Re: Your Kid's aide??

April 14, 2009

I agree with you. My daughter is in 5th grade and has had the same aide since

kindergarten. Unfortunately, as with almost everything with our kids, we

must fight! You know your child best, please continue to speak up for what you

know is right. Good Luck

Peggy, mom to Emma(12)

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To: imdsa <mosaicds >

Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 11:02:13 PM

Subject: Your Kid's aide??

Hi everyone! I wanted to hear from some of you about your kid's aide that they

get through the school.

I guess I was under the impression that once your child is assign an aide that

that aide follows them every year. I guess I'm wrong in thinking that. I was

told that I could request to have an aide follow her, but it would be unlikely

for it to happen.

The other day I met with the head of special needs for our school, and I asked

her about it, and she said that they take great pride in finding a new aide for

the students every year. I told her that I didn't really like that idea. I

explain that, I would like Adde to have the same aide every year. Since it takes

Adde a long time to warm up, to someone new. Plus this aide would know all of

Adde's in's and outs. She just smiled and said that she will be fine.

O.K. ...so am I wrong for wanting this? I mean it's like calling the Insurance

Company, and going through all the hoopla for 20 minutes....and the lady saying

to you.... OH! I'm Sorry, I'll get you to the right dept. lol!!!...And then you

have to start it all over again. I just want a stable, constant person to go to.

And not have to start all over again every year. If any of you have, or had any

experience with this please give your input. Thanks!

mom to Adde

April 14, 2009

I know that, in KY, instructional assistants are assigned to teachers, not

students. It does turn out that, quite often, one IA ends up working mostly

with one child, but it really is discouraged. It especially does not happen

that one aide stays with the same student for all 13 years of school. For one

thing, staff changes for many reasons (people move, get different jobs, etc...).

In fact, many IAs bolt for a better-paying job as soon as the opportunity

presents itself. (Have you SEEN the paltry amount those folks are paid for the

amount of hard work they do? Many are working for the health insurance premiums

alone!). For another, if a child becomes attached to just the one person, what

happens if that person is absent one day and a sub is there in his/her place and

the child has never worked with anyone else before? That causes its own set of

problems. Also, many IAs -- I'd say most, actually -- would not be willing to

change schools every time the child moved up to the next level (preschool to

elementary, elementary to middle, middle to high). Many are better at working

with one age group than another. Ultimately, the goal would be for the child to

be more independent -- especially by the time they were in high school. Being

with the same person year after year does not foster that independence. Also,

it is the norm for a child to have a different teacher each year. It's pretty

much the same with IAs. Plus, what if she gets an IA who is not the " right fit "

and then she is stuck with her for several years. That would be a much more

difficult situation than having to get accustomed to someone new each year.

Adde really will be fine -- and will probably have many more opportunities to

grow if she is not stuck with the same IA year after year.

A.

Special Educator

Simon Kenton HS

11132 Madison Pk.

Independence, KY 41051

(859)960-0348

cynthia.jones@...

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From: MosaicDS on behalf of brandy hellard

Sent: Mon 4/13/2009 11:02 PM

To: imdsa