Spotlight on Roseville School District Paraprofessionals: Jenny Okland

Editor's note: Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has proclaimed this as Paraprofessionals Week. in honor of that proclamation, Roseville Patch is highlighting the work of some of District 623's paras. Today's story is about Jenny Okland, a para at Falcon Heights Elementary School.

Jenny Okland is in her first year of serving as a paraprofessional at Falcon Heights Elementary School after serving in a similar capacity for the past three school years in North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District 622.

A graduate of Northern Michigan University with teaching license in special education, Okland said being a paraprofessional allows her to work with students on a one-to-one basis and "having more of a working relationship" with them.

Currently, Okland's schedule is working with one sixth-grade student in the mornings, serving as a playground supervisor in the early afternoon and then working with other sixth-grade student in the latter part of the school day.

Contending there is no down side to her job, Okland said, "My favorite part of my job is working closely with the students and helping them every day."