2018 Award Nominees and Winners

* – denotes winner(s) in that category

SEPTA Champion

*Ramona Morrow, FCCPTA
*Debbie Kilpatrick, NoVA PTA

Community Champion

*Connie Lorentzen
Charlene Meny, Owner of Little Lords and Ladies
FCPS School Board
Veronica Jennings, Potomac Region Director, Special Olympics
Sara Jane Breaux

Outstanding Student Fostering Inclusion

*Katie Dow. Lake Braddock SS
Matilda Lukacs, Robinson SS
*Sara Chawki, Bush Hill ES
Victoria Centenio, Robinson SS
Julian Hem, Lane ES
Sam Belkowitz, South County HS

Outstanding Coach/Music/Art/Theater Teacher

Mike Horanski, Chorus, Robinson SS
*Jewel Schrader Orem, Speech & Drama, Stuart HS
Kelly Hood, Music Oak Hill ES

Outstanding General Education Teacher

Madelyn Stephens, Robinson SS
Amelie Krikorian, Lees Corner ES
Jessica Francis, Laurel Ridge ES
Heather Demuth, Hunters Woods ES
Amy Pannutti, Marshall Road ES
*Afton Carlson, Terra Centre ES
Samuel Reddick, Mark Twain MS

Outstanding Special Education Teacher

Morgan Martin, Laurel Ridge ES
Graham Pettigrew, Edison HS
Nancy Suleiman, Centreville ES
*Samantha Mullen, Chantilly HS
Lindsey Gera, Bull run ES
Julia Bradt, Oak Hill ES
Theresa Early, Laurel Ridge ES
Danielle Overbeck, Island Creek ES
Christina Taylor, Saratoga ES
Karen Beers, Chantilly HS
Danielle Torres, Fort Belvior Upper School
*Melissa Gogel, Hunt Valley ES
Cheryl Hauser, Mark Twain Middle School

Outstanding Co-Teaching Team

*Ms. Ami Durand & Ms. Laura Leydon, Robinson SS
Ms. Debbie Supernor & Mr. Robert Collidge, Robinson SS

Outstanding IA/Paraprofessional

Comfort Biasko, West Springfield ES
Taleed El-Zoobi, Centerville ES
*Nandita Bose, Lees Corner ES
Teresa Hensle, Laurel Ridge ES
*Sheryl Perez, Chantilly HS
Jennifer Martin, Fort Belvior
Diane Blevins, Mark Twain MS

Outstanding Related Service Provider

*Dr. Susanne Cook, SLP, Lake Braddock SS
Krista Grimm, SLP, Lane ES
Emily Hsu, SLP, Lees Corner ES

Outstanding Support Staff

Olivia Terpstra, Counselor, Edison HS
Karen Spradlin, Social Worker, Hunt Valley ES
Elaine McCall, Resource Center Specialist, PRC
Lisa Hoffman, Librarian, Marshall Road ES
*Michele Tureaud, Behavior Intervention Teacher, DSS & Lees Corner ES
Kelly Kapalka, AT, Lees Corner ES
Alice Robertson, Counselor, Chantilly HS
*Deb Brown, Counselor, Lake Braddock SS
*Bill Cooksey, Van Driver & Andrea Davis, Attendant – Transportation
Julie West, ATS, Assistive Technology Services -DSS

Special Education Administrator of the Year (School Based)

Michael Cohen, AP, Edison HS
Sue Kirby, AP & SpEd Lead, Marshall Road ES
Kathleen Otal, Guidance Counselor, McClean HS
Pam Hutson, SpEd Chair, Robinson SS
Robert “Bob” D’Amato, Lees Corner ES
Debbie Strayhorn, AP Special Education, Lake Braddock SS
*Kim Pryor, CSS AP, Laurel Ridge ES
*Michelle Weaver, SpEd Department Chair, Lake Braddock Middle
Stephanie Waigand, SpEd Department Chair, Edison HS

Best Inclusive Program School or PTA

Hunt Valley Buddies Program (Melissa Gogel & Catherine Luby), Hunt Valley ES
*Robinson Partnership Club (Allison Neun & Jennifer Kruzynski), Robinson SS

Best School for Inclusion

*Robinson SS
*Camelot ES – Acceptance Team
Lees Corner ES

Outstanding Special Education Liaison (FCPS and PTA)

Joanne Walton (SEPTA)
*Susan Kannegeiser, PSL, Lake Braddock Pyramid
Susan De Frees, Multiagency Services Support Liaison, MAS
*Laura Coons Allen, (PTA SpEd Liaison Camelot ES)
Lisa Locke, (PTA SpEd Liaison Lees Corner ES)

Special Education Advocate of the Year (Central Office)

Ann Speidel, Career and Transition Services, Centerville HS
*Sara Cooner, Behavior Intervention Services
Ann Long, Coordinator Career and Transition Services

Excellent Educator of the Year

Ann Speidel, Career and Transition Services, Centerville HS
Nancy Suleiman, Centreville ES
Michelle Weaver, SpEd Department Chair, Lake Braddock Middle
Elise Tripp, PSL, Central Office
Samantha Mullen, SpEd Case Manager, Chantilly HS
Julia Bradt, SpEd teacher, Oak Hill ES
*Maria Filgueira, SpEd teacher, Lees Corner ES
Jennifer Delaney, Multiple Disabilities Teacher, Cherry Run ES
Kimberly Hernandez, ESOL Teacher, Fort Belvoir
Tara Worth, Multiple Disabilities Teacher, Terra Centre ES
*Jennifer Kruzynski, Multiple Disabilities Teacher, Robinson SS
Melissa Gogel, Enhanced Aut teacher, Hunt Valley ES
Teresa Johnson, Assistant Superintendent DSS