A cohort of 100 Iowa paraeducators was recently selected for a new mental health training fellowship offered by the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health.
The first-ever of its kind in Iowa, the fellowship will equip paraeducators with skills in mental health literacy, relationship-building, suicide screening, immediate crisis response, and restorative practices, all of which help cultivate an environment of inclusion and wellness within classrooms and schools.
“Paraeducators play such a vital role in our schools, so I'm thrilled we can empower them through this innovative new mental health fellowship,” said Kari Vogelgesang, University of Iowa College of Education Clinical Associate Professor, and director of professional development for the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health. “Paraeducators help nurture and support students. So, when they can develop skills that prepare them to empathetically broach mental health concerns and better understand how to respond to students struggling with trauma or crisis, the entire school community benefits.”
As part of the fellowship, each paraeducator will attend three in-person trainings this fall and complete online digital courses to further learning and fulfill licensure requirements. The first training will take place in Des Moines on Oct. 27.
“I am eager to attend the upcoming mental health training being offered to paraeducators,” said Rae Feddersen, paraeducator from Clinton Community School District. “Adding even more tools to my ever-expanding toolbox will help me achieve our district's goal, to ‘Do What’s Best for Kids.’
Qualifying school districts will receive $15,000 per eligible paraeducator to cover travel, lodging, and substitute costs for the trainings as well as to invest in the growth of their entire paraeducator program. More than $1 million will be distributed to Iowa school districts to support this program. District administrators were invited to submit nominations for the fellowship last summer.
Applications were evaluated by a committee of Scanlan Center for School Mental Health staff and affiliated faculty. This competitive fellowship was open to all Iowa public school districts.
Below are the paraeducators participating in the training:
Anamosa Community School District (Anamosa, Iowa)
Abby Smith, Strawberry Hill Elementary
Ronna English, Strawberry Hill Elementary
Krystin Peterson, Anamosa High School
Aplington-Parkersburg Community Schools (Parkersburg, Iowa)
Veronica Uthe
Atlantic Community School District (Atlantic, Iowa)
Kerri Dennison, Washington Elementary
Julie Phippen, Atlantic Middle School
Mallory Kirchoff, Atlantic High School
Benton Community Schools (Van Horne, Iowa)
Jami Hall, Benton Middle/High School
Kody DeNeve, Norway Intermediate
Amy Wells, Norway Intermediate
Bettendorf Community School District (Bettendorf, Iowa)
Samantha Farra, Bettendorf Middle School
Deborah Oliveira, Neil Armstrong Elementary
Melissa Hart, Bettendorf Middle School
Kathleen Van Horn, Bettendorf Middle School
Boone Community School District (Boone, Iowa)
Amber Degeneffe, Franklin Elementary
Kelsi Papesh, Boone Middle School
Emma Brodgen, Lincoln Elementary
Center Point-Urbana Community School District (Center Point, Iowa)
- Hallie Wenger
- Tiffany Bena
Central Community School District (Elkader, Iowa)
- Hailey Funke (Central Middle/High School)
Choice Charter School (Union, Iowa)
- Jessica Campbell
Clinton Community School District (Clinton, Iowa)
- Monica Nielsen, Bluff Elementary
- Angie Richardson, Jefferson Elementary
- Kellie Moore, Clinton Middle School
- Danielle Lathrop
Crossroads Academy (Decorah, Iowa)
- Crystal Moellers
Dubuque Community School District (Dubuque, Iowa)
Natalie Mitchell, Prescott Elementary School
Mike Timm, Prescott Elementary School
Leeann Peterson, Marshall Elementary School
Beth Tracht, Audubon Elementary School
Jody Bolsinger, Lincoln Elementary School
Eldora-New Providence School District (Eldora, Iowa)
- Hilary Rohwedder
Essex Community School District
- Carrie Schuster
Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District (Estherville, Iowa)
- Michelle Griese
- Laura Sidles
- Janella Bodle
Fort Dodge Community School District (Fort Dodge, Iowa)
- Daniella Wille, Butler Elementary
- Megan Scott, Fort Dodge Middle School
- Mary Johnson, Fort Dodge Middle School
- Renysha Newsome, Fort Dodge Senior High
Graettinger-Terril Community School District (Graettinger and Terril, Iowa)
- Brandi Cellan
Hamburg Community School District (Hamburg, Iowa)
- Emily Welch
Hinton Community School District (Hinton, Iowa)
- Sarah Johnston
- Addy Huscher
Interstate 35 Community Schools (Turo, Iowa)
- Stacy Schultz
Iowa City Community School District (Iowa City, Iowa)
- Jessica Decker, City High School
- Patrick Muller, South East Junior High
- Valerie Quarles, Liberty High School
- Abigail Schaefer-Van Houtte, Grant Wood Elementary
Janesville Community School District (Janesville, Iowa)
- April Clubine
Johnston Community School District (Johnston, Iowa)
- Wizer Hamilton, Lawson Elementary
- Annette Allender, Wallace Elementary
- Patty Ostwald, Wallace Elementary
- Sonja Florer, Horizon Elementary
Lewis Central Community School District (Council Bluffs, Iowa)
- Howard Iske
- Mary Greenwood, Kreft Primary School
- Judy Hoppe, Lewis Central Middle School
- Kymberlee Veliz, Lewis Central High School
Linn Mar Community School District (Marion, Iowa)
- Dave Blum, Boulder Peak Intermediate
- Julia Neihart, Boulder Peak Intermediate
- Christine Vilardo, Boulder Peak Intermediate
- Susan Grensteiner, Boulder Peak Intermediate
Logan Magnolia Community School District (Logan, Iowa)
- Vicki Myers
Madrid Community Schools (Madrid, Iowa)
- Diane Havlik
Manson Northwest Webster - North Central Consortium School (Fort Dodge, Iowa)
- Courtney Preston
- Ira Shivers
Marshalltown Community School District (Marshalltown, Iowa)
- Renee Wiegand
- Dana Rosacker
- Krystal Petersen
Muscatine Community School District (Muscatine, Iowa)
- Lori Shield, McKinley Elementary
- Jasmine Mills, Franklin Elementary
- Susan Melton, McKinley Elementary
- Bre Harrington, Grant Elementary
North Polk Community School District (Alleman, Iowa)
- Julie Krehbiel, North Polk High School
- Julie Rasmussen, North Polk Middle School
- Jenny Schmidt, West Elementary School
North Scott Community School District (Eldridge, Iowa)
- Luci Maxwell, North Scott High School
- Denise Frauen, North Scott High School
- Karen Cartsen, Edward White Elementary School
- Amanda Ohsann, Edward White Elementary School
Ottumwa Community School District (Ottumwa, Iowa)
- Loren Clark, Evans Middle School
- Morgan Lockhart, Wilson Elementary
- Brenda Anderson, Ottumwa High School
- Breanna Weinhold, Evans Middle School
Pella Community School District (Pella, Iowa)
- Stephanie Feree
Pocahontas Area Community School District (Pocahontas, Iowa)
- Michael Spaulding
Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School District (Ruthven, Iowa)
- Darcy Benson
Seymour Community School District (Seymour, Iowa)
- Shelly Hornaday
South Central Calhoun Community Schools (Lake City, Iowa)
- Ellie McChesney
South Hardin Community School District (Hardin, Iowa)
- Courtney Friest
South Tama School District (Tama, Iowa)
- Melinda Martens, South Tama Elementary
- Jenna Plum, South Tama Middle School
- Jenniffer Gross
St. Ansgar Community School District (St. Ansgar, Iowa)
- Emily Nalan-May
Tri-County Community School (Thornburg, Iowa)
- Adrianne Thomas
West Branch Community School District (West Branch, Iowa)
- Kimberly Linn
Woodbine Community School District (Woodbine, Iowa)
- Rachel Flaitza
Funding for this fellowship was made possible by a collaboration between The University of Iowa College of Education and the Iowa Department of Education.