specialist who is exceptionally dedicated and
knowledgeable and currently works in any state
approved or accredited day or specialized school
serving students with visual impairments, with or
without additional disabilities, ages birth through 21.
Ms. Smith is a creative teacher who uses the
community as her classroom. For example, she often
takes students interested in horticulture to the
botanical gardens to teach them about gardening.
Ms. Smith���s dedication to her students knows no
limits as demonstrated by a field trip she designed
for a student with a serious interest in a musical
career. Not only did she take him to a professional
recording studio, but she also paid for the production
of a demo CD composed of his original songs. In
addition, Ms. Smith is also very dedicated to the
families of her students and will often accompany
parents to eye doctor appointments to help explain
the confusing medical terminology.
Although Ms. Smith is very knowledgeable about
blindness and visual impairment, she is constantly
researching new advancements, especially in the
area of technology, and securing different sources of
funding. It is not unusual to see her networking at
various national conferences in an effort to keep her
knowledge and skills honed. Ms. Smith then shares
that knowledge with colleagues by serving as a
practicum supervisor and mentor to the students in
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