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| Mark Riggs |
Mark Riggs is the recipient of the first-ever Inclusive Education Practices Award in Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191.
The award was established by the district's Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) as a way to recognize staff members who are including students with disabilities in classrooms and extracurricular activities.
Riggs was selected for his work as a physical education teacher, student council advisor, track, wresting, and football coach, and current position as a learning disabilities instructor.
"Inclusive education is when each and every student is welcomed and his/her unique needs and learning styles are valued and attended to," explained Board of Education and SEAC member Paula Teiken, who presented the award to Riggs at the Dec. 15 meeting. "The result is greater opportunities for academic and social achievement for all students."
Inclusion comes naturally to Riggs, who began his career teaching Developmental Adapted Physical Education (DAPE) and adjusting the curriculum to meet the individual learning needs of every student.
All students benefit when students with disabilities are included in the classroom and in activities, he said. Inclusion provides life lessons to mainstream students and makes them better people. "They learn how to reach out to others with special needs," he said. "That's a real-life lesson -- how to live and work with everyone."
As for students with disabilities, inclusion can help them feel connected and give them the confidence to go out and achieve.
"Maybe a student doesnt make the team, but they could be a wonderful manager," he said. "There are always ways for students to participate." Riggs makes sure that students with disabilities are involved in Student Council, Homecoming, Snow week, sports and other events and activities at the big, busy high school with a wide array of opportunities for students.
Riggs, a life-long resident of Burnsville and graduate of Burnsville High School, wants everyone involved in the school community that has been such a major part of his life.
"It's good for the school when all students are connected, feel ownership and take pride in their school," he said.
Others nominated for the 2011 Inclusive Education Practices Award were:
Jeanne Kibler of the special education west cluster;
Tara Nelson at Early Childhood Special Education;
Deb Goetz, districtwide;
Stephen Pettinelli at Burnsville High School;
Cindy Check at Early Childhood Family Education;
Jeff Webber at Eagle Ridge;
Mari-Lynn O'Brien at Hamilton Head Start;
SPARK program at Nicollet (Angie Bell, Sharelle Peterson, Jean Schroeder and Cathy Maki);
Leslie Moffit at Burnsville High School; and
Michelle Lindell at M.W. Savage.
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