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Kutztown School District teacher wins 2023 Annie Sullivan Award

A teacher in the Kutztown School District has been recognized for her contribution to the education of students with disabilities.

Danielle Berger has been named the winner of the Berks County Intermediate Unit’s 2023 Annie Sullivan Award.

Dr. Christi Weitzel, Assistant Director, Office of Early Childhood and Student Services, BCIU; Mr. Gary McEwen, BCIU Board President; Mr. Christian Temchatin, Superintendent, Kutztown Area School District; Mrs. Danielle Berger, 2023 Annie Sullivan Award Recipient and Teacher on Special Assignment, Department Leader, Kutztown Area School District; Dr. Michelle Reichard-Huff, Director, Office of Early Childhood and Student Services, BCIU; and Mrs. Jennifer Elliker, Supervisor of Special Education, Kutztown Area School District. (COURTESY BERKS COUNTY INTERMEDIATE UNIT)
Danielle Berger, teacher on special assignment and department leader in the Kutztown School District, fourth from left, received the 2023 Annie Sullivan Award from the Berks County Intermediate Unit on Wednesday. Joining Berger, from left, are Dr. Christi Weitzel, BCIU assistant director, office of Early Childhood and Student Services; Gary McEwen, BCIU board president; Christian Temchatin, Kutztown School District superintendent; Berger; Dr. Michelle Reichard-Huff, BCIU director, Office of Early Childhood and Student Services; and Jennifer Elliker, supervisor of special education, Kutztown School District. (COURTESY OF BERKS COUNTY INTERMEDIATE UNIT)

The award is given each year given in recognition of an individual who has worked to encourage the understanding and promotion of students with disabilities.

Berger is a teacher on special assignment and department leader in Kutztown. She has worked in the district since 1995, serving in a variety of positions supporting the special education department.

She has served as a teacher on special assignment for the past 10 years, a role that sees her support students, teachers and special education programs.

Berger also serves as a special education department leader, assistant field hockey coach, teacher mentor, instructor and coordinator of the extended school year and summer work program, safety care trainer and unified bocce adviser for Special Olympics.

Berger plans to retire at the end of the school year.

Kutztown High School special education teacher Lori Christ wrote in nominating Berger that Berger has made a deep impact during her long career in the district.

“Danielle has supported the staff, but more importantly, the students,” she wrote. “She has touched many lives because she sees the benefit of educating the whole student. She is knowledgeable of their transition needs and develops a plan to support that goal.”

Berger was one of 14 finalist for the award who were honored during a ceremony Wednesday.

The following were the other finalists:

• Pashence Jarrett, learning support teacher, Antietam School District.

• Joanne Santoliquito, emotional support paraprofessional, Boyertown School District.

• Donna Hertzog, paraprofessional, Brandywine Heights School District.

• Ernest Woolf, special education teacher, Conrad Weiser School District.

• Patricia Phile, emotional support paraprofessional, Exeter School District.

• Erin Hulsey, board certified behavior analyst, Gov. Mifflin School District.

• Brian Hendricks, life skills teacher, Muhlenberg School District.

• Sarah Brown, paraeducator, High School Career Academy, Oley Valley School District.

• Rachel Lindenberg, autistic support teacher, Reading School District.

• Dana Carter, learning support teacher, Schuylkill Valley School District.

• Kristen Parsons, life skills teacher, junior-senior high school, Tulpehocken School District.

• Donna Larson, school counselor, Twin Valley School District.

• Alison Poplaski, social worker, Wilson School District.

• Walter Holt, physical education teacher, Wyomissing School District.

The award’s namesake, Annie Sullivan, was Helen Keller’s devoted teacher and mentor who was nearly blind herself. After treatment, she regained her sight and committed herself to teaching the blind and deaf.


Source: Berkshire mont

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