Awards Winners from the 7th Annual SEPTA Awards Ceremony

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Contacts: 
Amanda Campbell, President, president@fairfaxcountysepta
Kate Volpe, Communications Chair, communications@fairfaxcountysepta.org

Fairfax County Special Education PTA (SEPTA) was pleased to host its seventh annual Awards Ceremony on Saturday, May 11, 2024. Nearly 300 attendees gathered to celebrate the over 200 nominees for SEPTA’s awards. Dr. Michelle Reid, FCPS Superintendent, gave welcoming remarks, thanking teachers and staff for their incredible work this year. SEPTA President Amanda Campbell and Vice President Lauren McCaughey co-presented.

The night was filled with laughter and tears as the friends, family, and colleagues of our nominees cheered, and the awardees were overcome with emotion. Award winners ran the gamut from special education teachers, aides, and staff, to bus drivers, to community champions who all support students with disabilities in and out of school. 

Two student awards were given this year: to the Student who most Supports Inclusion and to Outstanding Student (a student with an IEP or 504 plan making positive contributions to the special education community in their actions or as a role model or leader).

Twenty three awards were presented in total. Please find below a full list of winners. Photos and and video of the ceremony will be posted on social media channels shortly.  

Attendees enjoyed ice cream and cookies from Davis Career Center, which is an FCPS program that serves students with disabilities aged 18-22 years who receive instruction on life and career skills. It was a wonderful event celebrating the special education community and the extraordinary impact of staff within Fairfax County Public Schools.

2024 Fairfax County SEPTA Awards Winners:

Abbie Bachmore Memorial Award: Sadie Lowe, Robinson SS

Outstanding Student: Logan Olsen, Fox Mill ES

Community Champion: Lucy Beadnell, Director of Advocacy, The Arc of NOVA

Outstanding Administrator – Elementary: Melissa Hoffman, Oak Hill ES

Outstanding Administrator – Secondary: Maria Irby, Rachel Carson MS

Outstanding Support Staff: Richard Niner, Bus Driver, Island Creek ES

Outstanding Central Office Staff: Jennifer Smetek, Procedural Support Liaison Supervisor

Outstanding Co-Curricular Staff:  Veronica Paris, Belle View ES

Outstanding Co-Teaching Team: Parwana Fazelyar, Madalin Flynn & Heather Garcia, Terraset ES

Outstanding General Education Teacher – Elementary: Paula Williams, Terra Centre ES

Outstanding General Education Teacher – Secondary: Tanner DeCrapio, Chantilly HS

Outstanding Related Services: Teresa Winkowski, Terra Centre ES 

Outstanding Instructional Support Staff:  Denise Steene, Lake Braddock SS 

Outstanding Special Education Teacher – Preschool: Laura Osborne, Rose Hill ES

Mark Stewart Memorial Award: Outstanding Special Education Teacher – Elementary:

Carol Ray, Rolling Valley ES and Laura Summitt, Rolling Valley ES

Outstanding Special Education Teacher – Secondary: Jessica Patterson, Chantilly HS

Special Educator of the Year – Preschool: Miriana Simova-Tete, Pimmit Hills Center

Special Educator of the Year – Elementary: Liz Dodd, Greenbriar West ES

Special Educator of the Year – Secondary:  Meagan Flint, Lake Braddock SS

SuperHero Award – Kaitlin Erkkila, SEPTA Board member, Military Liaison Chair