Special Ed PTA honors hard-working staff
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

EXCEPTIONAL- Kathy Jorgensen, a health clerk in the Las Virgenes School District, receives an award at the fourth annual Exceptional Educator Awards for special education staff. The event was at A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas. IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers

The unsung heroes of the Las Virgenes Unified School District were honored last week for their dedication and devotion to helping children with special needs realize academic, social and emotional success.

The Las Virgenes Special Education ParentTeacher Association drew a large crowd of supporters. Family and friends of the 126 teachers honored filled the multipurpose room of A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas on May 7, followed by a reception at the district office next door.

The honorees were nominated by families who believe that the work of the teachers has helped the children to achieve goals both big and small. For some, that meant reaching a higher academic goal, but for others making a new friend or developing more effective social skills was cause for celebration.

"Since we felt that an exceptional educator was in the eye of the beholder, so to speak, we decided to give the award to every person who was nominated," said Joann Melancon, the association president. "There is no vetting process- every person nominated receives an award."

In addition to a continuous slide show highlighting the virtues of teachers from both the parents' and students' points of view, several students testified how their teachers made them feel special.

"I like my teacher because she's a good reader," said Jack. "I love her very much," he said.

Reece counted making contracts with his teacher and eating snacks reasons to honor his teacher.

"I love my teachers because they know how to treat kids with special needs," Nathan said. He also said his teachers were "caring and funny," and made him laugh.

For Matthew, learning how to "not yell" was a milestone learned over the year, a social skill that has helped the boy make new friends.

Brandon signed two messages to his teachers- "I love you teacher . . . thank you, teacher."

Historian Alex Shimek said it wasn't easy being the "white knight" and "shining star," and thanked teachers for "repeating acts of kindness over and over again."

The association was launched four years ago with the intent to help parents, schools and the community to work together for the good of children with special needs, Melancon said.

"Four years ago when we founded this group, our hope was that we would provide a presence in the school district and in our communities for children with special needs and their families," Melancon said.

"We wanted to make sure we were included in the conversation when special education was discussed. We wanted a place where we felt as comfortable talking about the challenges of raising our kids as typical parents do at a PFC (Parent Faculty Club) meeting. And we wanted a place to connect with each other."

Melancon listed goals that were met since the inception of the group. Brandon's Village playground, the first universally accessible playground in the area, opened last year after three years of work by the association.

"Every month play dates are organized at the playground so kids with special needs can meet and play together with typical kids," Melancon said.

Two weeks ago, the association and the Kiwanis of Calabasas sponsored a play date for 40 children with special needs and their families and friends, she said. A future goal is to create adaptive recreational programs at the park, she said.

Three parent education nights were sponsored by the group during the year. "Normal People Scare Me," a film created by Taylor Cross, a young autistic filmmaker, was screened in the community.

At the reception at the district office, artwork created by special education students was showcased in the board room.

Karen Nudell, Exceptional Educator chair, presented gifts and certificates to every teacher nominated.

Special Exceptional Educator awards were also presented to Mary Schillinger, director of pupil services, and Terilyn Finders, board president.

Both Schillinger and Finders have been advocates for change in special education programs and funding on the state level.

Finders was appointed to the Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism, and Schillinger was appointed to the state Superintendent of Education's Autism Advisory Commission.

"Because of their efforts and that of the coalition, the state has increased its awareness of the impact of autism on families and on the educational system, Nudell said.