2006 Annie Sullivan Award Winner: Toni Lozar
The recipient of the 2006 Annie Sullivan Award for the professional staff has been employed with Intermediate Unit 1 for many years. Born and raised in one of the counties served by IU1, this Recipient attended the University of Akron before transferring to California University of PA where she received her undergraduate degree in Special Education with a concentration area in Adaptive Physical Education.
This recipient's teaching experience began in September 1975 as a Learning Support teacher in the Connellsville Area School District. Her exemplary career continued for the next 21 years teaching children with specific learning disabilities in a resource room setting. In the fall of 1996, this recipient took a sabbatical leave to continue her education. She returned to Cal U and earned her certification as a school psychologist. In November 1996, she applied for a Lead Support Teacher position. In March 1997, after several interviews, she was selected as one of the five original LSTs. She was assigned to Team 4 under the supervision of Candace Dunn. This recipient continued as a Lead Support Teacher until October 2000 when she was named as the Acting Supervisor of Special Education for Team 4. While holding this position she attended the University of Pittsburgh and completed her Supervisor of Special Education certificate.
On August 15, 2003, 3 years ago today, she was appointed as the Assistant Director of Special Education. Her responsibilities are many but some of her major tasks include Procedural Safeguard oversight, PSSA/PASA Coordinator, 4Sight Benchmark Coordinator, ESY Coordinator, Inservice Chairperson, Local Task Force coordinator, etc. She facilitates monthly LEA meetings as well as professional development for the psychologists and social workers. She provides numerous trainings to both IU1 and school district staff on a variety of topics such as IDEA, Behavior Support, Chapter 15, Gifted, PASA, Social Skills, Tourette Syndrome and many others. She is the chairperson for the Westmoreland-Fayette Counties Learning for Life Program. This is a program provided through the Boy Scouts of America for students with special needs. She has been awarded the District Award of Merit and the Golden Apple Award for her service to this program.
This recipient is a trained Compliance Monitor for the Pennsylvania Department of Education. She has participated in numerous cyclical monitorings of both public and charter schools in PA. She has served as an Adjunct Professor at California University in the Psychology Department where she is also a member of the School Psychologist's Advisory Committee.
This year's recipient resides in Uniontown with her husband. She has one son who is in the process of moving home so that he can continue his education at California University. She enjoys cooking, gardening, making stained glass items, traveling, reading, music and exercising. She is an avid golfer and always has her clubs in the trunk of her car. She recently participated in the Walk for Autism. She ran in the Boston Marathon and has also participated in several triathlons.
Throughout her career she has touched the lives of many students, parents and colleagues and her compassion and caring ways will be forever embedded in their hearts. She has helped others in the schools and communities to understand and accept students with disabilities by providing instruction, inservice and supervision to special education teachers, regular education teachers, administrators, parents and college students. The three people that nominated this recipient stated "She always has time for any person no matter how busy she is. She exemplifies an educator who goes above and beyond her duties to facilitate acceptance of individuals with disabilities in the school and community."
Without further ado, it is with great pleasure that I announce the 2006 Annie Sullivan Award winner from the professional staff, Mrs. Toni Lozar.
