In loving Memory of Mike McHugh from the Sunset Chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children.
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FL Council for Exceptional Children Teacher of Year is at Oak Park
EXCEPTIONAL TEACHER: Helen Pastore displays the plaque naming her the Florida Council for Exceptional Children Teacher of the Year. She received the honor at the Council’s state conference in St. Petersburg in mid-October.
2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 1000, Arlington, VA 22202-3557 (P) 800.224.6830 (TTY) 866.915.5000 (F) 703.243.3961 www.cec.sped.org
For immediate release
Contact: Diane Shinn, 703-264-9478, dianes@cec.sped.org
Sarasota Teacher is Special Education Teacher of the Year
Arlington, Va., Feb. 23, 2015 – Helen Pastore, a teacher of students with disabilities at Oak Park School, has been selected to receive the 2015 Clarissa Hug Teacher of the Year Award from The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the world’s largest special education membership organization.
The Clarissa Hug Teacher of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding teacher of children with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. The award honors a CEC member whose work reflects significant educational success for students, continued professional development, and the highest standard of educational quality.
Pastore, who was named the 2013 Florida CEC Teacher of the Year has taught students with multiple exceptionalities who are aged 14 to 22 years at Oak Park School since 2005. She is a lifelong learner with a Master’s degree in autism spectrum disorders and severe intellectual disabilities.
Pastore’s students benefit from her multifaceted approach. She strives to create a caring, safe and effective learning environment by blending multisensory methods, real-life learning experiences, and her belief that each year, every child can improve. Her highly individualized teaching method prompts parents and colleagues alike to vouch for her ability to bring out the best in each of her students.
A true educational advocate, Pastore currently represents her school district in a Common Core Community of Practice and has also coauthored and received a grant to establish a campus-based work center called the “we-Work Lab” that has benefited hundreds of students over the last three years.
Pastore will be recognized during the CEC 2015 Convention & Expo’s Opening General Session, the largest annual gathering of members of the field of special education, April 8, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego. For more information, visit www.cecconvention.org.
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is a professional association of educators dedicated to advancing the success of children with exceptionalities. We accomplish our mission through advocacy, standards, and professional development. Visit us at www.cec.sped.org.
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Sarasota County Schools News
SARASOTA – An Oak Park School teacher who works with high school and adult students with special needs has been named the Florida Council for Exceptional Children Teacher of the Year. Helen Pastore received the recognition at this year’s state conference Oct. 17-19 in St. Petersburg. She will represent Florida and compete for the national Teacher of the Year title at the CEC Convention and Expo scheduled for April 8-11, 2015, in San Diego.
Many of Pastore’s students have autism; her goal is to “bring the world” to them. She was the founder of the We-Work Lab, a campus-based work program for students to learn work skills. Her class also decorates bags for a local yarn shop and learning to create other products with the help of a recently donated loom.
Pastore has led the Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops at Oak Park, are two of the only special needs Scout troops in the State of Florida.
“Helen has always readily welcomed new challenges and is one busy lady,” said Elizabeth Lewis, a fellow Oak Park teacher who serves as president of the Sunset Chapter of CEC (Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties). “She is Oak Park’s professional development coordinator and treasurer of our local CEC chapter. She also was our chapter’s 2012-13 Teacher of the Year. She is also working on her master’s degree. Sarasota County and the state of Florida have a wonderful teacher representative in Helen Pastore!”
SARASOTA – An Oak Park School teacher who works with high school and adult students with special needs has been named the Florida Council for Exceptional Children Teacher of the Year. Helen Pastore received the recognition at this year’s state conference Oct. 17-19 in St. Petersburg. She will represent Florida and compete for the national Teacher of the Year title at the CEC Convention and Expo scheduled for April 8-11, 2015, in San Diego.
Many of Pastore’s students have autism; her goal is to “bring the world” to them. She was the founder of the We-Work Lab, a campus-based work program for students to learn work skills. Her class also decorates bags for a local yarn shop and learning to create other products with the help of a recently donated loom.
Pastore has led the Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops at Oak Park, are two of the only special needs Scout troops in the State of Florida.
“Helen has always readily welcomed new challenges and is one busy lady,” said Elizabeth Lewis, a fellow Oak Park teacher who serves as president of the Sunset Chapter of CEC (Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties). “She is Oak Park’s professional development coordinator and treasurer of our local CEC chapter. She also was our chapter’s 2012-13 Teacher of the Year. She is also working on her master’s degree. Sarasota County and the state of Florida have a wonderful teacher representative in Helen Pastore!”
HEAD OF THE CLASS: Helen Pastore, seated at center with some of her high school and adult students and classroom staff, has been named the Florida Council for Exceptional Children Teacher of the Year. In the front row from left are Jesus Rodriguez, Derek Patton, Anushri Prakash and Kenia Sawyers-Montiell. In the back row from left are classroom staff Karen Sherrard, Pastore, Charles Hill and Darlene Jones.
