Kelli Wielgus is currently enrolled in the Department of Special Education’s Paraprofessionals Unlocking Licensure in Special Education (PULSE) program with the support of the Wheeler Foundation. With a 10-year career as a special education paraprofessional, she is proudly continuing her education so she can lead her own classroom.
The PULSE program is designed for special education paraprofessionals with at least two years of classroom experience seeking to earn their bachelor’s degree in special education and their Professional Educator’s License (PEL) with a Learning Behavioral Specialist 1 (LBS 1) endorsement. This program is fully online with coursework completed both synchronously and asynchronously. PULSE is streamlined from the traditional LBS 1 program and is designed to specifically meet the educational needs of adult learners and capitalize on their experiences as working paraprofessionals.
Before becoming a paraprofessional, Wielgus dreamed of being a physical education teacher. However, she felt that fulltime college was too much after high school and decided to take a break from her education to pursue other avenues alongside an associate degree.
“I had an IEP growing up, and I questioned if I would be able to complete a four-year degree at that time,” Wielgus said. “I was told I wasn’t a very good student, and that college probably wouldn’t be for me, so it felt like too much of a risk. I’m glad that now, I can prove them wrong, both for myself and for all of my students.”
She felt that working with children and individuals with special needs was a natural progression when moving into her professional life. Her mom was a teacher and her father was active with the local schoolboard and her education, so the school system was a familiar and comfortable space to build a career.
Wielgus gained experience assisting students with disabilities after regularly aiding a wheelchair bound neighbor with his needs at home. She went on to assist him as a paraprofessional at school with the recommendation of his family, formally beginning her career in special education.
Since then, Wielgus has spent a decade connecting with students with disabilities. As her career progressed, she discovered that she is especially skilled in communicating and assisting non-verbal students.
“I think being exposed to people with special needs because I was an IEP student really helped me empathize and relate to them,” she said. “I knew what it felt like to not be listened to based on my needs, and I think that experience helps me focus on the physical queues to understand what my students need.”
After establishing herself as a paraprofessional, Wielgus married and relocated to other districts before landing at her current position with the Clifton Unit School District #4. Her current administrators supported her to continue her education, believing her to be the ideal candidate for a special education teacher.
She decided to continue her education with PULSE after one of her previous administrators shared a Facebook post about the program. She quickly began reading about the program and shared the post with her peers. Soon after, she reached out to the program advisors and staff to get enrolled as a student.
However, any continued education comes with complications. With an established career and family, Wielgus had to be very selective with how she would receive her degree. While the 100% online format was incredibly helpful, Wielgus was concerned about the financial strain pursuing her education would cause. Fortunately, Wielgus received financial support through the Wheeler Foundation to help her support her life, career, and education.
The Wheeler Foundation’s mission is to provide grants for projects that will serve individuals with special needs. The foundation supports organizations in east central Illinois and west central Indiana to offer resources ranging from manipulatives in the classroom, to equipment in schools, and buildings for developmental vocational training.
When asked about her experience in the program, Wielgus discussed appreciation and support for both the Wheeler Foundation and PULSE program.
“It was my dream to teach, and I’ve been given all of the assistance and support I could have asked for. It’s still difficult, but its great to show the world that I am capable of being a leader in my school and community” said Wielgus.
On top of her duties inside the classroom and as a student, Wielgus serves as the middle and high school girls softball head coach, fostering collaboration and community across her district.
“Sometimes on the bus ride home I’ll pop in my headphones and do my Zoom classes while on the road! It’s a really tough schedule, but I’m just glad that with PULSE and my supportive administration, I am able to do what I love and get my degree.”
“It can be difficult to balance, since coaching combined with school and work is a lot, but it’s incredibly rewarding,” she said. “Sometimes on the bus ride home I’ll pop in my headphones and do my Zoom classes while on the road! It’s a really tough schedule, but I’m just glad that with PULSE and my supportive administration, I am able to do what I love and get my degree.”
