Extraordinary Service
Cheryl Hooks – Paraprofessional – Buck Lodge Middle School
“Cheryl Hooks has demonstrated that she is responsible for duties that go far beyond her official job to encompass roles such as a mentor, a confidant and sometimes a parental substitute…She does things to help students with disabilities become successful. She helps all the children and sees that they are provided with the skills they need and deserve.”
Catherine Hopkins – General Educator – Beltsville ES
“The collaboration between Mr. Mitchell and Ms. Hopkins exemplifies collaboration between special educators and general educators at its best, and the arrangement for recess with the 6th graders exemplifies opportunities for growth and development through inclusion.”
Robert Mitchell – Special Educator – Beltsville Elementary School
“The collaboration between Mr. Mitchell and Ms. Hopkins exemplifies collaboration between special educators and general educators at its best, and the arrangement for recess with the 6th graders exemplifies opportunities for growth and development through inclusion.”
Ruth E. Mitchell – Special Education Coordinator – Ridgecrest Elementary School
“Ruth is a “teachers” teacher and demonstrates this by her low key demeanor, excellent supervisory skills and attention to detail. She is not only well received by her peers, the administration and staff, but by the young people and their families who are served by this highly educated, master teacher and special educator. Her firm and professional style separates her from the traditional and places her as a person in the school system who does a little more than extra.”
Zaida Anya Marie Plana – Special Educator – Friendly High School
“Ms. Planna is a beautiful kind hearted and loving teacher who really cares about her students and their achievements. Ms. Planna sets goals for each student in her class to achieve on a daily basis and she is able to assure that each student achieves the set goals with the help of her teaching assistants. Ms. Planna has organized clubs in the school and created ways for the students to fit in the regular school population.”
Extraordinary Partner
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Special Programs Division – Darilyn Marinelli – Therapeutic Recreation Manager
“M-NCPPC’s stellar reputation for long-standing efforts to provide for people with disabilities was further enhanced this year by their partnering with PGCPS to offer the “Leisure and Life Skills” after school program for middle and high schools students with disabilities. And that program will expand to a second location for the 2008-2009 school year. Additionally, MNCPPC was a key component in the partnership that brought Kathie Snow to our county for two standing-room only presentations in May.”
Extraordinary Effort
Sarah Wayland – SECAC-PG Secretary and Webmaster
“The SECAC-PG Executive Board’s #1 priority this year was outreach, and Sarah allowed us to reach out to the world by creating our SECAC-PG web site, from concept to accessible web site in a matter of weeks. When we asked if information on the new MSDE Family Services Resource CD could be put on the web site, Sarah, with the help of her husband Alan and hours of PDF conversions, got it done, providing an invaluable resource for countless parents.”