Chrissis, Engstrom, Stickle receive Inclusive Educator awards

District 191 staff members Erik Chrissis, Heather Engstrom and Carolyn Stickle recently received Inclusive Educator Awards.

The awards were presented by Intermediate School District 917 as part of Inclusive Schools Week to highlight and celebrate the progress schools have made in implementing inclusive practices to ensure a quality education for all students. 

Chrissis and Engstrom work together in the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Transition (BEST) program, where they partner with Project SEARCH at M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital to support young adults with disabilities as they pursue employment.

Chrissis has worked in District 191 for 19 years.

“It is truly an honor to receive this award, and I see it as a reflection of the collective work toward inclusion that our entire team at BEST prioritizes every day,” Chrissis said. “This recognition also speaks to Ridges and their staff’s ongoing commitment to equitable hiring and training practices. While inclusion is something we strive to make happen for our students, the reality is that the barriers they face do not end when they graduate with a diploma. That can be disheartening at times, but it also reinforces why this work matters so deeply. Having others recognize and value these efforts means a great deal to me and to the team I am fortunate to work alongside.”

Engstrom has worked in District 191 for 24 years.

“I was honored to receive this award alongside my colleague. In my first year working with the Project SEARCH program at Fairview Ridges, it has been incredibly rewarding to see interns learn their roles and gain hands-on experience throughout the hospital,” Engstrom said. “I believe the teamwork between my colleague and myself, along with our collaborative approach to sharing and developing ideas, played a significant role in receiving this award.”

Stickle is in her 23rd year as Administrative Assistant at Edward Neill Elementary. 

“My part in this is basically to welcome our 917 partners into the school and to do what I can to accommodate them while they are there,” Stickle said. “We want the students and staff of 917 to feel like they belong while they are with us. I am so proud and privileged to be a part of this equation.”

Inclusive Schools Week

Since its inception in 2001, Inclusive Schools Week has celebrated the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socio-economic status, cultural heritage, language preference, and other factors.

The Week also provides an important opportunity for educators, students, and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that their schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate all children.

Inclusive Schools Week allows us all to take a moment to applaud the progress we’ve made toward building more inclusive school communities while pledging to continue our work toward becoming a more inclusive society.