CABOT — To Becky Bryant, working with the special-education students at Cabot High School is not just a job; it’s a calling.
While standing in the hallway decorated with drawings done by some of Bryant’s students, Tyrek Powell said he enjoys spending time with Bryant. Powell is in a special-education class at Cabot High School, and he is just one of the many students Bryant has gotten to know over the years.
Powell said he likes to play football, and Bryant immediately started bragging on Powell’s many talents.
“He’s awesome. He’s an awesome athlete,” she said. “I also used to take him to art. He loves shoes, and he’s always drawing pictures of shoes. When he goes to the mall on field trips, he has to go look at the shoes. He’s all about those nice-looking sneakers.”
When Bryant would take Powell to his physical-education class, she said, she would do “the wave” when he did something well. At this memory, Powell laughed a bit and went through the motions, lifting his hands up in celebration.
Bryant is a paraprofessional for special-education classes at the high school. Her job is to assist teachers throughout the day. She started working at the school as a special-education substitute teacher in the 2006-07 school year and was offered a contract position as a paraprofessional the next year. Since then, she has worked with classes at different levels of special education by helping students stay on task, teaching them skills to help them become independent, and making sure they do not miss out on special events throughout the year.
In November, Bryant was presented with the Arkansas Council for Exceptional Children Special Education Paraprofessional of the Year Award, a statewide honor that is a testament to her work in the classroom and the effects she has on the students with which she interacts.
“I feel honored,” she said. “I love what I do.”
Jamie Rusher, one of the teachers Bryant has worked with throughout the years, said Bryant possesses all of the characteristics of a great paraprofessional, including loving kids, staying calm, knowing when to back off or step in, and having a positive attitude.
“Mrs. Bryant gets to know the kids, their needs, strengths and dreams,” Rusher said. “She uses these to help teach, mentor and sculpt the students into young adults. She treats each student with the utmost respect. Her classroom teachers count on her to be there for the students and to make their high school experience a safe and effective part of their lives.”
Bryant’s niece nominated her for the award, and while it is an honor to be the recipient, Bryant said she does not do her job for the recognition.
“I don’t need an award,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like a job or work. We have so much fun. It’s interacting with the kids and helping them. I love it.”
In the past seven years as a paraprofessional working with special-education students, Bryant has worked hard to make sure her students do not miss out on any of the regular high school activities. During homecoming week, her
students participate in the spirit activities, and for the past three years, she and some of the teachers have made sure their students have an opportunity to attend the prom.
“It’s the hype around campus, so I wanted our kids to get excited about it, too,” she said. “We debated on doing our own prom, but we decided to go with everyone else.”
Bryant and the teachers find prom dresses for the girls and do their hair, makeup, manicures and pedicures. They have a pizza party beforehand for their students, then go on to chaperone the dance.
The first year they did this, the prom was in Little Rock, and the teachers arranged for the students to ride in the Cabot Papa John’s Pizza limousine to the dance. Now the prom is held on campus, but Bryant and the teachers still have a pre-party before the dance and stay until the last of their students goes home for the night.
“Every year, the kids say they want to stay out until midnight, but about 9 o’clock, they’re ready to go,” she said. “We chaperone until their parents come pick them up.”
In some of the special-education classrooms, there is an added emphasis for teachers and paraprofessionals to make sure the students are gaining skills to develop their independence. This comes in many forms, and Bryant knows that every little opportunity matters to the students. That’s why, for instance, they had do-it-yourself popcorn and hot chocolate last week so the students could make their own snacks during class.
“We treat them like they are adults,” she said. “We get them ready for what’s going to happen after high school — jobs or whatever they’re going to transition into. They’ve got to be independent.”
Bryant said educating students is a joint effort between teachers, parents,
paraprofessionals and the school district. Cabot Public Schools, she said, has a good team environment in the special-education department.
Of course, Bryant is an important part of that team. Rusher said Bryant’s work shows that she is invested in making sure the students get the best education possible.
“She understands the need and use for data collection and helps with different assessments,” Rusher said. “She is looked at by her peers as a wonderful person and colleague. Mrs. Bryant is also able to monitor and adjust to the multiple situations teachers face in special-education work.”
With some students, the relationship does not end at graduation. Bryant said she has kept in touch with many of her former students, including one who is the same age as her sons and has become friends with the whole family. During the summers, Bryant said, her family used to run a fireworks tent, and this former student would come to hang out and work with everyone.
“It’s just great to see them doing well,” she said.
Staff writer Angela Spencer can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or aspencer@arkansasonline.com.