Caroline Koehler
CEO of Celavora Education and SPED Up Paperwork
Wednesday, November 12, at 2:00 PM (ET) | 11:00 AM (PT)
Paraeducators are essential to inclusive instruction and student success, yet many districts struggle with unfilled vacancies and high turnover. Retention doesn’t happen by chance; it requires purposeful planning.
In this session, school and district leaders will explore five practical strategies to better support paraeducators and reduce turnover.
From structured onboarding and clear professional expectations to ongoing professional development, communication systems, and team culture, participants will walk away with ready-to-use tools, including customizable guides and checklists, that can be implemented immediately to strengthen paraeducator support and retention.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Design intentional onboarding systems with handbooks, checklists, and role clarity to prepare paraeducators for success from day one.
- Establish professional and teaching expectations that clarify roles, boundaries, and responsibilities using positive, inclusive language.
- Develop ongoing professional development plans that balance compliance requirements with opportunities for advanced skill-building and growth.
- Implement structured communication and scheduling systems that improve collaboration, reduce confusion, and ensure paraeducators feel respected and supported.
- Foster a culture of belonging and recognition through team building, inclusive practices, and purposeful recognition strategies that directly improve retention.
Presenter
Caroline Koehler is a nationally recognized special educator, curriculum creator, and documentation mentor who specializes in practical behavior management supports for today’s classrooms. She’s passionate about helping educators navigate challenging behaviors with confidence, clarity, and compassion without adding more to their already full plates.
With over 20 years of classroom experience and dual Master’s degrees in General and Special Education, Caroline has worked with students from infancy through 8th grade. Her approach blends evidence-informed behavior strategies, real-world classroom systems, and a deep understanding of the realities special educators face every day. Through her work, she has supported more than 71,000 educators across 85 countries, providing tools that strengthen behavior documentation, improve consistency, and support meaningful student progress. Learn more at https://celavora.com.
Known for her warm, approachable style and no-fluff guidance, Caroline is the founder of SPED Up Paperwork, a membership designed to help educators simplify behavior documentation, stay compliant, and reduce burnout while still delivering high-quality support. Empowering Educators, Transforming Documentation is the mission that comes to life through practical resources that save time and bring calm back to behavior management.
Outside of her work, Caroline enjoys sipping hot chocolate or tea, gardening, caring for her barnyard animals, and advocating for classrooms where being “different but okay” is not just accepted, but celebrated.
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