VIDBE-Q Volume 66, Issue 2
11
Nominated by Amy T. Parker
Throughout Katherine's coursework in the Orientation and Mobility (O&M)
program at Portland State University, she has demonstrated competence from a
technical, scholarly, and community-oriented perspective. There were many
instances where Katherine demonstrated leadership in different groups of learners
and professionals, encouraging collaboration at a high level. For example,
Katherine worked closely with a group of peers and mentors to publish a
practitioner reflection on her practicum experiences for the Division on Visual
Impairments and Deafblindness. As the lead author of the article, Katherine
incorporated ideas from her peers and mentors, using the opportunity to synthesize
learning for practitioners.
As a champion for students with disabilities, Katherine has shown her ability
to innovate by working with families and teams of educators to achieve results. For
example, through her applied assignments Katherine shared her thoughtful
assessment and instructional approaches for children with complex communication
and behavioral needs. While serving as a teacher of the visually impaired,
Virginia Murray Sowell Student of the Year
Katherine Ericson
