What do you do when a paraprofessional just can’t keep up with the pace, data, or demands of your classroom?

Before jumping to frustration, this Misfit Minute walks you through a practical, compassionate approach to coaching staff, improving systems, and making data-based decisions that keep your students first.

🔑 Key Takeaways
• Check the system, not just the person
• Define what “keeping up” actually means
• Simplify and prioritize tasks
• Model + narrate your thinking
• Practice together + give immediate feedback
• Reinforce effort and growth
• Reflect on fit using data, not emotion
• Document support and communication

🤝 Join Us
💬 Join the conversation in the Misfit Behaviorists Facebook Group
🎧 Follow the podcast for more quick, practical strategies
⭐ Leave a review if this episode helped you—it helps other educators find us!

Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists

😍 More, you say? We’re here for you!

• Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists
• Instagram | @‌themisfitbehaviorists
• YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists

👋 Find us!

• Audra | ABA in School
• Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics
• Sami | B.A.S.S.

🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!

In this Misfit Minute, Audra shares five career lessons she wishes she’d learned earlier as an educator: don’t overplan—use one strong activity with built-in extensions instead of many activities that won’t work; don’t skip data collection because “I’ll remember later” leads to missing or skewed data—quick tallies beat perfect data never recorded; don’t try to do everything alone—treat paras, therapists, and gen ed teachers as true collaborators; protect breaks and boundaries early to prevent burnout by leaning on staff and requesting admin support when needed; and prioritize connection over compliance, since connection creates longer-lasting engagement and makes behavior strategies more effective. She encourages newer professionals to give themselves grace, set parameters, and develop step by step to stay in the field long-term.

00:00 Welcome and Setup
00:19 Tip 1 Stop Overplanning
00:55 Tip 2 Track Data Now
01:14 Tip 3 Collaborate More
01:37 Tip 4 Protect Boundaries
02:23 Tip 5 Connection Over Compliance
03:18 Closing Encouragement

🙌 Join Us & Share
• Join us on FB for freebies, sharing, and more! → https://abainschool.com/misfits
• Subscribe for weekly behavior insights + full-length episodes
• Send this episode to a teammate who needs a little "pump" this week!

Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists

😍 More, you say? We’re here for you!

• Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists
• Instagram | @‌themisfitbehaviorists
• YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists

👋 Find us!

• Audra | ABA in School
• Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics
• Sami | B.A.S.S.

🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!

In this episode, Audra and Caitlin tackle one of the hardest parts of working in special education and behavior support: talking with families when things are not improving yet. When behaviors are escalating or strategies aren’t working, those meetings can feel tense for everyone in the room. The conversation explores how educators and BCBAs can stay transparent, rely on objective data, and keep relationships strong with families even when the news is difficult. Instead of panic, blame, or sugarcoating, the focus is on collaboration, trust, and problem-solving together.

🔑 Key Takeaways
• Tip 1: Start with transparency — Families usually know when things aren’t going well. Honest communication builds trust.
• Tip 2: Lead with data, not emotion — Share observable patterns (frequency, timing, context) instead of subjective language.
• Tip 3: Share what’s been tried — Explain strategies already attempted, what’s happening now, and the next steps.
• Tip 4: Stay calm when emotions rise — Pause, slow the conversation, and return to shared goals for the student.
• Affirm the child first — Let families know you genuinely value their child before discussing challenges.
• Follow up in writing — Send a short recap so families can process and avoid misunderstandings.

📦 Resources Mentioned
• Join the Misfit Behaviorists Facebook Group → https://abainschool.com/misfits
• Share strategies for navigating difficult parent conversations
• Ask questions or suggest topics for future episodes

🙌 Join Us & Share
• How do you handle tough conversations with families when behavior plans aren’t working?
• What strategies help keep meetings collaborative instead of confrontational?
• Have you found ways to share difficult data without escalating stress for families?
• Join the discussion in the Misfit Behaviorists Facebook Group
• Know a teacher or BCBA who dreads parent meetings? Send them this episode 🎧

Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists

😍 More, you say? We’re here for you!

• Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists
• Instagram | @‌themisfitbehaviorists
• YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists

👋 Find us!

• Audra | ABA in School
• Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics
• Sami | B.A.S.S.

🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!