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As we enter our 100th year of leading special education, the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is recognizing exceptional educators from around the world who have shown a passion, dedication, and commitment to making a difference in the lives of the students who they teach. Hear from teachers about their personal experiences working in the field, and get inspired to make your own impact this year.

Danielle Mitchell

I am a kindergarten through 2nd grade Special Education Resource Teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School in Elmhurst, IL. I earned my LBS1 from Illinois State University and graduated with my master's degree in Early Childhood Education in 2020 from Concordia University Chicago. I have an absolute passion for teaching individuals with disabilities, especially some of our youngest learners! Working together with my team, general education teachers, and families is something I find essential to supporting student learning. In order to do that, I believe in using positivity, kindness, and dedication to student success as the basis of my relationships. When students know they are cared for, believed in, and their achievements are highlighted, I have found my students are able to reach great lengths in functional and academic learning. I also recognize the importance of student engagement, and I strive to include hands-on multisensory learning experiences into my lessons while also congruently maintaining an environment where learning can be fun! Learning new ways to engage my students through interactive learning opportunities is something I strive to do on a daily basis! Fun fact, my husband is also a special education teacher who teaches individuals aged 18-22 in a functional transition program! 

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Posted:  28 October, 2021
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