ST. PAUL - A shift in funding has resulted in two names being added to St. Paul Education's staff - but they are not at all new to their roles.
Voon You Ten and Angele Lamontagne Looy have both been working in their respective occupations for a number of years. You Ten has been an occupational therapist for about 25 years, and has been working with children for most of that time. Lamontagne Looy has been working as a speech language pathologist for seven years.
While both women were previously employed by Alberta Health Serivces, the disolution of the Regional Collaborative Service Delivery (RCSD) required St. Paul Education to make a decision. And that decision turned out to be the hiring its own therapists.
While Sha Tichkowsky, director of student supports, says it's been quite a big undertaking, she admits that "it's nice to have your own people." The two therapists are now central office employees, working out of a nearby room at St. Paul Regional High School.
The division acknowledged that it would continue to need the support of the therapists in its schools. Tichkowsky says St. Paul Education was a bit of an "outlier" in that it hadn't yet hired its own therapists.
The pair will be spending the majority of their time working with students and teachers throughout all the schools that make up St. Paul Education. Previously, neither You Ten nor Lamontagne Looy spent time in schools south of the North Saskatchewan River, because of how AHS regions are made up, but now they will lend their expertise to all schools in the division.
Tichkowsky says there will be some time required to complete the transition, and the work being done will have "more of an education focus," but overall, services will look very similar to students and teachers.
The therapists work with students and groups in a variety of ways. For example, if a teacher notices a number of students in a class are fidgety and wiggling in their seats, the occupational therapist will come in and address the entire class. Instead of singling out students, they will talk to everyone, explains Tichkowsky.
Of course, some things are dealt with one-on-one, such as a child who may have articulation issues. In that case, Lamontagne Looy will work with the child individually.
Support offered by the therapists is often dictated by what teachers in the classrooms are observing, and through conversations with parents. The therapists do have more of a kindergarten to Grade 4 focus, since early intervention is key, but they will work with students throughout all grades.
The school division will also continue to have contracted services with some therapists, for example children who are part of Program Unit Funding (PUF).
“We do have some kids with really complex needs," says Tichkowsky.
When describing what an occupational therapist does, the list is long, according to You Ten. She supports children in a variety of ways, addressing emotional needs, sensory issues, behavioural issues, fine motor skills, organizational skills, and more. Much of the list includes daily living activities, such as getting dressed to go outside for recess, and walking and waiting in line.
Sometimes, she looks at modifying the environment if needed, or reducing obstacles that may be in the way of a child performing specific tasks. Sometimes, the solution is to teach the child a new skill.
At the end of the day, and despite some of the changes, You Ten says she is still available to respond to the needs of children - and that's the most important thing.
"Where the teachers see a need, that's where I respond," says You Ten.
Lamontagne Looy says her role is to look at all areas of communication. She notes that the positive part of the recent change is that "we are part of the team" at St. Paul Education. She describes the work environment as a big family, made up of familiar and local faces.
"I'm excited about this new position," says Lamontagne Looy, adding, she's looking forward to continuing to work with families in the community.
