Why would I want to become a CO-TOP trainer?

Current CO-TOP trainers created a CO-TOP Trainer Brochure to help others understand what it means to them to be trainers. In addition to all the things mentioned in the brochure, CO-TOP trainers are paid to teach paraeducators. The amount of payment varies from location to location. In Colorado, trainers are hired as part-time instructors by the university and are paid $600 per course.

What’s in it for me?

CO-TOP Trainers have answered this question many times and in many ways. One group of trainers who were taking the TOPCAT Online course produced “So you want to be a CO-TOP trainer?” (available as a PowerPoint presentation, or PDF file).

What do I have to do to become a CO-TOP trainer?

First, CO-TOP Trainers are all linked to a school district or a consortium of districts. Generally, special education, Title I, or bilingual education program directors nominate district professionals to become trainers. Nominated individuals then take two courses. The two courses are titled “ Paraeducator Supervision Academy” (PSA) and “Training of Paraeducators Academy” (TOPA).

District representatives make all decisions about who provides paraeducator training in their districts. The PAR²A Center only intervenes in the event of some unusual circumstance or at the request of the school district.

Successful completion of the PSA and TOPA courses results in a certificate that admits the new trainers to the Cadre of CO-TOP Trainers and makes them eligible to be selected by their district to provide CO-TOP Academies.

Trainers must agree to use the CO-TOP materials as recommended and are not authorized to provide CO-TOP training to paraeducators in districts outside participating CO-TOP Colorado districts.