Saturday, August 24, 2002
WARREN -- A teacher for the multihandicapped at the Trumbull County Educational Service Center was one of 16 teachers or teaching teams statewide to receive an award.
The State Superintendent's Advisory Council for Special Education and the Ohio Department of Education presented Wendy Szakacs recently with the Franklin B. Walter Outstanding Educator Award.
Award recipients were recognized for their ability to meaningfully include more children with disabilities in more regular environments.
Szakacs was selected for this award as well as for the Golden Apple Award by the Northeast Ohio Special Education Regional Resource Center.
Work with autistic kids
Szakacs' nomination focused on her work with autistic children. She teaches in the Autism Transitional Classroom and serves on the Autism Transitional Consultation Team.
Szakacs, who is a Liberty resident, has also presented at several conferences that focus on autism.
"We are honored to have Wendy Szakacs selected for this prestigious award," said Dr. Anthony D'Ambrosio, Trumbull County Educational Service Center superintendent. "We are even more fortunate to have someone of Wendy's ability and dedication on our staff. She is a great talent and a valuable resource for our office and for all the school districts in Trumbull County."
The award is named for Dr. Franklin B. Walter, a former superintendent of public instruction. During his tenure from 1977-1991, Walter developed the nation's first statewide plan for children with disabilities.
The award has been given annually for 13 years.