Minutes from May 2017 SEPTA Meeting

Minutes of

Arlington Special Education PTA Meeting/

SEPTA Recognition for Excellence in Supporting Special Education

Thursday May 11, 2017 6-7:30 PM

Thomas Jefferson MS Auditorium

125 Old Glebe Rd., Arlington VA

Officers’ Reports:

President’s Report, Caroline Levy:

Introduces SEPTA. Discusses Membership, $10.
This is the second to last meeting of the year.
Join us Sunday, June 11 2017 at Reed School Westover for the Arlington SEPTA Family Picnic. All are welcome. Please RSVP to info@arlingtonsepta.org

Treasurer’s Report, Caroline Levy for Adam Mann:

Outgoing President, Katherine Harris:

2016-2017 SEPTA AWARDS for EXCELLENCE

Caroline Levy introduces Chris and Theresa Waddell and Debbie Kilpatrick, Founders of SEPTA
Chris Waddell thanks Kathleen Donovan for reserving the room and introduces APS Superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy, VA’s superintendent of the year in 2015 and the first superintendent to start the yearly “super chat” discussion with our community.
Dr. Patrick Murphy congratulates nominees and award winners; recognizes leadership team and school board members.

Casey Robinson, Principal of HB and former student of Mary McBride, presents the Mary C. McBride Program Award.
Mary McBride beloved teacher and administrator in APS for over 40 years.
Believed in knowing students as individuals.
Her philosophy helped shape and was shaped by HB Woodlawn programs in the 70s.
McBride’s visionary ideas now seen as best practices.
Belief in different learning styles and paces.
Role model for thinking creatively and building programs that support every student.
Mary McBride Program Award Nominees:
Best Buddies Yorktown
Little Beginnings
Mary McBride Program Award Winner:
Patrick Henry Total Communications Program

Rebecca Kallem, Art Teacher at Long branch and Howie Kallem’s daughter presents The Howie Award for Parents and Volunteers.
Howie Award is for a parent or volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to the APS SPED community.
Howie Kallem, APS parent, special education advocate and community activist was the first recipient of this award.
He earned this honor because of his service and counsel to SEPTA in his early years, especially his advice on special education and civil rights; his decades of service as a leader at several APS school-based PRAs; and his 14 years of co-charing the APS Minority Achievement Advisory Committee.
Howie worked for 15 years as Chief Regional Attorney for the U.S. Dept. of Ed.s Office for Civil Rights in the D.C. Enforcement Office.
He is currently the Director for Title IX Compliance at Duke University.
Howie Kallem Award Nominees:
Tauna Szymanski
Michelle Best
Howie Kallem Award Winner:
Donna Owens

Mark Crawford, Eileen Crawford’s husband, presented the Eileen K. Crawford Educator’s Award.
Named for the late Eileen K. Crawford, the award recognizes individuals who demonstrate passion, creativity, and excellence in their work with special needs students or the programs that serve those students.
Eileen devoted professional life to supporting special education.
Undergraduate degree in Speech and Hearing, Masters in Speech and Language Pathology, and a Masters in Education.
For almost three decades, Eileen provided students with individualized service, taught in the classroom at Wakefield High School, and served as a Special Ed Coordinator and Parent Resource Coordinator.
She loved connecting with students, helping each to appreciate themselves, grow in independence, and pursue meaningful goals.

Brandi, Nannini (mom), AJ (brother) and Mike (father) presented The Isabella G. Nannini Student Award:
Bella was a determined girl who achieved so much in her life.
At birth, doctors said she would never use her hands, sit, stand, walk, talk or eat and may not live long; however, Bella blew past expectations/
She met early milestones, learning to communicate desires and dislikes, and at age two, she started in APS special education preschool program.
She learned, had fun, loved music, and made friends in preschool.
She blossomed at Glebe Elementary School in the Life Skills Program.
She learned how to use communications devices and how to shake hands.
She performed in the school play with other fourth grade students.
Bella was an advocate who regularly attended county and state legislative meetings to ask for services that enabled her to live in the community with her family and friends.
She loved people and hugs.
Her family is honored to give an award in her name to dedicated and persistent students.
Nominees for The Isabella G. Nannini Award:
Ben McGann
Huan Vuong
Emma Budway
Brian Ramos
Justin Boater

Chris Waddell presented cufflinks made from tokens from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority to Paul Jamelske, APS Director of Special Education. Paul Jamelski was given the folders of those who could not be present to award individually.

Notes prepared by Secretary Karen Sosnoski with help from Chris Waddell.