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Thirteen individuals and teams received First Class Awards in March for improving inclusion, accessibility and educational outcomes for students with disabilities.
The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities presents the awards to people and organizations that support, create or carry out inclusive programs and activities. The honorees’ work benefits students with and without disabilities across Fairfax County Public Schools.
Mandy Walter, a severe disabilities teacher at Poplar Tree Elementary School, organizes inclusive book clubs with guided discussions. She also works with the PTA to make school events accessible to every student.
Kimberly O’Hara, a teacher trainee at Coates Elementary School, structures her classroom around a range of learning needs. Her teaching strategies, scaffolds and use of positive language are designed to help all students progress.
Melissa Richardson, an instructional assistant at Forestdale Elementary School, creates bulletin boards celebrating diversity, including Black History Month and Women’s History Month displays. She builds relationships that encourage students to take responsibility for their learning and uses chants, creative activities and other engaging approaches to support struggling learners.
Melissa Johnson, assistant principal at Bonnie Brae Elementary School, builds trust with students and families to strengthen community participation. She maintains consistent academic expectations while recognizing that students are at different points in their educational development.
Elizabeth Frostick, a multiple disabilities teacher at Chantilly High School, works with event planners to make school activities inclusive. She helped establish the school’s Best Buddies and Special Olympics programs and collaborates with families to coordinate support between home and school.
Angela Perez, Special Education Department chair at Whitman Middle School, works to ensure students receiving special education services are understood as individuals. Her patient, tailored support helped one previously homebound student transition to attending school full time.
Brad Weiner, an educational specialist for Adapted Physical Education, develops ways to serve students enrolled in Online Campus Health and Physical Education as well as those receiving homebound instruction. He promotes access to physical activity and community athletics while adapting instruction to individual needs.
Kannan Cangro, librarian at Clermont Elementary School, works across academic subjects to offer diverse books, interactive storytelling, author visits and STEAM learning opportunities. She has made the library a welcoming space where students can participate, learn and form personal connections.
Sarah Espanol, a speech-language pathologist at Marshall High School, coordinates the school’s Best Buddies and Unified Team basketball programs and includes students from Davis Career Center. Both programs help students with disabilities build friendships and participate in sports with their peers.
Theresa Piccolo, a career and transition teacher at Davis Center, helps families navigate the move from FCPS programs to adult services. She provides individualized planning, connects families with community resources and develops business partnerships that give students practical learning experiences.
Joel Silveira, a Lake Braddock Secondary School student, promotes cooperation and works to ensure peers are not excluded in or outside the classroom. His patience, self-advocacy and encouragement of mutual support were recognized as a model of student empowerment.
A joint team of Laura Summit, Christina Winkler, Madeline Wood, Elizabeth Rinderle and Sylvia Yepez-Yanez from Rolling Valley Elementary School and Assistive Technology Services was honored for anticipating barriers to student learning. The team uses data to adapt curricula and assessments, improve accessibility and coordinate with educators, specialists and families across multiple grade levels.
Fairfax City Ace Hardware received recognition as a community partner for providing students with an inclusive workplace experience. The business learns each student’s strengths and prepares managers and employees to work effectively with participating students.
The First Class Award recognizes excellence in special education, a positive impact on disabled and non-disabled students, and a sustained commitment to inclusive schools. The honorees’ efforts also advance FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 2, which focuses on helping students feel safe, supported, included and empowered.