The 2019-2020 school year may have closed with many surprises, but what is NOT surprising are the solid partnerships and collaboration IU13 is fortunate to have with our local schools and the amazing dedication and talents of our staff as they serve local students with passion, perseverance, and creativity. As we start planning for the upcoming school year, this is the perfect time to celebrate the many successes from our "classrooms" at the end of the school year -- whether they happened in living rooms, kitchens, or other unique locations.
Please take a few moments to explore some of these wonderful examples of #WorkWorthDoing through early childhood and special education programs at IU13 ... and thanks to our students, families, and school districts for their ongoing support!
Check out CNN10's Carl Azuz as he surprised Molly Chahwala's class at Cedar Crest High School with a virtual visit.
Ashley Simes (Autistic Support - Manheim Central MS, Manheim Central SD) kept "the virtual presses running" with her weekly class newsletter to share news, reinforce learning, support students, and stay connected. (Click to read this edition!)
See how IU13 school teams reached out to students and families to let them know how they are cared about and missed.
As Megan Deck (Autistic Support - Lebanon MS, Lebanon SD) shared when a parent sent a message with photos, “It was such a nice thing to see after going so long without seeing any of the kiddos."
Carol Arena (Social Worker - Fairland) and the Fairland Team provided great resources and kept in touch with students and families with their school newsletter.
Experience Sara Griffith's virtual morning meeting (Elementary Life Skills Support - Annville Elementary, Annville-Cleona SD).
This student's focus and engagement speaks for itself as services continued virtually in Preschool Early Intervention.
Learning together through Zoom brought classes together. Christopher Matt (School to Work Teacher, Secondary Transition, IU13 Burle) shared this photo of his full class "Zooming"!
A Preschool Early Intervention paraeducator not only read to her students ... but created a wonderful video of If You Give a Dog a Donut starring her amazing pup!
Speech and Language Therapy kept going -- online! -- to serve our Preschool Early Intervention learners.
From Science to Weather to Language Arts and more, Amy Kurtz and her team (Multiple Disabilities Support - Reidenbaugh Elem., Manheim Township SD) kept students engaged and learning through virtual lessons.
Preschool Early Intervention teachers Andrea Anderson and Angela Folk fleshed out ideas for virtual field trips for children over the summer, including books to support language for each trip! Click to see their plan and resources:
Thanks to creativity (and Screencastify), Job Trainer Michele Auman (Eastern Lebanon County SD) developed cooking skills and formed a baking group with CTC students ... with delicious results!
The teams at Community School Southeast and Community School West share a wide array of engaging activities, creative learning opportunities, and fun during their virtual classes.
Early Intervention students in Kelly Erb's Early Intervention class worked with ECSES Supervisor Lori Blantz to learn about polymers ... online!
AnnMarie Stauffer's team (PT/OT/Speech - Denver Elem., Cocalico SD) collaborated with her host school district to share a wealth of class resources through the district's portal.
While they couldn't gather for the traditional graduation celebration, students in the Willow Valley Work Immersion, School-to-Work at Burle, Project SEARCH, and Materials Handling & Logistics Transition Programs were honored in this celebratory video!
Elizabeth Martin, a student at Janice Beitzel’s Deaf & Hard of Hearing class at Warwick School District, has made masks that allow for lip reading ... and 10,000+ have learned about it on Facebook!
Faith Burchfield (Speech Teacher - South Lebanon Elem., Lebanon SD) celebrates her student's success and advancement of goals during homebound instruction.
The annual Partnership Appreciation Luncheons couldn't be held this spring, but that didn't stop this wonderful opportunity to share the successes of the Job Training program and our many community business partners!
Sarah Embly's (AKA "Miss Sarah" - Speech Teacher - Donegal Intermediate, Donegal SD) determination, positive attitude, and dedication is but one example of the amazing IU13 staff serving our students!
In addition to virtual meetings for instruction and other needs, the Lebanon Head Start team intentionally worked support, self-care, and gratitude into their own staff meeting with Zoom and Kahoot!
Messages from parents speak for themselves, reminding us that our work is #WorkWorthDoing!
To Lisa Kiss (Teacher - Fairland School):
To Andrea Fellows (Teacher - Fairland School):
Video of Nicole Thomas's student (Job Training - Ephrata HS, Ephrata Area SD) demonstrating the CDL skills acquired this year through a CareerLink program. (Don't miss the proud mom at the end ... “My little boy and that great big truck. So proud of him. So cool.”):
About a student of Michelle Crosby, Kelly Russum, and Cindy Cowan (Autistic Support - Conestoga Elem., Penn Manor SD):
