Special ed teacher certification pushed

By Linda Conner Lambeck

Connecticut Post

October 18, 2007

BRIDGEPORT — Southern Connecticut State University's program to turn teacher aides here into fully certified special education teachers in a year, at no cost, has yet to reach its full enrollment of 30 participants.

The program is that tough.

"Bridgeport will be the city that has 30. I know they will be," Carol Pannozzo, human resources director for the city school district, said at the back of the Batalla School cafetoriumcq Wednesday during a presentation on the program.

Between Pannozzo and SCSU presenters at the front of the room sat more than 80 of the school district's 400 paraprofessionals, also known as teacher's aides, who scribbled notes as the program was detailed for them.

To participate, they need a bachelor's degree and cumulative grade point average of 2.7 on all the college work they've ever done. They need to take Praxis, a reading, writing and math test the state requires of all would-be teachers. And they also need letters of recommendation.

Then, for a year starting next summer, they have to begin amassing 42.5 credits toward a special education certificate program, generally taking two courses at a time as they work. Those who earn enough credits can start teaching under a special state permit as soon as next fall if they pass yet another hurdle by passing a Praxis II, a test administered in the subject they will teach.

Ed Roman, a former New Haven teacher and now in SCSU's School of Education, told the group that those who lack a passion for teaching need not apply.

"You have to have it in your heart. And you have to have a real sincere burning desire in your stomach to succeed," he said.

Pam Brucker, chairwoman of Southern's Special Education Department, said candidates need determination and discipline to match their desire.

Already offered in New Haven and Hartford, the program has yet to attract a full contingent of 30 participants who stick with the program through completion. New Haven has had about 17 complete the program; Hartford, 10.

Those who do complete the program, however, report it was one of the best experiences in their lives, said Roman.

They are also more likely to stay in the field. Special education has a high attrition rate. Paraprofessionals, who know the kids and live in the neighborhoods, go into the job knowing what to expect.

The program is free to participants because it is financed by a $2.25 million federal grant — the largest SCSU has ever received — that was filtered through the state, The grant not only pays tuition, but for books, childcare, dinner breaks, and will be taught by SCSU professors in Bridgeport to eliminate commuting issues.

The idea, said Brucker, is to remove all barriers for people who have demonstrated the potential and the desire to be special-education teachers in urban school districts.

The grant is aimed at addressing the chronic shortage of special-education teachers in Connecticut and nationwide.

Paraprofessionals generally work with certified teachers, but cannot take over a classroom without full teaching credentials.

Those who successfully complete the program will be urged to return to Bridgeport to teach, but are not required to do so.

Vanessa Perez, 24, a special-education aide at Hooker School, said the program sounds great.

A Bridgeport native who graduated last year from the University of Bridgeport, Perez said she struggled for a while trying to figure out what she wanted to do.

"This position opened up. At first wanted to do regular ed, but once I spent a little time in special ed, it just fit," Perez said of her teacher's aide assignment.

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