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robert colemanmiddlebury, ct | YEARS TAUGHT: 1960 - PresentRobert has brought knowledge, hope, and similar memorable experiences to at-risk students in a two-room basement of an old elementary school as part of the Alternative Education Program in Middlebury, Connecticut. Robert’s Alternative Education Program focuses on meeting the needs and abilities of the troubled students, rather than on behavior modification. His “one-room electronic schoolhouse” is so named because of its reliance and emphasis on current technology.
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jean damischBuhler, KS | YEARS TAUGHT: 1990 - PresentThroughout her career, Dr. Jean Damisch has given learning disabled, emotionally disturbed, and behaviorally disordered students a chance at academic success. Now retired, her goals as a special education teacher were to help her students become self-confident, develop writing, reading and math skills, and learn to be successful. She used strategies that caused her students to be more interested, involved and engaged. Those strategies paid off since more than 95 percent of her students apply for college admittance.
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francis mustaphamedina, w. Africa | Years Taught: 1979 - PresentFrancis was born in Medina, a small village in Sierra Leone, West Africa. His pursuit of education led him to a neighboring village, a mission boarding school and eventually to America, where he received a degree in biology from Indiana Wesleyan University and Masters and Educational Specialist degrees from Indiana University. He and his American wife returned to West Africa in 1979 to teach in two teacher training schools in Liberia and Sierra Leone until economic, political and medical situations there brought the family back to America in 1983. War since 1990 has destroyed both training institutions, and in 1995, Mustapha’s own home village. He was granted U.S. citizenship in July of 1992. In the fall of 1995 he began doctoral studies at Indiana University.
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renee o'learynew castle, de | Years Taught: 1953 - 1995Renee is a firm believer that “teaching and life should be lived to the fullest, filled with learning and laughter and brimming with love for the world around you.” Renee has spent her entire 42-year teaching career as a kindergarten teacher. She makes science a part of the kindergarten learning experience. Through her Linking Home and School with P.A.S.S. (Portable Affordable Simple Science) program, Renee introduces kindergartners to basic scientific concepts, such as the body’s five senses, shapes, colors, water, air, and different forms of matter.
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richard ruffaloirvington, nj | Years Taught: 1973 - presentIn losing his own sight, Richard has helped improve the vision of countless students. As a science teacher and coach, Richard’s success is as a role model, demonstrating to children that they can overcome adversity, discover hidden talents, and reach their potential. Having gone blind from Retinitis Pigmentosa, Richard developed other skills, including a photographic memory and total auditory recall. He shares his new talents with his students to show them that they have hidden talent yet to be discovered. A member of the U.S. Disabled Sports Team since 1984, Richard has won world titles in four different events and has accumulated 18 national titles, nine world records, and 10 state titles against sighted, able-bodied competitors. He currently ranks as the top blind track and field athlete in the history of disabled sports.
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