2005 Annie Sullivan Award Winner: Karen West

The recipient of the 2005 Annie Sullivan Award for the professional staff has been employed as a teacher with Intermediate Unit 1 since the 1978-79 school year. This nominee always approaches each of her students with respect and understanding. Regardless of the disability, she tries to learn about each student as an individual. Her lesson plans and IEPs truly reflect a personalized approach. They are tailored to individual needs by her design, not by bureaucratic requirements. A quiet and unassuming individual, this nominee prefers to work with her students as much time as she can, always compromising time that could be spent at lunch or preparing lessons, in order to provide her students with more practice or more one-on-one time.

This nominee exemplifies a teacher who promotes the whole child. As a K-3 learning support teacher, her nurturing and caring nature, in combination with appropriate expectations, helps students achieve at high levels.

This nominee accepts the children in her classroom at their developmental, emotional, and intellectual level. She readily differentiates instruction and plans individual lesson plans to meet student needs. A colleague stated that this nominee is one of the least judgmental people she knows when it comes to students and people in general.

This nominee's former principal stated that there is no greater affirmation of how a teacher has touched the hearts of students than when they return to visit, send notes, or ask others about you. She stated that she has seen this over and over throughout the many years she worked with this nominee.

Her former principal also indicated that, "Because of her commitment to her students, this Nominee was always able to facilitate or attend meetings at any time - not just within the confines of the work day." She has spent countless hours at home preparing and organizing materials and data in order to prepare and fulfill IEPs.

Several staff members at her school stated that it is not unusual for this nominee to attend extra curricular activities in which her students are involved. She is there for them - both during and after school.

This nominee is a resource to all in her building and helps others in understanding children with disabilities. She shares the information from the IEPs and works seamlessly with teachers in the building to provide students with an appropriate and a challenging educational program. This nominee is supportive of the classroom teachers and quick to provide materials and strategies that will support her student, as well as, other students who may have a need for additional strategies.

This nominee is a member of the crisis response team and works collaboratively with all school personnel. When there is a need for disability awareness, this nominee works with the guidance counselor, classroom teacher, and parents to design an appropriate plan of action. On days that involve special school wide programs, this nominee communicates with teachers and paraprofessionals in order to be proactive in planning for the success of her students in the larger school community.

This nominee is committed to promoting the success of children with disabilities. She participates as a member of the Reading Advisory and Math Advisory committees. These committees work to design, plan, and implement activities that serve to enrich all students. She shares her knowledge and expertise to prevent roadblocks that may prevent her students from participating fully in school-wide projects.

Nominee is highly involved in activities that support her daughter's interests. She teaches Sunday School and is very active leading a youth group with her husband. She assists with the junior and senior youth groups. She is a parent chaperone and leader for many events with the Youth Group, from sled riding to hayrides. This Nominee is a very active member of her daughter's Band Boosters Association and Parent Drama Club. She has assisted with many fundraisers and chaperoned trips to Disney World and New York City.

This year's award winner is a second-generation Intermediate Unit 1 employee. Her mother was employed as a secretary at the Intermediate Unit 1. Also unique to this nominee is that the entire staff at Bower Hill Elementary nominated her. They feel that this nominee is very deserving of this reward and are honored to be her colleagues.

It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you this year's Annie Sullivan Award winner, Karen West.