Employee Testimonials - Teacher

June

June began her position as teacher on July 31, 2006. Before coming to Heartspring, June was working one-on-one with an autistic student in Topeka. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Cross Categorical Special Education, both from Fort Hays State University. She has also received special training in autism from the University of Kansas.

“My training in autism was offered by KU,” she says. “It was called the Kansas Outreach Project. The program trained us to train other teachers in parts of the sate with low populations of students with autism.”

June and her significant other, Lance, are preparing to combine their families. June has a four year old daughter, Kirsten, and Lance has a 16 year old son, Sean. A native to Kansas, June grew up near Sylvan Grove in western Kansas and graduated from Sylvan Unified High School. She then went on to teach for the High Plans Educational Cooperative in western Kansas for 5 years.

“I was an interrelated teacher for five years at the elementary and middle school levels. I then worked with children with severe emotional disturbances at the local mental health center.”

June says she was looking for a chance to move to Wichita when she came across Heartspring. “Everything fell into place very quickly,” she says. “All the signs pointed to Heartspring. I am blessed to be here.”

Now that she is getting settled into her new position, June has many hopes for the students and programs at Heartspring. “I wish for the students at Heartspring to realize their value and achieve the most they can. I want the students to know that they are loved and respected and that they can trust me to help and support them as they grow and change,” she says.

“I love the personal relationships you can build with students,” June says of her experience in special education. “Children react differently when they know you will guide them with love, respect and genuine interest.”

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