Bainville’s Berwick Earns Paraprofessional Of Year Award

By Bill Vander Weele One of the individuals who makes a big difference for Bainville’s students was commended on Monday, March 22.

During a special assembly, school officials announced that Jessica Berwick is the Paraprofessional of the Year for Region 1 in Montana.

“I was pretty surprised,” Berwick said. “I had no idea they were working on putting this together.”

Stacy Hyatt, who is the paraprofessional supervisor in Bainville, said she nominated Berwick and received letters of support from other staff members.

“She goes above and beyond of what her duties entail,” Hyatt said.

The Teri Fisk Parapofessional of the Year award is based on attributes such as applying skills learned through professional learning, sharing those skills with others, growing professionally and being a positive, contributing member of the school community.

Berwick, a native of the Lambert area, studied at Jamestown College and in Billings before working in Bozeman, Glasgow and Williston. She and her husband, Dusty, then moved to Bainville about eight years ago.

Wanting to be active in the community, Jessica became a substitute teacher and later learned about the paraprofessional position being available.

“I like being involved,” Berwick said. “I like to be around the kids.”

As a paraprofessional, Berwick works with Title I and special education students in both individually and group settings. She has worked for the school district during the past seven years. The state is planning to hold a virtual awards ceremony in April. Along with those duties, Hyatt noted that Berwick has also stepped up in areas such as recess duties, pep club advisor, elementary basketball coach and doing the sports spotlight.

“I love the community, it’s a great place to live,” Berwick said of Bainville. “I’m a number one Bulldog fan.”

She thanks community members for their support. She said the students make her job rewarding. “They are a group group of kids,” Berwick said.

Her goal is to keep improving in her role at Bainville School.

“It’s something I plan on doing for a long time,” Berwick said of working with students. “I want to do the best that I can here.”