Paraprofessional says a student’s words convinced her to finish degree and seek a classroom

Victoria Stevens, a paraprofessional who works with second- through fifth-grade students, told a meeting she plans to finish her degree to become a classroom teacher after a recent interaction with a pupil.

"A couple weeks ago, he told me that I cared about him and he knew it. He could feel it," Stevens said, describing the exchange as the moment that "set me in stone" to complete her degree and seek her own classroom.

Stevens said paraprofessionals provide critical one-on-one connections that help students come to school. "They have 20-some kids, you know, and so they don't get that one-on-one special time," she said, arguing that additional adult support can fill gaps when students’ home lives lack consistent care.

She described the personal rewards of the role, saying students call her "Miss" and remember her, which makes the work "fun" and motivates her to continue: "So that makes me just want to keep doing it."

Stevens framed her decision to pursue a teaching credential as driven by students’ needs and by the relationships she has built in the classroom. The testimony ended with her reiteration that adult connections in schools matter for student engagement and well-being.