it is the most rewarding feeling." Their classroom at Asa Packer Elementary School has been running on a two-staff model, and while she acknowledges the difficulty with the situation, she credits communication, awareness, patience, understanding, and flexibility to keeping the environment positive for the students.
Jessica's advice for a new employee starting out at the IU includes "communicate with your team members about how you are feeling in the classroom. The classroom can be overwhelming sometimes, so take breaks when needed."