The Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) would like to congratulate Cheri Heebner, Specialized Preschool Teacher Coordinator and Lead Teacher for the BCIU’s Early Intervention program, as the BCIU nominee for the 2025 Annie Sullivan Award.
With 25 years of dedicated service to the BCIU, Cheri has made a lasting impact on preschool-aged children with disabilities and their families. Drawing from both her professional expertise and personal experience as a parent of an adult child with Autism, she brings compassion, insight, and innovation to her work every day.
Cheri has led numerous initiatives to foster family engagement and strengthen classroom support, including the development of Family Engagement Trainings, monthly positive feedback strategies for students, and Parent Resource pages shared through Class Dojo and social media platforms. She also spearheaded the creation of a paraeducator committee, providing professional development and leadership opportunities to support staff and enrich student learning.
“Cheri is being nominated for this award due to her dedication to our students, families, and staff who receive Early Intervention services and supports. Cheri brings a unique experience to supporting those in our program, as she is a mother of an adult child with Autism. She understands the family components and works to build family engagement within our program,” said Beth Angstadt, Program Administrator and Supervisor, the Office of Early Childhood and Student Services.
Congratulations to Cheri on being selected as the BCIU’s nominee for this prestigious honor!