NATIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION SPEAKER
Engaging, Enthusiastic Advocacy on the National Stage
Dr. KAS is a distinguished national speaker recognized for her scholarly and engaging contributions to the CEC, CASE, and AASPA National Conferences across the United States. A leading voice in paraeducators, she will deliver the prestigious keynote address for the Oklahoma State Department of Education Special Education Conference, Paraeducator day, providing critical pathways for paraeducator professional advancement.
Charting Your Course: A Voyage to Paraeducator Career Success
Set sail on a transformative journey in this keynote presentation designed exclusively for paraeducators. Using a powerful nautical allegory, discover The Navigator's Code — eight essential elements for career growth, from finding mentors who serve as lighthouses to dropping anchor on meaningful goals. This interactive 90-minute session combines reflection, peer connection, and hands-on planning. You'll leave with a personalized voyage plan, an accountability partner, and renewed confidence to navigate your professional future. Fair winds await!
Stop the Revolving Door: Rethinking the Role of the Paraeducator
This session gives leaders a clear, data-informed look at why districts struggle to hire and keep paraeducators—and what to do about it. Dr. KAS unpacks the real work paraeducators do, the systemic gaps that push them out, and practical strategies to obtain, train, and retain a stable, respected paraeducator workforce.
Keynote & Workshop Topics
Practical strategies for every educational stakeholder, grounded in data and a commitment to collaborative progress.
Electricians Have Apprenticeships and Licenses—Paraeducators Get a Lanyard
In this provocative keynote, Dr. KAS asks what would happen if we treated paraeducators the way we treat skilled trades. Using the electrician apprenticeship model, she guides leaders to rethink onboarding, mentorship, tiered roles, training pathways, and compensation so paraeducators gain a true profession—not just a lanyard and “good luck.
Growing Together: Paraeducators in the Preschool Garden
Using a powerful garden metaphor to help paraeducators see themselves as skilled gardeners, nurturing preschoolers with disabilities to bloom through inclusive, intentional support.
Transformative Outcomes
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Professional Visibility & Value
Shift from feeling invisible to feeling seen. Paraeducators gain a profound sense of their professional worth, recognizing they are critical, valued members of the educational team.
Strategic Career Pathways
Remove the guesswork from professional growth. Establish clarity on career direction with practical next steps to advance within the field and navigate your personal professional voyage.
Confident Self-Advocacy
Build the confidence to use your voice. Learn actionable strategies to advocate for yourself and your students, ensuring that paraeducator expertise is heard and respected in every setting.
Systems-Level Integration
See the big picture. Paraeducators emerge with a clear understanding of how their role integrates into the broader professionalized system of support to drive meaningful student success.
Voices from the Field
“Kathleen was by far is the most enthusiastic presenter I have ever been with… I will look for her name at any conference I am attending in the future.”
Paraeducator Conference Attendee
“Dr. KAS is the REAL DEAL! Her themed presentations were easy to follow, validating, and the energy was out of this world.”
Paraeducator Conference Attendee
“This was the most interactive session I have attended in 36 years as an educator. Her strategies were practical, inspiring, and immediately usable.”
Educator & Paraeducator Session Attendee
“The gardening metaphor completely shifted how I see my role in the classroom. I finally feel seen and valued as a professional grower of potential.”
Paraeducator Conference Attendee
“Charting my course with Dr. KAS gave me the wind in my sails I’ve been missing. I’m leaving motivated to navigate my career with new confidence.”
Educator & Paraeducator Session Attendee
“It’s rare to find a session that makes paraeducators feel this respected. The energy and themed metaphors kept us all anchored and inspired.”
Paraeducator Conference Attendee
Bring National Expertise to Your Next Event
Schedule a consultation to tailor Dr. KAS’s presentation to your organization’s needs. Empower your community with clarity on parent rights, school collaboration, and data-informed strategies.
Speaking Inquiry Form
Direct Inquiries: DrKASAdvocacy@gmail.com | (252) 256-9602 (Message Only)