Fleetwood Teacher Wins 2011 Annie Sullivan Award

April 18, 2011 - PRLog -- READING, PA – On Thursday, April 14, six Berks County teachers were commended for their outstanding work on behalf of students with disabilities. From the six award nominees, Charlene Fisher, transition coordinator at Fleetwood Area School District, was selected as the winner of the Annie Sullivan Award for 2011.

Fisher was nominated by Dr. Thomas Clouse, interim director of student services, at Fleetwood Area School District. Her nomination was supported by letters of recommendation written by various Fleetwood administrators and faculty members, including the superintendent, assistant superintendent, chair of the special education department, principal, vice principals, and six teachers.

The Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) honored the nominees and winner at a reception and award ceremony at the BCIU Education Centre, 2101 Centre Avenue, Reading, PA 19605. Timothy M. Heffner, president of the BCIU board of directors, and Dr. Jill M. Hackman, director of BCIU’s Office of Early Childhood and Student Services, presented the award to Fisher and certificates to the following nominees:  

- Suzanne Blatt, Learning Support Teacher,  Mount Penn Elementary School, Antietam School District
- Charlene Fisher, Transition Support Teacher, Fleetwood High School, Fleetwood Area School District
- Rachel Heim, Life Skills Support Teacher, Penn-Bernville Elementary School, Tulpehocken Area School District
- Virginia Houseman, Districtwide RtII (Response to Instruction and Intervention) Coordinator, Reading School District
- Heather Olsen, Itinerant Learning Support and Math Teacher, Twin Valley High School, Twin Valley School District
- Lindsay Wellman, Life Skills Support Teacher, Oley Valley High School, Oley Valley School District

The Annie Sullivan Award is given in recognition of an individual who has worked to encourage the understanding and promotion of students with disabilities in his or her school or community. Annie Sullivan was Helen Keller’s devoted teacher and mentor who was nearly blind herself. After treatment, she regained her sight and committed herself to teaching the blind and deaf. This year marks the 25th annual presentation of the award in Berks County.