Professional Development

2008 Heartspring Award for Innovation and Creativity in Special Education

Sandra Prew, Key Largo, FL

Sandra Prew grew up outside of New Orleans and is now a special education teacher in Key Largo, Florida. There are no “special education gas stations” or “special education grocery stores” so she believes that including students with special needs with their general education peers is important in all areas, not just the classroom.

Her school day is long. She starts her day with a before-school program for all fourth grade students known as PB&J (Poetry, Breakfast and Jazz). These students explore poetry and music while eating a nutritious breakfast. They also write poetry and perform in a Black Light Poetry Puppet Theater, as well as take cultural field trips. Her students were so excited that she won an award and insisted that she bring all of their student made puppets so that we could see them.

She teaches morning classes in reading and language arts, and then she has an inclusive lunchtime reading program called “Red Hot Readers” where all 5th grade students, regardless of their abilities, are invited to read and enjoy a quiet lunch in her classroom.

Then she is back to the classroom to teach. In addition to a before-school program, Sandra created an after-school program called Kids in Action – Developing Leaders and Readers for 3rd – 5th graders. This group has done several special projects to help students learn how to give back, including a Thanksgiving Book Basket they put together and then gave to other students.

Sandra developed these programs to give her students with special needs more opportunities to participate and interact with the general education population because she believes that “life is not a spectator sport.”