GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – Instructional Paraprofessional Josh Kuh works each day to make Harrison Park Academy a welcoming home for scholars – especially those who speak Spanish.
“I help make Harrison a welcoming environment for our young Spanish-speaking students by giving them a person they can speak to in their first language,” Kuh said. “When a student is having a hard day, I can impact their day by sitting down with them or giving them a break where we work on positive coping strategies.”
Kuh’s impact is felt throughout the school, as his role allows him to work with scholars from kindergarten all the way through eighth grade.
“What I enjoy the most about my job is getting to build relationships with students all throughout Harrison Park,” Kuh said. “Whether it is during intervention groups in Kindergarten, when I am student teaching in Fourth Grade, or on the playground for recess duty, I am building connections with students that become the foundation of how we learn together.”
For Kuh, those relationships are the most rewarding part of his work.
“My proudest moments as an educator are when a student runs up to me excitedly asking if I am going to be conducting a small group lesson with them that day,” he shared.
Kuh chose to join Grand Rapids Public Schools because of his belief in the mission of public education. A product of Seattle Public Schools, he knows firsthand how strong educational experiences can shape a student’s future.
“I chose to work at GRPS because I believe in the power of public education, and I want to help set up our young generations for success,” he said. “I feel that my impact can be felt all through the halls of Harrison Park,” he said. “Having a widespread impact at Harrison is one of my favorite things about working here!”
