AUBURN TEAM OF TEACHERS & SPED DIRECTOR HONORED WITH AWARDS

We would like to congratulate the Pakachoag Team of teachers & special educators and Dr. Ralph Hicks, who won the "Excellence in Inclusive Education" Awards, Elementary Team Category and Administrator Category respectively, for their hard work and creativity to provide inclusion opportunities for a child at Pakachoag.

The Inclusion award was created by DMR several years ago, for the purpose of recognizing individuals, teams, and administrators who have demonstrated creative, flexible and successful inclusion for a child or children with special needs.  Nominations are open to parents, caregivers, and professionals.

The Pakachoag team and Dr. Hicks were nominated by the parents of a child with autism at Pakachoag Elementary School. 

"The team and Dr. Hicks have been so innovative and supportive of our child, who without the help of each person could never have achieved the level of success that (our child) has demonstrated.  We never, ever expected (our child) to be able to actually have friends and spend so much time with his (non-disabled) peers.  It has been incredible, and we're grateful to DMR for providing a way that we can thank them and they can be recognized for all of their hard work."

The team includes Principal Kathy Lauze, Team Chair Judy Cocci, Teacher Andrea Kennedy, Home Program therapist Christina Stead, Consultant Jim Ellis, and Inclusion Art Teacher Wendy Quirion.

Dr. Hicks and the team were all honored at a dinner on June 4, along with the winners of Awards in other categories.