Congratulations to Garfield Park Academy staff members Michelle O’Connell, Nastassia Lane, and Brittany Harmening. They’ve been nominated by Garfield Park Academy for ASAH’s 2019 Educator Awards.
Michelle O’Connell
GPA Middle School Teacher
Michelle O’Connell
ASAH Educator of the Year 2019
It is with great pleasure we write this letter of recommendation in support of Michelle O’Connell who has been selected as the nominee from Garfield Park Academy for the ASAH Educator of the Year Award. By definition, “A special education teacher is someone who works with children and youth who have a variety of disabilities.” In her time at GPA, Ms. O’Connell has demonstrated a dedication to providing her students with the necessary skills, tools and guidance to help maximize their success.
Ms. O’Connell has also gone above and beyond dedicating her time to help make GPA the best it can be. She has spent a great deal of time after hours working with our most challenging youth. She has helped raise funds to benefit our students and their families by finding alternative homes for used books and clothing. She has contributed to making sure our curriculum is in line with the public schools and is individualized to meet the needs of our students. Even when faced with challenging situations, Ms. Michelle does so with grace and enthusiasm. She works closely with her staff to develop a classroom environment where students enjoy being in the room and are eager to learn.
Ms. O’Connell also utilizes the Teaching-Family Model effectively and works closely with her staff and consultant to develop various incentives and rewards as part of the behavioral program. She identifies what motivates her students and put into place a classroom reward system in order to give her students an opportunity to earn their rewards. She has a very nice rapport with parents to make sure they are knowledgeable about their child’s success.
Beyond the therapeutic component, Michelle works diligently every day to ensure the academic success of her students. She is always immersing herself in finding the best new practices and is eager to share these with her fellow staff members. She also spends countless hours mentoring other teachers. Michelle is the epitome of the definition, “team player.” In addition, she has taken on the role as School Coordinator for New Jersey’s Standardized testing.
It is with great confidence and understanding of Michelle’s dedication to her profession that we forward this letter endorsing Ms. O’Connell’s nomination for Educator of the Year.
Nastassia Lane
GPA Classroom Aide and Substitute Teacher
Nastassia Lane
ASAH Paraprofessional of the Year 2019
It is with great honor we write this letter of recommendation in support of Nastassia Lane who has been selected as the nominee from Garfield Park Academy for the ASAH Paraprofessional of the Year Award. Nastassia has shown tremendous professional growth during her time at Garfield Park Academy. She has excelled at various positions garnering the respect of staff and students alike. These positions include 1 to 1 aide, classroom instructional aide, staff mentor and as a substitute teacher. As a staff mentor Nastassia’s responsibilities include training the staff on how to effectively use the Teaching-Family Behavior Model, mediating student conflicts and orientating new students into the school. Her knowledge of all the behavioral teaching procedures associated with the behavior model allow her to demonstrate techniques and give critical feedback to staff that enhances their ability to implement the behavioral model.
This year Nastassia has taken on two long-term substitute teaching assignments. In both situations, she brought stability to the respective classrooms while facilitating academic and social learning. Nastassia’s style of delivery projects warmth and concern allowing her to deescalate students during crisis situations. Her patience and nurturing qualities assist in creating and maintaining a strong rapport between her and students. This year, she introduced a dwarf rabbit as the classroom pet in an attempt to enrich her student’s classroom experience.
Nastassia is active in other programs throughout the school. She was instrumental in developing a dance group within the school. It has been a motivating therapeutic tool for the students. It culminated in a magnificent performance by the students at the school talent show. Parents and staff alike applauded Nastassia’s efforts. In addition, she is co-facilitator of a middle school girls’ group. The group provides an opportunity for girls to meet and bond while equipping them with the social skills needed to face the challenges that await them.
Nastassia Lane is an asset to Garfield Park Academy. She has a positive attitude that impacts all that come in contact with her. She leaves a long-lasting impression on those that have the pleasure of meeting her. This is witnessed by the great number of past staff and students who make their way back to Garfield Park Academy to visit her. James Baldwin once said, “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they never failed to imitate them.” If that statement stands true then Nastassia serves as a great role model for students to imitate, making her the ideal selection for the Paraprofessional of the Year.
Brittany Harmening
GPA Reading Specialist
Brittany Harmening
Related Service Provider of the Year
It is with great pleasure we write this letter of recommendation in support of Brittany Harmening who has been selected as the nominee from Garfield Park Academy for the ASAH Related Service Provider of the Year Award. Brittany has been a Reading Specialist at GPA for five years. In that time Brittany has brought the term “Reading Specialist” to an entirely different level. She works with both individual and small groups of students on specific areas of weakness. Interventions might focus on decoding, fluency, comprehension or even writing skills. She works closely with staff to develop the best individualized reading programs for our students. Brittany not only works with struggling readers, but she also helps teachers and aides to help improve reading instruction throughout the entire school.
Brittany has gone above and beyond her job description to ensure the very best for our students and school, spending countless hours donating her time to help run various fundraising projects. She chaired our fundraising gala for two years and co-chaired for two years. In that time, she helped raise over $50,000 which supported programs such as a new music studio, a sensory room and other therapeutic tools to support our students. She has helped organize book drives for GP A, which in tum have given countless youth and their families books which they would not have had otherwise. Brittany has helped bring Veterans to the school to educate our students. She has helped run our yearbook for the past three years. She is currently our NJSLA District Test Coordinator. Brittany has also spent countless hours donating her time as the President elect of The West Jersey Reading Council.
In closing, Brittany is someone you can always rely on to not just “get the job done,” but it is done with integrity, pride, and expertise which enhances the success of our students both academically and in life.
