Ebenhoh, Bortel receive Inclusive Educator awards
- Announcements
District 191 teachers Teegan Ebenhoh and Shawn Bortel 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.
Ebenhoh is an Early Childhood Special Education teacher at Diamondhead Education Center.
“I feel very honored to win this award. It is validating that others see the time and effort I put into making my classroom accessible and welcoming to all my students,” she said.
Ebenhoh was nominated by teacher Kelli Proulx.
“Her commitment to advocating for her students' needs is both inspiring and impactful,” Proulx said of Ebenhoh. “Teegan champions inclusive practices that support students with disabilities to be able to access their educational environment. She incorporates assistive technology, such as switches, interactive learning apps, and adaptive toys to bridge gaps for students with physical impairments. These tools also foster meaningful interactions between students and their peers.”
Bortel is a Work Experience teacher at Burnsville High School.
“It feels humbling to get the award because everything I'm doing with students in my role is due to the full support and resources I've been allowed to provide meaningful transition - work, volunteering, career exploration - opportunities for students,” Bortel said.
Bortel was nominated by teacher Ashley Ward.
“Shawn Bortel has gone above and beyond to include students with visual impairments in work experience to learn opportunities each week off campus. This is such an enriching experience for the students, using their canes in new locations, working in the community, and increasing their skills in many areas,” Ward said. ”This is a wonderful example of the goodness that comes from teachers of different disciplines teaming together to increase and improve student outcomes.”
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.
- BHS
- ECFE
- Early Childhood
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