The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Lorain paraprofessional honored
Adam Thompson thought he was heading to a Friday potluck lunch Nov. 6 at Lorain’s Helen Steiner Rice Elementary School.
When Thompson, a paraprofessional arrived, his colleagues were waiting to give him a welcome surprise for his work in making a difference in the lives of local youth.
Recently, he was honored as Paraprofessional of the Year by the Council for Exceptional Children of Ohio, the largest professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of children and youth with disabilities, gifts and talents.
Nominated by Ashland University professor Jim Chapple, the award recognizes Thompson as the best paraprofessional in the state of Ohio by the organization numbering 30,000 members across the country.
Chapple said in his work with Lorain City Schools, he has seen Thompson in action and the positive impact he has had on students in dedicating himself to Lorain
youth.
“He’s just a great guy for supporting all kids, but especially kids who have some kind of challenge,” Chapple said. “And I think he’s easygoing, he’s got a good sense of humor and keeps everybody engaged.”
Drawing on his love of a good meal, Thompson walked into the cafeteria to applause with his students appearing via videoconference.
Being recognized as 2020 Paraprofessional of the Year comes full circle.
Thompson said growing up, he wasn’t the best student.
But he said when he found education, helping young people who had extra challenges and adversity, helped him find purpose and meaning in making a difference in their lives.
“Helping the kids helped me,” Thompson said. “So, it’s just really huge to be a male influence in some of these kids lives who may need it, because I needed a huge male influence in my life.
“I have one, luckily. You just see with some of these kids, especially in Lorain. You know that a lot of them need that positive male influence.”
For Thompson, education is about building relationships.
He said it was a high school wrestling coach who had a huge impact in changing the direction of his life and he’s been able to give back in other ways in coaching sports, including freshman football at Lorain High School, high school and middle school wrestling in Oberlin and track and field in Lorain.
Teaching remotely due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, he said the biggest joy he gets is being there and working with his students and providing a safe place for them to learn and grow.