Beau’s Beautiful Blessings is seeking nominations for the 2023 Paraeducator of the Year. The recipient will receive a $500 cash award and a plaque. Beau’s Beautiful Blessings is a non-profit organization and is the fiscal agent of Place to Play Playground in Cedar Falls.

This is the fifth year for the award intending to acknowledge a deserving paraeducator in the Cedar Valley. To qualify, they must be a paraeducator working in a Cedar Valley school (Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and surrounding communities) and work with a child who has a history of epilepsy, brain abnormalities, and/or intellectual disabilities.

Nominations are due or postmarked by May 15, 2023. Nominations are available on www.BeausBeautifulBlessings.com.  Please mail them to Beau’s Beautiful Blessings at 4426 Butterfield Road, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613. The winner will be announced in May.

Required information includes how the paraeducator has shown a passion for education, commitment to inclusion, and dedication to innovation. Paraeducators can self-nominate.

Paraeducators work under the supervision of teachers or other licensed personnel who have the ultimate responsibility for the design and implementation of education and related service programs. They provide assistance to a variety of students including those with and without disabilities, with health needs, with limited English, and others. The service of paraeducators contributes significantly to the success of individual children and youth, schools, and educational programs.

For more information, contact Amanda Weichers at amanda@weicksco.com or Sarah Corkery at corkerysarah@gmail.com.