Wed, Jun 12th, 2019
Indian Valley would like to announce another State of Ohio win in regard to our outstanding team of teachers. Mrs. Megan Heath, Intervention Specialist at Port Washington Elementary, was awarded the Franklin B. Walter Outstanding Educator Award at a luncheon on Tuesday, June 11, at the Villa Milano Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio.
The Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities, Buckeye Association of School Administrators, Ohio Association for County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, Ohio Educational Service Center Association and Ohio School Boards Association sponsor two awards per year in the field of Special Education. One award is given to a student; the other a teacher. Mrs. Heath received the Outstanding Educator Award named for the late Dr. Franklin B Walter, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction, who provided outstanding education leadership for Ohio Schools.
Talia St. Clair, Indian Valley Pupil Services Director, made the nomination based upon Mrs. Heath’s professionalism, focus on research-based interventions, and commitment to students beyond the walls of the classroom. St. Clair informed the awards committee that because of Mrs. Heath’s “individualizing for students using researched-based interventions...100% of her students increased their MAP RIT growth on reading and math from Fall to Spring.” St. Clair went on to convey that one student made a staggering 19 point jump!
Mrs. Heath’s professional engagement with fellow educators, effort to design lessons for individual student needs, and commitment to families in and outside the school day demonstrates Mrs. Heath has taken the Indian Valley mission of “Working together to personalize a rigorous, standards-based learning experience” to heart.
Heath is the most recent Indian Valley educator of five to receive state-wide acclaim for outstanding service to students.