Jessica Whelan, Teaching Assistant
Why did you choose this specific field?
My mom is lower functioning and I have been around disabilities her whole life. It has always been my dream to work with people that have special needs.
What's a day like for you at Sierra School?
My routine is pretty consistent, focused on assisting kids in various ways throughout the day.
What do you enjoy most about coming to school every day?
I really enjoy teaching the students and helping them when they get frustrate throughout the day.
Can you give an example of a ‘Little Victory’ you’ve seen a student achieve at school?
I worked with a student last year who would display frequent physical aggression and would often attempt to leave the classroom and school. Through hard work and dedication, this student rarely displays either of those behaviors any more.
Can you describe something special about your team and the school?
It’s important for everyone to know that we are not just a regular school and that our staff works hard every single day. Just as our staff does every day, it’s important that those in the community do their best to be patient with our students.
Everyone at our school has the same mentality. We never give up when it comes to our students.
