GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College (GCC) is developing a paraeducator training program that administrators hope will address vacancies in the field across the state and locally, while also reconceptualizing the role as a first step in a career.

“While trainees are at GCC in this training program, we’re also helping them build a network of peers and mentors in the field that they can turn to when they’re wondering what their next step is in their career pathway,” said Associate Dean of Workforce Development Alexandra Carley.

The program is under development, thanks to a Department of Higher Education planning grant.

“Ideally, this is going to be a summer training program that will last about six weeks, so we’re training entry-level job seekers as paraeducators for the start of the new school year,” Carley said.

The Training Resources and Internship Network (TRAIN) grant, which the college received in the fall, was used to bring on consultants as “subject matter experts” to help conceptualize the program.

“We also have support from two employers on the planning grant as well — both the Greenfield School [Department] and the Mohawk Trail Regional School District have been planning partners,” Carley explained. “We’ve really been focused on a responsive program design, in that we’ve worked with those two districts to understand, what are the skills you look for in your paraeducators? … What are your hiring timelines? What are your needs and the supports we can provide when we train someone?”

She said the training program is as much about getting someone’s “foot in the door” as it is about ensuring retention in the field.

“This is such an exciting time to be an educator and an education provider,” Carley said.

She said the college has applied for an implementation grant, which it hopes to have in time for a July launch of the program.

“We’re targeting an initial cohort of 15 students,” she said. “We will be looking to enroll entry-level job seekers who have a passion in this field, who really consider the work of a paraeducator as a vital function in itself, as well as the first step in an education pathway.”

Like other workforce training programs, such as the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) training program that’s under development at the college, the goal is to secure grant funding to ensure free tuition and fees.

“Our goal is to make this as accessible to entry-level job seekers as possible,” Carley said. “Our priority is always going to be to make sure there’s no tuition.”

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.]]>