New Haven, CT – As the first week of school approaches, longtime paraprofessional Linda Randi is once again leading the way for teachers at Nathan Hale Elementary. Recognized as the district’s 2026 Para of the Year, Randi arrived at the school at 6 a.m. to stock a coffee station for staff and to assist teachers in readying their classrooms for the fall semester.
Decades of dedication
Randi, 71, is celebrating her 42nd year as a paraprofessional at Nathan Hale. She began volunteering in 1985 after the sudden loss of her husband, when her children were three and six years old. “I knew I wanted to remain close to them as we navigated this new reality together,” she recalled. Her early volunteer work led to a position in the district’s former “Write to Read” program, which eventually paved the way for her paraprofessional career.
Paraprofessionals, unlicensed educators who support teachers in the classroom, are essential to the school’s daily operations. Randi’s contributions this year include distributing free school supplies from the district’s partnership with Amazon, helping families obtain toiletries and materials at no cost.
Morning prep and classroom support
On Wednesday, Randi volunteered from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., setting out Keurig cups, teas, sweeteners, and milks in the staff kitchen. “This is what I do every day,” she said. She then joined kindergarten teacher Danielle Herrmann, a 28‑year veteran, to organize their classroom. Together they prepared supplies, labeled storage bins, and arranged a new plastic bin for cleaning items.
The pair also set a goal for their kindergarteners to master 125 sight words by year’s end. With a class of 26 students, Herrmann noted that daily paraprofessional support is “necessary” for student success.
Family‑like school community
Randi described her colleagues as “my family,” adding that even on personal‑life‑challenging days, the school environment feels like a “pick‑me‑up” because of the mutual support. She highlighted the mentorship chain extending to Herrmann’s daughter, Mariella, a first‑year Head Start teacher who will begin her own classroom at Nathan Hale this fall.
Randi also shared a nostalgic moment when she discovered a handmade board game she created fifteen years ago, tucked behind a storage cabinet. The game will be used to engage students in learning through play.
Voices from other staff
Second‑grade teacher Lorena Lubanda joined the prep effort, helping to display alphabet letters. In another kindergarten, educator Mindy Canalori and 31‑year para Lucy Prokop welcomed students with a hula‑hoop demonstration. Prokop, a New Haven native, advocated for higher pay and expanded para support through fourth grade, emphasizing the value of extra hands and caring presence in the classroom.
Canalori affirmed, “I would be lost without you,” underscoring the deep reliance teachers have on paraprofessionals.
Looking ahead
Staff members agreed that additional prep days before the school year would further benefit classroom readiness. As the new academic year begins, the dedication of paraprofessionals like Linda Randi continues to reinforce the supportive, family‑oriented environment that defines Nathan Hale Elementary.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
