Prince George’s County Chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Awards Reception

After the end of another long IEP season, many special educators gathered to celebrate the positive difference they make in the lives of their students. On April 29, 2008 the Prince George’s County Chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) held its biannual Awards Reception, honoring people who go above and beyond the call of duty to improve the education and quality of life for students with disabilities. At the Awards Reception, held at the University of Maryland University College Inn and Conference Center, the guests were able to catch up with old friends and wish their nominees well over hors d’oevres before the ceremony. They celebrated the nominees with cheers and laughter, but they also celebrated the special education community, the many people who work in the special education department, making the lives of students better. On a somber note, Mark Norman (November 8, 1952 – February 13, 2008), former co-president of CEC and former principal of C. E. Reig, an outstanding principal and educator who made the lives of many people better, always a prominent part of the Awards Reception, was remembered and missed.

Dr. Pamela Downing Hosten, Director of Special Education, as guest speaker told the crowd of over 200 the inspiring stories of Dr. Jessie B. Mason, Frances Fuchs, and James Duckworth, pioneers in the field of special education. These giants created a nationally recognized special education system in Prince George’s County years before federal law created systems across the nation. Dave Gill, the Training and Competition Director for Prince George’s County Special Olympics, told the crowd how Robert Janus had brought Special Olympics and Motor Development to this county, starting in the 1960s. Dr. Downing Hosten had the crowd laughing and cheering as she talked about people and schools they knew and loved, and she congratulated the audience on carrying on the work of Dr. Mason, Frances Fuchs, James Duckworth, and Bob Janus, people who made the world better for our students with disabilities.

Fourteen outstanding candidates for the four CEC awards were nominated by their colleagues.

For the Dr. Jessie B. Mason Memorial Award, which honors administrators in Special Education in Prince George’s County, three nominees were submitted:

1. Dr. Florence Foreman, Supervisor of Psychological Services
2. Jill Hildenbrand, SEIS, Region V Office
3. Julia Watson, Autism Specialist, Wheatley Autism Office

For the Frances R. Fuchs Memorial Award which acknowledges a person in the field of Special Education in Prince George’s County, five nominees were submitted:

1. Lisa Anderson, Para-professional, Central High School
2. Roslyn Branchcomb, Special Educator, Margaret Brent Regional School
3. Selena Brown, Special Educator, Margaret Brent Regional School
4. Emily G. Freeman, Special Educator, Deerfield Run Elementary School
5. Donna Lauerhahs, Special Educator/Music Teacher, Wheatley

For the Robert J. Janus Honorarium Award which acknowledges a person in the field of Related Services in Prince George’s County, three names were submitted:

1. Colleeen Boisvert, Occupational Therapist, Chapel Forge and Deerfield Run
2. Ken Kitchelt, Motor Development, Frances Fuchs
3. Brad Weiner, Motor Development, Wheatley

For the James E. Duckworth Award which acknowledged a person in the Prince George’s County School System not in the field of Special Education, three names were submitted:
1. Mary Dawkins, Billable Trips Secretary, Department of Transportation
2. Patricia Hall-Porter, Executive Director, In God’s Loving Hands, Inc.
3. Jane L. Hanfman, General Education Teacher, Deerfield Run Elementary School

Choosing the winners was very difficult for the judges—Ronald Beury, Margaret Castagnola, and Larry Yore. During the awards ceremony, as the synopses of the carefully-prepared awards packets were read, pictures were projected showing the nominees working with students. The mini-biographies of the nominees were so outstanding and the pictures so beautiful. In the interactions among the nominees and students could be seen the kind of relationships that make learning and emotional growth possible. The judges spent over six hours choosing among the nominees but after much arm wrestling, they reached decisions
:

1. The winner of the Dr. Jessie B. Mason Award was Jill Hildenbrand
2. The winner of the Frances R. Fuchs Award was Donna Lauerhahs
3. The winner of the Robert J. Janus Award was Ken Kitchelt
4. The winner of the James E. Duckworth Award was Patricia Hall-Porter

The Council for Exceptional Children Chapter 263 and the many supporters in the room thank the nominees and award winners for the outstanding job they do and say “keep up the good work.”

Come join other teachers and learn how to reduce stress from our hectic school days for FREE.

1:30-1:45 Greeting/snacks
1:45-2:30 Massage Session
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45-4:00 Yoga & Meditation
4:00-4:15 Door Prizes/Thank You

Place: Russett Library
3501 Russett Common
Laurel, MD 20724

Reservations taken at ann_mulhollen@hcpss.org

Email your name, school, and teaching position

More Detail: Online Flyer

The deadline for submission of Maryland CEC Professional Awards nomination packets has been extended to Friday, September 28, 2007!

The Maryland State Unit of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is seeking nominations for the Maryland State Unit of CEC 2008 Awards. There will be three categories for this year\'s awards:

· Special Education Teacher
· Special Education Paraeducator
· Collaborator

Winners in each category will be notified this fall and invited to a special meeting of the MD State Unit of CEC this spring for recognition. Maryland State Unit of CEC will nominate the winners for CEC\'s 2007 National Awards, if applicable.

All procedures must be followed & packets must be complete for consideration.
Get the MDCEC State Award Packet

The Hood College Student Chapter recently hosted a Scholastic Book Fair. It was a very successful event! Their next major event will be the Frederick County Children's Festival held in Baker Park in Frederick on April 28 from 10:00am - 3:00pm. The Festival provides a day of free, hands-on activities for children and families. Attendance at the festival is typically over 3,000 individuals. The Hood College Student Chapter booth will focus on various parachute games for children between the ages of 2 through 8 years old. Come on out and join them!

We are pleased to announce that Rahul Rajagopalan and Robert Harle have been selected as recipients of the 2007 Yes I Can! Awards! They are included in a group of 29 selected from nominations received from across the world.

The Yes I Can! Awards Ceremony will be held at CEC’s 2007 Annual Convention & Expo, Friday, April 20, 5:00 p.m., in Louisville, Kentucky. Additionally, all winners and their families are invited to attend a special field trip on April 21.

Congratulations, Rahul & Robert! You should be very proud of your accomplishments. We certainly are proud of you.