The Annie Sullivan Award recognizes local educators for their service to students with special needs
READING, PA – The Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) honored 20 Annie Sullivan Award nominees on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, and of the nominees, Ms. Michele Parmalee was named the recipient of the 2024 Annie Sullivan Award. A reception and award ceremony were held at the BCIU Main Office Building, 1111 Commons Boulevard, Reading, PA 19605. This year’s ceremony was a historic occasion, recognizing an unprecedented 20 nominees, representing each of the 18 school districts and two career and technology centers within Berks County. Colleagues, friends, and family gathered for the event, celebrating the outstanding service and dedication of these individuals to the advocacy and well-being of students with disabilities. Adding to the significance of the occasion, Dr. Amy Pastorak, Assistant Director of the Bureau of Special Education at the Pennsylvania Department of Education, was in attendance to provide opening comments for the evening.
The 2024 Annie Sullivan Award recipient, Ms. Michele Parmalee, Paraprofessional for Autistic Support at the Mount Penn Primary Center, has served the Antietam School District (ASD) for over 13 years. She serves the Primary Center’s low-incidence classrooms, establishing strong working relationships with her colleagues and advocating for the needs of the students she supports. In addition to her work for the ASD, Ms. Parmalee is raising two children on the autism spectrum. She has remained their biggest advocate and regularly participates in community events with them.
In a nomination form, colleagues of Ms. Parmalee shared, “Michele is an amazing colleague who gets to know each student individually and seamlessly implements strategies the student will benefit from to help them reach their goals. Her life experience and skills combined allow her to provide dignity and specialized care for each child she encounters who has special needs. She has an innate sense of how to grade the difficulty level of tasks to improve students’ independence and provide them with a ‘just-right’ challenge to help them grow.” Ms. Parmalee’s colleagues continued, “Michele adapts activities and assignments to fit the needs of her students. She also promotes kindness and positivity with the students.”
Mrs. Staci Fink, Supervisor of Special Education, ASD; and Ms. Becky Kohr, Director of Pupil Services, ASD, collectively shared, “Michele always comes to work with enthusiasm and drive. She truly cares about the students she works with… Our team is so lucky to have Michele on it! She is an asset in the field, and we would be lost without her.”
In addition to Ms. Michele Parmalee, the 2024 Annie Sullivan Award nominees were:
- Miss Rowyn C. Deininger, Member of Class of 2024, Student Intern, Boyertown Area School District
- Mrs. Serena Kohler, Paraprofessional, Brandywine Heights Area School District
- Mrs. Barbara Boland, Coordinator of Student Assistance Program, Conrad Weiser Area School District
- Mrs. Michelle Maynard, IEP Facilitator, Daniel Boone Area School District
- Mrs. Alycia Lenart, K-12 Student Support Coordinator, Exeter Township School District
- Mrs. Wendy Wunderlich, High School Learning Support Teacher, Fleetwood Area School District
- Mr. Troy Murphy, Transition Coordinator, Governor Mifflin School District
- Mrs. Tabatha Vega, Emotional Support Teacher, Hamburg Area School District
- Mrs. Martha Bergman, Paraprofessional, Kutztown Area School District
- Mrs. Michelle Heckman, Elementary Life Skills Teacher, Muhlenberg School District
- Mrs. Elizabeth Good, K-12 Special Education Instructional Advisor, Oley Valley School District
- Ms. Leslie Esterly, Multiple Disabilities Support Teacher, Reading School District
- Mrs. Heather Weller, Special Education Paraprofessional, Schuylkill Valley School District
- Mrs. Holly Baer, Learning Support Teacher, Tulpehocken Area School District
- Mrs. Elizabeth Techman, English Language Specialist, Twin Valley School District
- Miss Madison Hynoski, Autistic Support Teacher, Wilson School District
- Mrs. Vicki Mlynar, Special Education Paraprofessional, Wyomissing Area School District
- Mrs. Heather Wargo, Educational Facilitator, Berks Career & Technology Center
- Ms. Christa Nicholas, Paraprofessional, Reading Muhlenberg Career & Technology Center
The Annie Sullivan Award is given in recognition of an individual who has worked to encourage the understanding and promotion of students with disabilities in his or her school or community. 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.
