Rosales earns Para-Professional of the Year from the Wyoming Education Association

Rosales is one of 36 nominees invited to attend the 2024 National Education Association’s (NEA) ESP conference March 22-24, in Las Vegas, where one nominee will be presented with the NEA ESP of the Year Award. She will participate in workshops designed to help ESPs excel in their careers, champion racial and social justice, build community relationships, and positively impact student success.

Rosales, who has been a paraeducator for 12 years, will graduate in May with a K-12 Special Education bachelor’s degree. She is part of the CSC Para-to-Teacher program designed for working paraprofessionals.

“I decided at age 45 to go back to school through CSC,” she said. “What pulled me into the program, was a phone call to ask questions. I spoke to Dr. Hank McCallum and he answered all my questions, but more importantly, his passion and support for this program drew me in. I was accepted into the program in June of 2021. The experiences have shown me the impact that teachers can have on students' lives and have motivated me to pursue a career in teaching.”

She said the CSC program's focus on Special Education appealed to her.

“CSC offered a pathway that aligned with my professional experience, my passion for educational advocacy, and my mission to foster positive change within the educational system,” she said. “It provides the tools to address the unique needs of every student, ensuring they have access to high-quality education. This degree will enable me to make a more substantial difference in the lives of students with diverse learning requirements.”

The support she received from CSC faculty and staff while working and pursuing her coursework made a positive impression.

“They have been patient, and they understand paraeducators are educators and treat us as such. They have helped me become a better educator during my journey. Stefani Van Vleet, the Project Coordinator for Field Experiences, has been my support, inspiration, and cheerleader,” Rosales said. “The respect and guidance I received were individualized and I was treated as an educator.”

During 12 years as a paraeducator, Rosales became a member of the Wyoming Education Association and the National Education Association. She is working with the NEA to create micro-credentials for all ESPs to receive higher wages, receive PTSB credits, and gain a micro-credential badge.

“I wanted to be a voice for change for my district, my state, and the nation. I knew we deserved respect, higher wages, and professional development to help us have the same opportunities as certified staff,” Rosales said. “My, ‘why’ is to empower our roles and change the narrative for ESPs. I couldn’t do this without the support of the Wyoming Education Association and the National Education Association.”

Her classroom experiences have confirmed her goals and dreams of becoming a teacher.

“I knew I wanted to become a teacher when I stepped into a classroom. I feel all my experiences and connections have brought me a step closer to becoming a teacher. I wanted to grow as an educator to advocate better for my students and families. I feel that as a future teacher, I will go into this career with high ambitions and lofty goals,” she said.

She said one of the most interesting and challenging aspects of becoming a teacher is cultural competence or learning about, interacting with, and understanding people from a variety of backgrounds.

“It's not enough to just be aware of the issues, but as ESPs we need to be a proactive, powerful voice in our schools and our communities about issues like cultural inclusion,” she said.