Special-education teachers start year with a boost

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Autism Society of Mahoning Valley recently announced its grant recipients for the Autism Teacher Mini Grant program and awarded $950 in funds to area special education teachers to help them expand the student accommodations in their classrooms. Awards were given in three denominations: $500, $250 and $100 to applicants from public and private schools in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

Recipients are as follows:

Melissa Chalker of Liberty Local School District and Trumbull County Educational Service Center was awarded $500. She will be using the funds for flexibile seating, sensory floor lamps and other sensory and occupational therapy items.

Robin Ten Eyck from Columbiana County Educational Service Center was awarded $250. She teaches in a transition classroom and is working on employment skills with her students. They make organic dog biscuits that they sell at a local consignment shop. Students measure ingredients, bake and package the biscuits.

Summer Loffredo of Potential Development was awarded $100. She will be buying a classroom break box for self-regulation and educational incentive.

Kathy Berlin from Warren G. Harding High School also was awarded $100. She will use her grant to help pay for food for her cooking class. Berlin also uses food from the garden that her class planted.

The Autism Society of Mahoning Valley revived the grant project last year to show appreciation and support for area teachers who work with children on the autism spectrum. The society’s board, a group consisting of community members and parents, reviewed the applications and selected the winners.

The organization’s 2018 title sponsors are Columbiana Chrysler Jeep Dodge & RAM Trucks and Greenwood Chevrolet of Austintown.