2007 - 2008 Educator Award Winners

Maura Forcier

Maura Forcier is a Kindergarten teacher at Heath School in Chestnut Hill, MA. She was chosen as one of this year’s winners because of the creative and inclusive environment that she has created in her classroom. Let me highlight a few components of her class. She uses lots of visual supports including: the day’s schedule, the year calendar, a visual “noise meter” and emotion reader. She created the rotating student job of a “peace keeper” who helps resolve conflicts at the calm couch. Students are taught kindness and send cards to those who are out sick. She provides specialized seating or even a clock wherever it’s needed. She maintains both a log book and frequent emails and responds quickly to parents. Her inclusive classroom leaves no one out and differences are embraced. She teaches social behavior, consults frequently with the Speech and Language pathologist for pragmatics and plans for transitions. Her calm and safe environment helps AS and all children love school. Congratulations to Heath School for having this model teacher.

Barbara Newkirk

Barbara Newkirk is a Resource Teacher at Lexington High School. She has distinguished herself in many ways as an excellent teacher. Most notable is her definition of her supportive role. It includes meeting with all the teachers involved with her AS students, note taking in meetings to clarify decisions, consistent emails to families for assignment monitoring and reporting progress. She is open to parent suggestions and those of Dr. Rosenn who is supporting the family as well. She watches for signs of stress and makes accommodations accordingly. She continues to study more about AS and adolescence. When challenges surfaced like budget cuts, she organized meetings with staff to problem solve and even created an adaptive PE class with outside OT support. When her student faltered with significant depression in 10th grade, she worked with his psychiatrist and brought him out of it. She reads her students well and knows when they need a break. We are delighted to recognize an honor such a life saving teacher.

Amy Gordon

Amy Gordon is being honored for her work as the Marshfield Public Schools ASD Consultant. In that position she is able to support AS students for multiple years maintaining continuity of service quality. She helps her students transition to new school settings and assists staff to understand the modifications and accommodations needed for each student. Students flourish because of her instinct in knowing the best ways to teach each child to succeed without stress. Her supports provide a less anxious environment and enable her students to blossom. She is respectful of all staff, students and parents and maintains a calm and friendly approach. Her AS students become proud of their talents and use them to develop true friends. She is readily available to those who need her and through her efforts, children report that for the first time in their lives, they are happy to be who they are.

Laurie DiBella

AANE has heard many stories from parents about what unsung heroes classroom aides can be. Laurie DiBella is a classroom teaching assistant who went far beyond her job description to change the life of an AS child at the Mitchell Elementary School in Needham, MA. Laurie was originally described as a “classroom aide” but she immediately took an AS child under her wing. On her own, she initiated a daily log to communicate both the successes and challenges of Jake’s day. She started movement breaks and taught social behavior. Her successes in year one enabled the family to put her position as his aide on the IEP for the next year. Fortunately Laurie stayed as his aide and the transition to the next year went smoothly. It meant that inappropriate behaviors maintained their new decreased level and even the anxious hair twirling stopped. She helped the next year’s teacher understand his learning style and he learned faster. She walks the fine line of providing freedom for the student to be independent while being a safety net when needed. She both listens to and supports his family who are grateful to Laurie for going above and beyond her job to help Jake flourish. She is a “cherished” educator.

Marissa Gumas

Marissa Gumas was chosen to be a 2007 AANE Award winner for her outstanding work with AS students as a Math Teacher at Blake Middle School in Medfield, MA. She is a math teacher, a classroom advisor and a mentor for social and emotional situations. Math was a struggle for Alex so Marissa went right to work identifying his areas of weakness and then found the best approaches to enable him to learn. She provided extra instruction in math while including social and emotional skills and functioned as a “life coach”. Her personal connection made math his favorite subject by the end of the year! As an IEP team member, Marissa brought valuable perspectives and recommendations that worked and could unlock his potential. Her extra work is not limited to Alex but is applied to all her students. Marissa is a true GEM.

Michelle Dextraze

Michelle is another deserving winner, a student at Cambridge College and an aide in the 6th grade at Freeman-Centennial Middle School in Norfolk, MA. Mrs. D. provided daily written communication, frequent conversations with the parents and was a master at both implementing any given plans and documenting the results that those plans produced. She watched for their effectiveness and for any medication issues. She carried out all the needed details like; prioritizing and modifying homework, breaking down long term assignments, using non verbal cues and fostering independence. We recognize and honor her openness to new ideas, coupled with warmth and kindness. Best wishes to Michelle in her career endeavors.

Patrice Glancy

Patrice teaches in an Autism/PDD classroom at the Jackson/Mann Elementary School in Allston, a large urban inclusive school. She has a master’s degree and did a thesis on NVLD. Patrice’s great strength is her ability to go beyond the typical boundaries of her position or system to get whatever her students’ may need. She found summer social skills options for he students on the internet and helps families to access these services. She provides social skill building opportunities within her classroom of very diverse students. She sought grants for additional financial support. She is the school liaison and works well with an outside consultant’s suggestions. She helps students throughout the school who have neurological differences beyond those in her classroom. She is also a leader in helping other teachers understand the issues of behavior, attention and rigidity that are so difficult for our kids. Doing all this plus maintaining a positive attitude clearly makes Patrice worthy of recognition and honor. Congratulations Patrice.

Jaclyn Quesnel

Jaclyn Quesnel is a guidance counselor in the Lura A. White School in Shirley, MA. When a young second grader starting having great anxiety, frustration and lack of social understanding, Jaclyn stepped right in, and became a calm and professional liaison between the school and the concerned family. She supported the family through the evaluation process resulting in a diagnosis of AS. While this process was happening, Jaclyn was already teaching social skills. This was only the beginning. She was an instrumental team member is establishing the IEP and maintaining a constant figure of support for him while other staff changes had to happen. She is the contact person between an outside psychologist and the school and really reached out to support this single mom. With her support, school for this youngster now includes friends and new skills learned in school are carried over into the home. AANE agrees that Jaclyn’s work truly deserves recognition. Congratulations Jaclyn Quesnel.

Arlene Shainker

AANE proudly introduces you to today’s next Award Winner, Arlene Shainker. Arlene is an Inclusion Specialist for the Northborough/Southborough Public K-8 Schools. Arlene has distinguished herself as a specialist who always keeps the individual AS student goals in her thoughts, develops new ideas, plans and strategies for them and therefore is able to make a substantial impact on each child’s development. Arlene partners with staff and parents to correct any misconceptions about the child and fine tunes the IEP all along the way. Her supports have lessened anxiety for children both in school and at home. She employed videotaping as a learning tool, mentors other staff and developed district-wide training on Asperger Syndrome. She created a club, the ”Animorph’s Club” as an invisible social skills group and guitar club to encouraging a student’s special interest. She continues to collaborate with many AS specialists, has helped the district write grants and initiates new programs as needed. Her expertise and compassion has truly made her a teacher who makes all the difference in students’ lives. Congratulations to Arlene Shainker.

Midge Foley

Midge Foley is a teacher in Jamaica Plain and is one of 10 winners chosen from many nominations from all over New England. Ms. Foley of the Early Learning Center in Jamaica Plain received the honored award for excellence in teaching children with Asperger's Syndrome, from the Asperger's Association of New England. Ms. Foley has consistently emphasized social development and social behavior in a kind and gentle manner. She created a structured and calm sanctuary where she helped the children cultivate friendships and learn to embrace difference. Please join us in honoring this outstanding educator.