Patti Block--Para, High School
Hi! My name is Patti Block. I am in my 18th year as a Special Education Para at the High School.
As the youngest child, I grew up on a farm just northeast of Pierz with my parents, Joe and Pat O’Neil, 4 brothers and 5 sisters. Yep! 12 of us in one house, and only one bathroom! How did we all survive? I attended St Joe’s Catholic School (Holy Trinity) as a kid. My brothers, sisters and I spent a lot of time outside. Whether it was doing chores, picking weeds in my dad’s massive garden, playing games or playing ball--we were outside.
While in high school I was involved in BPA and choir. I was also boys basketball scorekeeper and track manager. I also worked at my mom’s daycare center, Wee Care. I graduated from Healy HIgh in 1991.
I went off to Central Lakes College, then Brainerd Community College, to get my AAS degree in child development. After college I worked at Little Lambs Child Care Center in Brainerd, which was affiliated with the Brainerd Tech College.
After the daycare closed, I moved back to Pierz with my now husband Todd. I worked for St. Cloud Schools as a para at Jefferson Elementary and fell in love with Special Ed. Since school ended by 2 I was able to work for from my mom again a few hours a day and in the summers as a daycare teacher.
I married Todd in 1997 and lived just south of Pierz on a farm. In July of 2000 we bought our current house in Pierz. It needed A LOT of TLC so we spent many weekends and late nights(after our real jobs) with the help of family and friends to get it into liveable shape.
That same month I started this job at Pierz Healy High. As a para I love going to to different classrooms with the different kids and constantly learn new things. One of the best things about Pierz Schools is the people. I can honestly say that I love my co-workers. They make the good days great and the bad days better!
From Principal Karrie Boser, "Over the years Patti has continually displayed her compassion for students and their success. She has demonstrated this by not only her direct work with students, but also advocating for them through discussions with instructors. Patti will not "allow" a student to be unsuccessful - she will do whatever she needs to support them."
At school I help chaperone school dances and prom. I have been a part of the Para union negotiations committee for the past 16 years. I have been the union Building Representative for almost just as many years. I have also been active in Special Olympics, and finally took the Polar Plunge into the freezing waters of Mille Lacs last year for the first time--I can’t wait to do it again this year March 10th.
I currently live in Pierz with Todd and our 2 kids, Creo (age 13) and Kansas (age 10). They keep us busy!. Creo is in the 8th grade here at Healy. He is involved in Robotics and plays the drums in pep band and Jazz band. Kansas is in the 4th grade at Pioneer is just finishing her basketball season. Todd has been a union painter for 26 years. He works for Fransen Decorating out of Milaca
One thing that people might be surprised to know about me is that I wrote a book. After my sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer I wrote a social story to help children get through their own trials of having a loved one diagnosed with any cancer. It wasn’t a get rich adventure, but it was high on my bucket list.
In our spare time we like to go camper at our seasonal in Garrison. Since we have the summers off, the kids and I spend a lot of time outside. We go biking, play basketball, go swimming, plant the garden and try to make sure it is weed free like my dad’s was. That is a high expectation to live up too! As a family we enjoy going to museums, state parks, and playing games and cards.
As the youngest child, I grew up on a farm just northeast of Pierz with my parents, Joe and Pat O’Neil, 4 brothers and 5 sisters. Yep! 12 of us in one house, and only one bathroom! How did we all survive? I attended St Joe’s Catholic School (Holy Trinity) as a kid. My brothers, sisters and I spent a lot of time outside. Whether it was doing chores, picking weeds in my dad’s massive garden, playing games or playing ball--we were outside.
While in high school I was involved in BPA and choir. I was also boys basketball scorekeeper and track manager. I also worked at my mom’s daycare center, Wee Care. I graduated from Healy HIgh in 1991.
I went off to Central Lakes College, then Brainerd Community College, to get my AAS degree in child development. After college I worked at Little Lambs Child Care Center in Brainerd, which was affiliated with the Brainerd Tech College.
After the daycare closed, I moved back to Pierz with my now husband Todd. I worked for St. Cloud Schools as a para at Jefferson Elementary and fell in love with Special Ed. Since school ended by 2 I was able to work for from my mom again a few hours a day and in the summers as a daycare teacher.
I married Todd in 1997 and lived just south of Pierz on a farm. In July of 2000 we bought our current house in Pierz. It needed A LOT of TLC so we spent many weekends and late nights(after our real jobs) with the help of family and friends to get it into liveable shape.
That same month I started this job at Pierz Healy High. As a para I love going to to different classrooms with the different kids and constantly learn new things. One of the best things about Pierz Schools is the people. I can honestly say that I love my co-workers. They make the good days great and the bad days better!
From Principal Karrie Boser, "Over the years Patti has continually displayed her compassion for students and their success. She has demonstrated this by not only her direct work with students, but also advocating for them through discussions with instructors. Patti will not "allow" a student to be unsuccessful - she will do whatever she needs to support them."
At school I help chaperone school dances and prom. I have been a part of the Para union negotiations committee for the past 16 years. I have been the union Building Representative for almost just as many years. I have also been active in Special Olympics, and finally took the Polar Plunge into the freezing waters of Mille Lacs last year for the first time--I can’t wait to do it again this year March 10th.
I currently live in Pierz with Todd and our 2 kids, Creo (age 13) and Kansas (age 10). They keep us busy!. Creo is in the 8th grade here at Healy. He is involved in Robotics and plays the drums in pep band and Jazz band. Kansas is in the 4th grade at Pioneer is just finishing her basketball season. Todd has been a union painter for 26 years. He works for Fransen Decorating out of Milaca
One thing that people might be surprised to know about me is that I wrote a book. After my sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer I wrote a social story to help children get through their own trials of having a loved one diagnosed with any cancer. It wasn’t a get rich adventure, but it was high on my bucket list.
In our spare time we like to go camper at our seasonal in Garrison. Since we have the summers off, the kids and I spend a lot of time outside. We go biking, play basketball, go swimming, plant the garden and try to make sure it is weed free like my dad’s was. That is a high expectation to live up too! As a family we enjoy going to museums, state parks, and playing games and cards.
