2004 Annie Sullivan Award Winner: Jane Naymick
The recipient of the 2004 Annie Sullivan Award is often perceived by others as a dedicated teacher who is always striving to obtain the best for our students. A life long resident of western Pennsylvania, this individual received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and special education from Slippery Rock State College and a Masters degree of Education in special education from California University of Pennsylvania. This individual began a career with Intermediate Unit 1 in 1976 as a teacher of students with learning disabilities and has previously been recognized for twenty-five years of service with Intermediate Unit 1.
Our recipient has worked with children with autism for the past several years and has become a crusader for public acceptance of children with autism. She is very active in the Watson Institute program and incorporates reasearch-based techniques into her classroom daily. This teacher is an excellent resource to teachers and students in the general education environment. She promotes the inclusionary model, thus her students are involved with the general education population on a daily basis. In the past, her class has entertained some of the regular education students with a holiday program. She has also presented information to the Home and School Council at the Elementary School where her class was located regarding her autistic support program and has fielded questions concerning characteristics of the Autism Spectrum Disorder.
As an active member of Fayette County Parents with Autistic Kids (PAK) our recipient attends monthly events and often arranges transportation for these children. This person is available to lend her expertise by informing parents of strategies to use with their children. Within the community, she organizes and teaches a summer Bible school program for children with special needs at her home church. She also teaches a group of children with special needs at the summer Bible school program of another church. During the school year she assists in organizing activities and teaches a weekly evening program for children with special needs at a local church. She has made numerous presentations introducing college students to the field of autism. This individual's contribution to the community does not end with special needs programs. She is a Sunday school teacher, Girl Scout leader, YMCA swim team parent, soccer parent, cross country parent, band and marching band parent and science club parent.
She and her husband are the proud parents of three children.
This year's award winner is a second-generation Intermediate Unit 1 employee. Her father was employed by the Intermediate Unit I as a school psychologist. He instilled in all of his children the strong sense of family loyalty and a strong work ethic that this teacher exemplifies. She is a caring individual who feels it is her life's calling to be an advocate for children with disabilities. It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you this year's winner, Jane Naymick.
