Dawn Moore - Valley Central Middle School

Dawn Moore works with special needs children in the middle school. She teaches them life skills, coping skills, study skills and, most importantly, social skills. My son is only one of hundreds of students that Dawn has impacted during her career. My son has Asperger's Syndrome and always had a hard time making friends. Dawn taught him that being himself is ok and that there are and will be people that want to be his friend BECAUSE of who he is, not despite who he is.

In addition, Mrs. Moore coordinates a "Celebration of Capabilities" event each year at the Middle School. This event brings together students with various disabilities including autism, physical disabilities, Down's Syndrome, learning disabilities, food allergies, etc. The students set up displays or demonstrations of what it is like to try to learn and function with their disability. They bring in the entire 6th grade class and educate them on each of their disabilities by focusing on their CAPABILITES. The younger students generally open up and talk about members of their family or neighbors that have struggled with these disabilities. By talking to fellow students that struggle with these issues, the younger students really "get it". This has dramatically reduced bullying in the school and has also helped the students become friends and include the kids with disabilities at the lunch table, on projects, and even as actual friends that do things together outside of school. My son, Sam, first started talking to other students about his Asperger's when he was in 7th grade.

He is now a Junior in High School but goes back to the Middle School each year to participate in Mrs. Moore's Capabilities program. He has gained self confidence, made friends and become a very well rounded young man. He has a great group of friends, participates in after school activities and really likes who he is. This is, in large part, due to the dedication of Mrs. Moore.

Mrs. Moore also holds a Capabilities Celebration in the evening for families, friends and community members. This brings parents, grandparents and siblings together to share information, meet each other and become friends.

There's also a great raffle each year of products and services that were donated by businesses and members of the community.

Each and every teacher in Valley Central SD is wonderful, but Dawn Moore shines among them for all she does for the students she works for every day.