An article from the Colorado Springs (CO, US) Gazette describes an award given to a teacher for helping students with Learning Disabilities develop self-advocacy skills. Under the headline “D-12 teacher an ‘American Star’: Award honors creation of program for learning-disabled teens,” Shari Chaney Griffen reported that Alan Pocock, a teacher in a Colorado Springs high school, was recognized for developing a program called “Learning and Educating About Disabilities” (LEAD). LEAD helps high school students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD to prepare for college.
The US Department of Education provides the award that Mr. Pocock received. He is one of 51 recipients of it for this year.
The award program, part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, annually recognizes one teacher from each state and Washington, D.C., for innovative teaching strategies, making a difference in the lives of students and improving academic performance.
“He’s a poster child for that criteria,” said Salle Howes, a parent and past president of Learning and Educating About Disabilities Foundation in Colorado Springs.
Howes nominated Pocock for the award for his work in creating the LEAD program, which helps college-bound students with learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder build on their strengths and overcome weaknesses. Students learn about their rights as students with disabilities and how to advocate for themselves.
Link to Ms. Griffin’s article. Link to the Colorado Learning and Educating About Disabilities Foundation site that had a feature about the award as of this date. Google items about the “American Star of Teaching” award. Link to a US Department of Education data base showing recipients of the American Star of Teaching award.
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