Roadrunners take positive steps with help of supportive paraeducator

November 19, 2025

While Gemma Love was talking with another adult near one of Norwood Park Elementary School’s classrooms, a student walked downstairs and ran over to embrace her in a hug.
 
During the next five minutes, two other Roadrunners gave her bright smiles as they walked by, which caused Love to exclaim how much she loved her job.

 
Love has generated heartfelt moments for dozens of Roadrunners with her daily work as a paraeducator. She helps students who need additional assistance in subjects like reading, writing and math through individual and group visits. She said it is fulfilling to watch them reach their goals as they move through the academic year.
 
“I thrive on that,” Love said. “It’s the most rewarding part of my job when I hear them say, ‘Mrs. Love, I know how to read the first paragraph now!’ They feel confident and capable. They’re so excited to learn now, because you’ve provided that guidance and support, and now they can do it independently. It just makes me extremely happy that I can offer that support to them.”
 
Norwood Park Principal Monique Ruiz said paraeducators play key roles in the building. They serve as trusted adults whom students from all grade levels can rely on. They assist classroom teachers with their lessons, help students with academic needs and promote social-emotional learning throughout the building.
 
“It is incredibly important to have amazing paraeducators like Gemma,” Ruiz said. “Without them, we’re not able to offer the type of support that helps our students in so many ways. They’re extremely valuable members of our team.”
 
Love attended school in Washington state and worked as a paraeducator there for two years. She spent eight years as a paraeducator in Montana before she and her family moved to Lincoln in 2023. She said her time at Norwood Park can be summed up in one word: spectacular.
 
“As soon as I stepped foot into Norwood Park, I felt like I was part of a family,” Love said. “Everyone greeted me and welcomed me, and I feel everyone is treated equally here, which is highly important. Just knowing that I can go to any one of the teachers, the principal, the coordinators, if I have a question is huge. Whatever you may need, they have the answer, and they’re willing to help you.”

 
Love begins most of her mornings in kindergarten classrooms. She works with students individually to help them with reading comprehension activities, such as letter recognition. She then moves to older grades to assist Roadrunners with a wide range of subjects.
 
One example of Love’s leadership took place in a first grade classroom this fall. She helped a student read story problems in a math lesson at a table. She encouraged him each time he read a word correctly, and she beamed when he solved a number-based problem.
 
“You’re so smart!” Love exclaimed. “Yeah, you’ve got it.”
 
Love said offering that type of praise and inspiration to students is essential in her role. She said creating a trusting environment allows potential breakthroughs to take place.
 
“Building those relationships is huge,” Love said. “That’s what everything is based on. If they don’t trust you, then they won’t come to you for anything in class, and we want them to come to us. We want to be that person who is there to help them and support them.”

 
A central part of Love’s teaching strategy is showing students the value of patience and persistence. She said the Roadrunners are determined to reach their goals, whether it takes two days, two weeks or two months.
 
“I had a kiddo say to me the other day, ‘Mrs. Love, I don’t know it yet,’” Love said. “And I said, ‘I love how you said that. It’s not that we can’t do it, because we can.’ I then told him that I was happy that they were displaying perseverance, because they were trying for it. And they said, ‘Mrs. Love, we’ll get there.’ It was really neat to see. It definitely made my heart happy.”
 
In addition to one-on-one lessons, Love also helps students in groups of two or three in older grades. She said many Roadrunners emerge from those gatherings with valuable life skills.
 
“There’s a lot of teamwork being learned there, and that just helps set the tone for the classroom,” Love said. “We’re making sure they have what they need to be successful in class.”
 
Love is looking to continue her own educational path in the future. She is planning to obtain the necessary college credits to enroll in the Nebraska Teacher Apprenticeship Program. She would like to become a full-time special education teacher once she completes the LPS Grow Your Own initiative.
 
Love said she is happy to share smiles, hugs and high fives with Norwood Park students every day in her paraeducator position.
 
“I’m just thankful for this opportunity,” Love said. “I would say if anyone wants to become a paraeducator, it is an incredibly rewarding job. If you love kids and love supporting them, this is a place to be.”
 
Want to help LPS students as a paraeducator? Visit home.lps.org/hr/careers to discover many job opportunities throughout Lincoln Public Schools. 
 
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