Meet Warren County ESP of the Year Johanna Meeker
Johanna Meeker knows that she’s in the right place at the right time. A paraprofessional who works with students with multiple disabilities in the Phillipsburg School District, Meeker loves the family style approach in the classroom.
With six middle school students who have high needs and are neurodiverse, each student qualifies for their own paraprofessional, but they know they can go to any adult in the classroom for help.
“We’re focused on life skills,” Meeker says. “The challenges our students face can vary day to day. We encourage them to try first on their own, and then ask for help. We talk to them about who they can go to outside the classroom if they need something. They know that security guards, custodians, lunch ladies, resource officers and bus drivers are some of the people who are part of their educational plan and are happy to be part of making our students’ days great.”
Meeker credits Courtnay Kolodziejczyk, the head teacher in the classroom, for the positive tone.
“I see how hard she works, and she respects every paraprofessional,” Meeker says.
Meeker has been in Phillipsburg for the past 17 years, but education is a second career for her.
“I was a nurse for years and kind of burning out when my children’s school nurse asked me to substitute for field trips because a lot of parents can’t take off work to go with their children who need supervision to take medications or have inhalers,” Meeker recalls. “I realized I was having more fun than the school nurses I was covering for. I began to learn more about the nurse’s office, and then eventually about working in classrooms.”
At the time, Meeker was working in multiple roles substituting and needed to be in one place, so she took a para position in Phillipsburg, and ended up in a multiple disabilities classroom.
“The district asked if I would come to work as a teacher’s aide, and I learned how much a paraprofessional can do for a teacher, a student or another para,” Meeker says. “I fell in love with it.”
Meeker feels that her nursing experience really benefits her when working with students with diverse needs.
“I ride the school bus with my students, and I get to see them interact with their parents, other students and staff,” Meeker says. “You really see the impact you can have. You can change the day for someone else.”
Meeker is proud to be a union member and encourages her colleagues to be involved.
“There’s strength in numbers,” she says. “There’s a platform and a give-and-take for problem-solving. One of my colleagues told me that when you join a union, you are helping a co-worker. I have definitely benefited from my union membership. When I’ve needed the union, they’ve been there for me.”
Meeker was overwhelmed to be named the Warren County ESP of the Year.
“My job is so different from most of the people I’ve worked with,” she says. “I didn’t realize how many people were paying attention. It was surprising to find out that people saw and respected the work that I’m doing.”