Each year, SST 16 has the privilege of selecting regional recipients for both the Franklin B. Walter Outstanding Educator Award and the R.A. Horn Outstanding Student Achievement Award.
Franklin B. Walter Outstanding Educator Award
The Franklin B. Walter Outstanding Educator Award is given to an educator or team from each of the 16 State Support Teams in Ohio who have made extraordinary contributions to the education of students with disabilities. This award is given in honor of the late Franklin B Walter, Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1977 until 1991, a post held longer than any other state superintendent in Ohio’s history. With over 50 years of service as a teacher and administrator, Dr. Walter’s leadership is evident in many of Ohio’s quality educational initiatives and programs. Among these is the development of the nation’s first statewide plan for children with disabilities.
Brandon Marcinko
Brandon Marcinko is a paraprofessional in our K-2 classrooms but in the students eyes he is a superhero. Brandon comes early to greet students and leaves late to help out with bus dismissal. He comes in with a cheerful attitude everyday. If you look out at recess he is playing with kids and making them smile. He makes students and staff feel acknowledged and complimented. He sends success stories to teachers and admin who have helped with that student so that the student not only feels praise within the classroom but also in the school community. Brandon jumps into any situation to help out a fellow colleague or a student in distress.
Brandon's ultimate goal is to do what is right for each child. He recognizes that each student has different needs and strives to meet the individual needs daily. By doing that it helps make the students feel successful in the school setting. We can not say enough about how lucky we are to have him part of our Southern Elementary Team. Nominated by Rachel Hupp
The R. A. Horn Outstanding Achievement Award for a Student is presented to one exemplary special education student from each of Ohio’s 16 State Support Team regions. This award was established 25 years ago by the Ohio Department of Education in honor of the late Dr. Raymond A. Horn, Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction Emeritus. This prestigious award recognizes students’ remarkable performance. Acknowledged as a national leader in the field of special education, Dr. Horn devoted more than 60 years of service to improving the quality of life and learning for students with disabilities. Dr. Horn left behind a legacy and a challenge to ensure that every student with a disability be given the respect and the opportunities to which they are entitled.
Carter House
Carter House is being nominated for the R.A. Horn Outstanding Student Achievement Award. Mrs. Dunfee has taught Carter since she was in Kindergarten, she is now in the 4th grade. We have watched Carter blossom from a child who had to be coaxed into the classroom to a child that we depend on to run errands within the school environment. Carter was not a reader or writer when she came into the cross categorical room. She slowly started writing different shapes for her name. By first grade she was writing her first name, by the end of first she was writing her first and last name. It was towards the end of first grade when she read a full book to our small classroom that we knew, this girl is exemplary in all she does in her everyday life. We knew she was bigger than a self-contained classroom. Carter begins her morning in the self contained classroom in order to check in and gather what she needs for the day. She then heads down to the inclusion classroom where she spends the rest of her day. Carter is working on her grade level work and doing wonderful at it! She has become very independent. She reads her own reading tests, completes the same work as her peers and does amazing at it. Carter has surpassed expectations in every way possible. She is a leader and strives to do great in every environment she is in. Carter does not give up. When she comes across something that is hard or that she does not understand she just keeps plugging away and asking questions until she understands.
Carter is an empathetic and compassionate individual. She is always there to help a friend. She has a big heart with a listening ear. She is always quick to lend a smile or a hand to help you up. Carter has a way of making everyone around her feel very special and that they are the most important person in the world. She has such great charisma and a positive attitude.
Carter is a motivated learner. She loves being at school and learning everything that she can. She faces challenges in the classroom head on and tackles them through her listening, and studying skills.
Carter is a very bright light. Carter has been going to Southern Local for 5 years and in those 5 years we have watched this child grow, flourish, and become an exceptional student. We are very proud of Carter. Carter has helped her classroom teacher as much as her classroom teacher has helped her. She is the answer to why many teachers go into teaching. Carter loves to meet a challenge and grow in her confidence. Carter continues to exceed my high expectations and each day grows into this wonderful pillar of society. Nominated by Leslie Dunfee