Evidence Based Practices- Para to Teacher | PaTTANpod [S5E21]

Speaking: Ashley Harned, Logan Buffington, Danielle Leshak, Aimee Miller
5/1/2023

This video will highlight the story of a paraprofessional's journey to becoming a certified Special Education teacher within a school district. Click here for more episodes https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCkBP2csbOssi3rUsfM-yQT1DVGUihxg2 Also available in podcast format on iTunes and Google Play Music iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pattanpod/id1436873041?mt=2 Google Play Music https://play.google.com/music/m/Iwyth5xyq26f67f4qrzktutbxke?t=PaTTANpod Logan Buffington teaches Autism Support with the Central Dauphin School District. Prior to this, he worked as a paraprofessional in a secondary autism support classroom. Logan obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Messiah University and a special education certification from Eastern University. He is currently enrolled in Eastern University’s Masters of Education in Special Education. Danielle Leshak is currently a Supervisor of Special Education with the Central Dauphin School District. Prior to being a Supervisor, Danielle worked as a Middle School Autism Support Teacher for six years and as an elementary emotional support teacher for five years. Danielle obtained her undergraduate degree in Special Education from Millersville University. She obtained her Master’s Degree from Shippensburg University. She is currently enrolled in Shippensburg University’s Educational Leadership Program to obtain her Pennsylvania K-12 Principal Certification along with her Supervisor of Special Education Certification. Aimee Miller, M.Ed., BCBA is an educational consultant with the Pennsylvania Autism Initiative. She earned her master's degree in education from Cabrini College and her undergraduate degree in special education from Bridgewater College of Virginia. She completed her course work to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at Florida Institute of Technology. Aimee became an educational consultant with PaTTAN in 2013. While working at PaTTAN, she has had the opportunity to provide direct consultation and training based on current research and practice in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis to teachers and staff working in Autism Support classrooms throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Prior to beginning her work with PaTTAN, Aimee taught special education in Maryland and Pennsylvania for 13 years. For the last six years of her teaching career, she taught in a K–2 classroom that was part of the Pennsylvania Autism Initiative. During these years, while receiving consultation and technical training from PaTTAN consultants in her own classroom, Aimee realized how much of an impact ABA could have on teachers’ practices and therefore on student outcomes. The students we serve are our most valuable assets and they deserve every opportunity to learn that we are able to provide to them. Helping teachers and classroom teams realize the impact their instruction has on students, families, and communities is one of the most valuable aspects of Aimee’s career as a BCBA and teacher.