Liz Kuhn – Paraprofessional, Special Education

Location: Lakeridge Elementary School

Job Description: Liz works primarily with kindergarten-age children who have been identified as having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She supports them throughout their day in the general education, special education and specialist classrooms.

Typical day: At 8:20 a.m. Liz sets-up for the day by ensuring that all support materials are available. At 9 a.m. she greets her special education students in the general education kindergarten class. Liz assists her students through their day, including adaptive music and PE classes, and recess. Liz helps them work towards meeting their goals and objectives, socialize and play games, engage in appropriate conversation, and follow directions from the teacher. Some of this is done by written directions and modifying some work. One of the tools Liz uses is a picture exchange communication system, which gives a visual step-by-step direction for special education kindergartners (see photo at left). Her students also have ‘peer buddies’ from the general education class who help by including these friends at recess in play and in the classroom in games and small group activities. Liz tracks and records progress data for each child she works with. A copy is sent home daily to parents. “I like seeing the progress they make from the beginning of the year to the end,” Liz says. “Watching them grow and become more independent step-by-step is wonderful. They are so excited when they arrive at school! It’s fun to hear what they have been doing after school, such as swim lessons, etc.” She also aids the general education students in the classroom when her special education students are independently engaged in an activity.

Best part of the day: “What makes my day,” says Liz, “is when my kids arrive in the morning smiling and excited. I also enjoy how happy the parents are to see their child’s progress.”

Something people may not know: Liz hails from Omak, Washington. In her younger days she spent her weekends riding dirt bikes, downhill skiing and horse back riding. But after crashing and blowing out her knee, she traded in her dirt bike for a mountain bike. “No more skiing after that, either!” she laughs. Liz was also a hairstylist on Mercer Island throughout most of her 20’s.

Years in district: This is Liz’s seventh year with MISD. As a volunteer in her eldest son’s preschool class, Liz says, “I discovered I enjoyed working with young children and helping them do their best.” After volunteering as a reading helper (Book Bridges), volunteering in the office and in her son’s classes at West Mercer a few years later, she received a call from then-principal Jean Anthony. Would Liz be willing to interview for a special education paraprofessional opening at West Mercer’s inclusive preschool program, working with autistic students as well as typically-developing students? “I told her I had no experience with special education but she said that wouldn’t be a problem. They put me through many ASD training programs. I was very lucky to have some of the best professors at the UW’s Experimental Education Unit, as well as other training in subsequent years.”

Outside interests: Liz has been married to husband Tony for almost 20 years. They have two sons – David, 18 and Jonathan 14, a dog named Coley and two cats named Buster and Boots. Both boys attend Mercer Island schools. The family lives in Bellevue and enjoys trips to the Washington and Oregon coasts and eastern Washington. They have family in Ellensburg and Omak. Liz likes to read, garden, bake, cook for family and friend gatherings and refinish furniture – among other home improvement projects. “Watching the boys in their various sport activities and just having a relaxing weekend is fun!” says Liz.