ORANGE — For the first time ever, a special education teacher has been selected as the recipient of the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award for Ralph C. Mahar Regional Schools.
Melissa Campbell said she was in her classroom a few weeks ago when the principal and superintendent came in with a bouquet of flowers and told her the good news.
“I was really excited to hear that,” she said. “This is the first time a special education teacher has been selected for this building, so I was really grateful.”
The award, also known as the Grinspoon Prize, has been awarded since 2003 in partnership with the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation and the Eileen E. & George A. Davis Foundation. Campbell and other recipients from Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties will be recognized at a banquet on April 24 at a log cabin in Holyoke.
Mahal Principal Scott Hemlin said award winners are nominated by their peers and decisions are made by a committee. He noted that the winner alternates between Mahar Elementary School and Orange Elementary School each year because both schools are part of the same unified school district.
“There are a lot of great teachers here. We had multiple candidates. It could have easily gone to anyone. It takes a really special person to deliver. [education] Mr. Hemlin added that Mr. Campbell works with special education students in grades 7 through 12. She added: “We are lucky to have Melissa in this position because she is very good at providing support to students with a variety of issues.” Diverse needs. ”
Campbell, who grew up in Ottawa, Ont., said she has been teaching special education since 1999 and has worked at Mahal since 2013.
“I managed to land in that one. I'm Canadian and I immigrated to the United States while job hunting. I got a job with a large group of students who had big challenges, and I fell in love with it. ” she said. “It was so inspiring to see people learn differently, and I kept learning more and doing more.”
She said the students, some of whom don't understand the language, are learning a “mixture of things” from life skills to traditional academics. She also runs a mock market so students can learn to be cashiers, and she's partnering with Dean's Beans Organic Coffee Company to start a coffee shop and ordering for the entire school. We are trying to bring Java to people.
“We work hard to help our students be as independent as adults,” she said. “I'm so lucky. These guys are amazing.”
Each winner will receive an engraved plaque and a check for $250, as well as students from Elms College, Bay Path College, Mount Holyoke College, Springfield College, Western New England University, Westfield State University, and University of Massachusetts Amherst. Tuition incentives and scholarships provided by the school will be awarded. The winner will also receive her three-month membership at the Springfield Jewish Community Center or one of her six area YMCAs.
Additionally, all winners will be invited to enter a select Classroom Innovator Award worth $250. A maximum of 15 prizes will be awarded.
Contact Domenic Poli at dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.