We are so lucky to have amazing teachers, SLPs, and OTs on our blogger team! They all have SO much to share with you!
Allison is a school based occupational therapist at a public school district in Lancaster County, PA where she services students from K-21 in general and special education settings. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in health science and master’s degree in occupational therapy from Misericordia University. Allison graduated with my clinical doctorate in occupational therapy from Elizabethtown College in December 2024. She also has experience working in a pediatric outpatient clinic. Allison thinks the best thing about being an occupational therapist is problem solving with the entire team to find a solution that will help students be as independent as they can be in all areas of life. She likes to say: “I have the best job in the world because I get to live my life to the fullest by helping others do the same!”
You can tour Allison’s classroom here.
Brianne teaches in an elementary autistic support classroom in Perry County, PA! She is entering her tenth year of teaching students in this population and age group. Brianne holds her Bachelor’s Degree and a dual certification in Elementary Education PreK-4th grade and Special Education PreK-8th grade from Kutztown University, and recently obtained her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Point Park University. She plans to continue her education to receive a certification in Applied Behavior Analysis to become a BCBA. Brianne advocates for her students each day and helps to teach them skills to advocate for themselves. Small successes are big celebrations in her classroom!
Take a tour of Bri’s classroom here.
Nina is a special education teacher in Central Illinois. She is entering her fifth year teaching a life-skills program called, Essential Skills. Nina holds her bachelor’s degree in Special Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and is finishing a master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education. Nina’s favorite part of teaching is seeing the inclusive friendships formed within the walls of her classroom extended outside of school!
Tour Nina’s classroom here.
Rachel is a Speech-Language Pathologist servicing students in the elementary school setting. She has been an SLP for 2 years and has loved every minute of it. Rachel earned her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She enjoys all areas within the scope of practice, but has specific interests in AAC, social skills, and early language development. She has recently discovered a love for narrative language intervention and enjoys using books and story structures within her sessions to target multiple goals. In her free time, Rachel enjoys reading and playing with her dog, Koda.
Tour Rachel’s classroom here.
Sabrina is a self-contained multiple disabilities teacher from New Jersey who works with students in grade 3 – 5. She has been in the special education field for 9 years. Sabrina received her Master of Arts in Teaching from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and obtained her graduate endorsement in Special Education from Rowan University. Sabrina’s favorite part of being a special education teacher is making connections with students and helping them grow both academically and socially!
Take a tour of Sabrina’s classroom here.
Stephanie is a special education teacher that teaches students with severe-profound/multiple disabilities in a self-contained setting. She has been teaching for 5 years and has worked with students in elementary and middle school. Stephanie has a degree in special education from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is currently pursuing a master’s in special education with an emphasis on assistive technology. Her favorite part of teaching is watching her students’ wonderful and amazing small successes.
Tour Stephanie’s classroom here.
Tiffany is an Inclusion Specialist for a K-8 school district. Her job is to promote successful and purposeful inclusion of special education students into general education programs. Prior to entering this position, Tiffany was a self-contained classroom teacher for the moderate/extensive support needs population.
Tour Tiffany’s classroom here.
Vanessa is from Orange County, CA. She recently finished training and received a Canine Companion assistance dog, Connie, a service dog to be used at her school facility to aide her students. Vanessa received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology, from San Diego State. Her love for teaching began as a sub paraprofessional working in a classroom with a focus on Autism. She went back to school to get her mod/severe teaching credential as well as her master’s degree from Cal State San Bernardino. She began her career as an intern setting up a brand new autism specific classroom. Vanessa taught middle school for six years before moving to Orange County and teaching a tk/kindergarten structured Autism Class (or SAC, as her district likes to call it). She is nearing the end of her 11th year teaching in an Autism specific population. Vanessa absolutely loves her job!
Take a tour of Vanessa’s classroom here.
Whitney is a Structured Teaching Unit teacher in the primary self-contained setting. She has been working in special education for 3 years and has worked with K-2 students with autism and autism-like characteristics. Whitney has a dual bachelor’s degree in Early Elementary Education K-5 and Moderate-Severe Disabilities P-12 from the University of Louisville. She plans to return to graduate school to continue her education in the field of ABA. She loves helping her students gain independence and functional communication skills.
You can see Whitney’s classroom here.
Yalie is an Early Childhood Special Education teacher in an inclusive/blended classroom outside of Dallas, Texas. She has been a Special Education Teacher for 5 years; one year as an SDI/Resource Teacher and 4 years as an Academic Life Skills Classroom. Yalie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from Broward College in South Florida. She enjoys individualizing instruction, using visuals/gestures, and advocating for students. Yalie is an avid reader and enjoys instilling a love of reading in her students.
Tour Yalie’s classroom here.
