A Passion for Helping Others Learn
Chauntesse Philpot loves to learn—and she channels that passion into helping others grow, too. Whether she’s teaching preschoolers during the week or supporting individuals with disabilities on weekends, she brings dedication, compassion, and enthusiasm to both of her roles.
During the week, Chauntesse works as a preschool teacher in a Head Start program. On the weekends and several evenings, she serves as a Direct Support Professional at Easterseals Northeast Indiana, where she supports individuals with disabilities in their homes and communities.
“I can use my tools and experiences from my classroom and apply them to some situations while working with a client,” she said. “It kind of goes hand-in-hand sometimes. My students have to trust me and want my help—and it’s the same thing with my clients.”
Balancing Education, Work, and Service
Philpot is no stranger to a busy schedule. Last year, she completed an associate degree in early childhood education. Now, she’s working toward a bachelor’s degree in education with a minor in psychology at Purdue University Fort Wayne.
After graduating from Paul Harding High School, she initially began studying to become a medical assistant. But she soon realized that wasn’t the right path. She started helping at a friend’s mother’s day care and discovered her love for working with children.
Discovering a New Calling as a Direct Support Professional
Not long after starting her preschool teaching job, a friend encouraged her to try working as a Direct Support Professional. At first, Chauntesse wasn’t sure.
“I said, ‘I’ve never done that. I don’t think I’d be good at it. I wouldn’t know what to do.’ But I just gave it a shot—and I started to love it, too.”
She enjoyed the relationships she built with her clients, but after some time at another agency, she began to feel unappreciated. That changed when she joined Easterseals Northeast Indiana almost a year ago.
“I feel appreciated at Easterseals,” she said. “I get told, ‘You’re doing a great job. The clients like having you around.’ I love how everyone communicates so well with each other. I never feel like I don’t know what’s going on.”
Classroom Strategies that Work for Adults, Too
As a Direct Support Professional, Chauntesse has found that her classroom experience often overlaps with her DSP role. One of the more common challenges DSPs face is working with individuals who are nonverbal—a challenge she’s familiar with from teaching preschoolers who are still learning English.
She often uses visual cue cards—like a picture of a bathroom, a drink, or a sad face—with preschoolers. That same technique works well with adults she supports at Easterseals Northeast Indiana.
Personalized Support Through DSP Training
Chauntesse credits Easterseals’ structured training with helping her feel prepared for her DSP responsibilities. New DSPs go through job shadowing and receive guidance on understanding each individual’s preferences, routines, and communication styles.
This training has been especially helpful with Paul, a client who is nonverbal.
“With Paul, I feel like just knowing his likes and interests helps me communicate with him,” she said.
For example, when he holds up a small brown envelope that contains his spending money, she knows he’s ready to go to Dollar Tree. On another occasion, he carried around a newspaper ad showing school supplies—a clear cue that he wanted to buy notebooks and pens, some of his favorite items.
The Heart of the Work: Building Relationships
“I get to meet individuals from all walks of life,” Chauntesse said. “I’m able to assist them in reaching new milestones and expose them to new growth opportunities. That’s what I really love about the job.”