“We’ve always prided ourselves on being a family at this school,” shared Leah Whelan, 2nd Grade Teacher at Explorer Elementary School. Whether it’s bringing parents in during the holiday season to help decorate desks with their children, having someone spend some time in the Zen Den with the school counselor to help them recalibrate, or simply helping students understand new concepts in the classroom every day, staff at Explorer are a tight-knit group and walk in every day ready to help each other and their students achieve success.
“Seeing the kids and interacting with them is the highlight of every day and the very best part of my job,” noted Sean Hollas, Principal at Explorer. One of the ways that Explorer staff ensure they are meeting students where they are is through co-teaching. This practice pairs a special education teacher with another staff member, within the same classroom. The experience thus far has been filled with smiles for students and staff alike. Whelan, who has over 16 years of experience at Explorer, is paired with Kim Truzzolino, a Special Education Educator, and they co-teach 2nd grade together. “The students all take care of each other, they’ve adapted so well and it provides us the flexibility to give all our kids what they need,” shared Truzzolino. “I love what I do! It felt like combining these classrooms sparked a new passion in my heart. I hope that the world can see how wonderful this experience is for our students.”
By breaking into groups often, both instructors have the opportunity to play the lead role - and they truly share that role. “It’s been wonderful, we see such huge gains in confidence, ability, test scores and empowerment among the classes. They’re not just learning (about peers with varying abilities) for today, they’re learning for forever. We connect on so much as a group, it’s truly like family in the classroom,” explained Truzzolino. “It creates a blended experience for everyone.”
With the students embracing this positive change so well, the co-teaching pair have been able to try new activities in the classroom and incorporate different tactics to see what works best for the balance of abilities. “I find that our district does a great job of putting the students first and doing everything possible to meet their needs, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” shared Whelan. “I love Kim, and my students! They make this the most rewarding experience.”