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Hello,
My name is Diane Kelsey and I have been working with Erie 1 BOCES as a teacher's aid for Erie 1 BOCES for about 9 years.
I started out working with the Special Education students in a Option 4, Functional class. This is a class where the students have multiple disabilities. They are great kids to work with. My job was to assist the teacher in teaching them the academics that were on their IEP's and just every day functional living skills.
I transferred to Alternative Education about 5 years ago. I was hired as the In School Suspension teacher aid. If a student is placed in ISS for whatever reason I will stay with them and monitor them for however long they are in school suspension. I also assist the teachers and students with whatever they need to keep the students focused on why they are here, to learn, to get their high school diploma.
I really enjoy doing what I do, just knowing that I am there for the students who may or may not need my help. In today's society there are so many adults in these students lives telling them what they can or cannot do. Me being a teacher aid can reiterate on what has to be done in the classrooms, or on their behaviors. If not then there are consequences for their choices. Whether it is being punished for their actions or failure because they do not do their work. I can try to encourage them to make the right choices. I am not their parent or teacher telling them what they have to do or that they have to do something. They can make their own choices, the decision is theirs. | 
