Meet Joplin

Joplin Patras, MA, LBS1

Special Education Teacher

Joplin James Patras has been teaching for over 16 years.  He completed his BA in 1998 from Western Illinois University in Public Communication Human Relations, with a Minor in Religious Studies and another minor in Therapeutic Recreations.  He completed his MA in 2005 from University of Missouri Kansas City in Special Education. He started his teaching career in 2003-2005 in Kansas City, Missouri where he worked as a teacher for students with intellectual disabilities.  Then he worked from 2005-2012 in Alamogordo, New Mexico; where he taught students who were medically frail; was K-5th grade resource room teacher; a 5th grade general education teacher for two years; and finished up his time there as a classroom teacher specifically for students with Autism, serving as the district's model classroom for students using PEC's (picture exchange communication system).  Joplin moved back to Illinois in 2012 to be closer to his family in Sterling. He had the pleasure working for Sterling Public Schools as a special education teacher, and for Oregon Elementary, where he helped established their k-2nd grade Autism program. In between his teaching career, he has worked at the State level and private sector in treatment facilities and group homes for adults with multi-disabilities. But his heart has always belonged working with individuals with Autism or on the Autism spectrum.  

In his free time, Joplin is a published author of his Tales from Mushroom Manor fantasy trilogy.  Book One: The Sorceress Returns was released in March 2018 and Book Two: The Search for Ferante was released in January 2019.  He is currently working on the next story, Book Three: The Heart of White Magick, which he plans to release in early 2020.  They are available in paperback on Amazon and Barnes & Noble; as well as on Kindle; and as an audio-book on Audibles and iTunes.

Joplin loves teaching reading and writing to students and still to this day, enjoys relaxing with a good story. He is VERY happy to be a part of the staff at CDH Educational Center and looks forward to working with our amazing students!