Student Voice Matters - Teachers Honor Teachers
- Jennifer Liber, Intervention Specialist, Waterville Primary School
Tiffany Secrest’s ability to establish a strong rapport and build meaningful relationships with her students at Waterville Primary School dramatically contributes to their progress and overall development. This Communication Board, which stands on the school playground, fosters inclusivity during recess for all students at the school.
“Throughout our collaboration, Mrs. Secrest consistently impresses me with her unwavering commitment to her students' success. She goes above and beyond her duties by actively seeking the latest evidence-based practices in speech therapy.”
-Jennifer Liber
I am pleased to nominate Mrs. Tiffany Secrest for the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation’s Teachers Honor Teachers program. As a seasoned educator with expertise in educating children with Autism, I have been privileged to work with Mrs. Secrest for more than eight years. During this time, she has greatly enriched the lives of our students by equipping them with individualized modes of communication while promoting expression and independence. Simply put, she gives every child a voice.
Mrs. Secrest has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and professional expertise as a school-based speech therapist at Waterville Primary. She is responsible for serving a diverse range of students, from kindergartners to fourth graders, with varying communication needs. Mrs. Secrest successfully supports students with articulation deficits as well as those with multiple disabilities and Autism, who require highly involved communication devices and social skill-based interventions. Throughout our collaboration, Mrs. Secrest consistently impresses me with her unwavering commitment to her students' success. She goes above and beyond her duties by actively seeking the latest evidence-based practices in speech therapy. This dedication ensures she can provide the most effective interventions and support, enabling her students to grow substantially and achieve and exceed their therapy goals.
Mrs. Secrest shares her knowledge and expertise with her colleagues as she leads professional development for our building and district-level educators. She also mentors college students training to be Speech and Language Pathologists each year. She prioritizes the opportunity to develop her field of work further by providing a comprehensive internship to build skills within emerging educators. Mrs. Secrest is influential in encouraging and training educators who will continue to change students' lives far into the future. The positive and profound difference she makes impacts students, families, and educators.
Mrs. Secrest's exceptional advocacy skills make her stand out as a role model amongst her peers. She leads in conducting extensive assistive augmentative communication evaluations, ensuring that students in need receive personalized communication devices through private insurance or school funds. These devices play a pivotal role in empowering students to express their wants and needs and make academic progress. Additionally, Mrs. Secrest's efforts and grant-writing abilities resulted in our playground receiving a large communication board. The board facilitates communication and fosters inclusivity during recess for our students as well as community members who visit our playground in the evenings, on weekends, and during summer months.
Mrs. Secrest creates thoughtful and engaging activities personalized to students' particular interests. Every week, she joins classrooms and leads cooking, crafts, and sensory activities. She has even created a lunch bunch program to facilitate interaction and social skill development between diverse students. The personal connection she establishes and maintains with our students is incredibly powerful and results in measurable affective and academic increased outcomes!
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Beyond her professional accomplishments, Mrs. Secrest possesses remarkable personal qualities that further enhance her effectiveness as a therapist. She is compassionate, patient, and highly attuned to the needs of her students. Mrs. Secrest creates a nurturing and positive learning environment where students feel comfortable expressing themselves and actively participating in therapy sessions. Her ability to establish a strong rapport and build meaningful relationships with her students dramatically contributes to their progress and overall development.
Mrs. Secrest’s outstanding commitment to her students, unwavering dedication to professional growth, and exceptional advocacy skills make her an exemplary educator. Her passion for ensuring every student is heard undeniably impacts the lives of our students, families, and community!
Teachers Honor Teachers
The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation launched a new program in fall 2022 inviting teachers to recognize a colleague they know is doing exceptional work in the classroom.
In the above post, Jennifer Liber expresses her admiration for fellow teacher, Tiffany Seacrest. Thank you to both educators for your dedication to students and for taking the time to showcase what it means to deliver challenging, innovative, and student-centered lessons that result in powerful and deep learning.
Through the Teachers Honor Teachers Program, The Foundation is seeking Ohio public school teachers to share great things about a teaching colleague in an Ohio public school that ensures deep learning for students. If we choose to post your story, we will award $500 toward that teacher's classroom for their great work and $500 toward your classroom for honoring their excellence. Apply here.