Pictured are Warsaw Area Career Center education student Alyssa Owens, left, and her Work-Based Learning supervisor, Cheri Sleighter, at Washington Elementary. Photo provided.

News Release

WARSAW — Alyssa Owens is working as a paraprofessional intern at Washington Elementary School in Warsaw through the Warsaw Area Career Center’s Work-Based Learning program offered by Warsaw Community Schools.

Owens is the daughter of Holly Owens and Dallas Owens. She plans to attend college to study secondary education. Although she hasn’t chosen a school yet, Owens said Indiana Wesleyan University currently is her top choice.

What are your job responsibilities? “I work one on one with a nonverbal Down syndrome student, assisting her in reading, writing and interacting with her at recess,” Owens said in a news release.

How has this position been helpful to you? “It has helped me narrow down what grade I would like to teach in the future.”

What have you learned? “I have definitely gained more patience while in this position and become even more driven to become a teacher and to be able to impact my students’ lives,” said Owens.

How is this job preparing you for the future? “This job has been able to give me hands-on experiences and to explore different areas in education that I hadn’t considered beforehand,” she said.

What do you like about this job? “I love being able to work with kids and help them grow their knowledge, while building relationships with them.”

What Career Center classes have you taken in your pathway? “Principles of Teaching and Teaching and Learning.”

Cheri Sleighter, principal of Washington Elementary School in Warsaw, is Owens’ supervisor during her internship.

What duties does this student perform? “One on one assistant with a student.”

How is this job preparing this student for the future? “She is getting experience working in the classroom observing a high quality teacher, working with special needs students and understanding classroom as well as individual management,” Sleighter said.

What do you think of the WACC Work-Based Learning program? “It has worked well for our building; having Alyssa has been a great benefit and provided an opportunity that has been mutually beneficial.”

Why were you willing to partner with the WACC in this program? “We are a TEAM!!!”