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KELLY BLAKELY

The Academy 2024 Teacher of the Year

PRESCHOOL DEVELOPMENTAL DEPARTMENT CHAIR
11.5 Years of Teaching; 6.5 Years at Center Grove 

 

 

“The world needs all kinds of minds.” - Dr. Temple Grandin  

I knew when I was in the fourth grade that I was going to be a special education teacher. From the moment I got to be a “peer buddy” in a classroom with children with unique needs, I knew that working with children with disabilities was my calling. There is something so special about watching a child take their first steps, or say their first words and as a special education teacher, I have had the opportunity to witness these special moments that my students achieve. 

Special education is important because it provides opportunities and access for students that were at one time not possible.  It is my belief that special education is a service, not a place. Students deserve to be educated in their least restrictive environment using specially designed instruction to make gains toward their individual goals. I strive to continually advocate for students. It is important to me that children can participate in the curriculum to the best of their individual ability. All students have the right to be an active participant in their classroom. 

As a special education teacher, I have experience in examining a student’s barriers to accessing the curriculum. It is important to me that children are all able to participate in the same activities to the best of their individual ability. In my classroom, I strive to meet my students where they are. I work to learn how to best meet each student's needs through professional development, researching information on specific conditions, syndromes, etc. 

I have sought out opportunities to learn more about how to best meet the needs of my students and have worked to learn to use a wide variety of augmentative communication devices. I have experience working with eye gaze devices, Tobii Dynavox communication devices, LAMP words for life, TD Snap, and other lower tech options. I am comfortable using switch accessibility features on the iPad and love learning more about how to make classroom materials better accessible for all learners. I am trained in Cortical Visual Impairment and have used technology to create materials that are high contrast for students to provide for better visibility. Most recently, I learned how to utilize suction machines and manage oxygen for a student with intensive medical needs in my classroom. 

Teaching is a partnership. In my current position as a teacher and department chair, I strive to be a servant leader. I make every effort to be available and accessible for help when it’s needed.  Relationships with my staff as well as the families I will serve are critical and long- lasting. Creating positive and collaborative partnerships with staff and families is a priority of mine as I continue to work in special education in Center Grove. As a preschool teacher, I am often the first experience with public schools that parents have with their child. As students qualify for special education services upon transitioning from First Steps, the entrance to school can be a scary time. This is often even more complex when the child has significant health and communication needs. Partnering with families is critical to the success of our students, and I love being a welcoming and reassuring presence for families as they enter the school-age years. I want to set the tone for the remaining years each child attends Center Grove Schools by leading with positivity and excitement.

I am a special education teacher, but I am also a mother of a child with special needs. I am passionate about families understanding the IEP process. As a young mom, it was overwhelming for me to learn that my child would need special education and receiving his Autism diagnosis was truly challenging. However, as my son entered the Developmental Preschool, my passion for early intervention grew. I knew that if I felt overwhelmed as a trained teacher who understood the IEP process, how much more nervous were parents who didn’t have the training or knowledge I did? I want to be a part of helping parents make the transition to school age services, and I strive to advocate for children and families in order to make our community a more inclusive place so all children can receive an “Exceptional Educational Experience” in Center Grove.