Paraeducator is on her way to becoming teacher

1/4/2007

When Sue Sutton, a paraeducator for the continuing education program at Chaffey High School District, started about 16 years ago, she didn’t imagine it was her first step toward becoming a teacher.

Sutton, a member of CSEA’s Chaffey High Chapter 210, said that approximately four years ago, the younger of her two daughters was graduating high school. Sutton decided she could take the next step and become a teacher. After all, she had already been instructing students for several years.

“I feel I do a lot of the same things that teachers are doing,” she said. “I work with the students and I know them.”

Sutton is currently working as a paraeducator. She sees students individually by appointment whenever they need help in any subject.

“I love being one-on-one with them because you can be a lot more personable,” she said. “It helps me keep in touch with the kids and I can serve them really well on a one-on-one basis.”

Sutton is enrolled in a teaching credential program. In about a year, she will be a student teacher. Soon after that, she will become an English teacher.

John Brata, Sutton’s supervisor, said that she will make an excellent teacher.

“She has a tremendous work ethic, she’s very conscientious, she gets a good read on the kids on whether they’re serious or just playing, and she’s always prepared,” he said.

Intangible qualities add to her qualifications
Sutton’s co-worker and fellow CSEA member Linda LeMaster said that Sutton’s intangible qualities add to the list of qualifications that will make her an outstanding classroom instructor.

“Sue is a very caring person,” LeMaster said. “She is very well qualified. She is someone who knows how to help kids learn using their own skills. She has a heart for high-school-aged kids in particular.”

Sutton said that another benefit of working toward becoming a teacher is providing a positive example to her two adult daughters and the students with whom she works. She said that by taking care of her family, working full-time and going to school full-time, she demonstrates to her students that they, too, can accomplish their goals if they work hard.

“For some of the students it’s about, ‘if she can do it, I can do it, too,’” Sutton said. “I set a standard for myself that I wanted to be successful and that I wanted to be a good role model for my students. I can’t expect any less from myself than I can from them.”

Since Sutton works in the continuing education program, she interacts mostly with the students who have had problems navigating through high school. She said that she feels compassion for them because they have had many experiences that most people wouldn’t want to go through.

“They need understanding and they need love,” she said. “For me, it’s not just about shoving education down their throats, but about reaching out to other human beings. It’s about forging a relationship with them.”

Still, Sutton is not afraid to challenge her students to succeed.

“I don’t prejudge them,” she said. “I set high expectations for them because a lot of the time they will rise to the occasion.”

Leaving her job with pride
When Sutton leaves her current position as a paraeducator to guide a class full of hungry minds, she said she will look back with fondness at the days of working one-on-one with the challenging students and being a CSEA member.

“I have been so proud to be a classified employee,” she said. “It has been exciting to me to see where I’ve been, where I’m at and where I’m headed.

“I know the difference that we can make on a daily basis.”

Chapter president Joe Martinez said he will miss having Sutton as a member of his chapter but is glad that she is moving on.

“She definitely enjoys helping kids and enjoys the school,” Martinez said. “I’m going to miss her, but I love that there’s a way up for her, because of the career ladder.”

RELATED RESOURCES

CSEA Members: Learn more about paraeducator career ladders