Sheila Amato, 2007 CEC/DVI Teacher of the Year, was awarded the 2008 CEC Clarissa Hug Teacher of the Year Award

April 3, 2008 in Boston, MA

Pictured:  CEC Clarissa Hug Teacher of the Year Award winner Sheila Amato (third from the left) with other awardees.

Brilliant. Innovative. Passionate. These are just a few of the words used to describe CEC's 2008 Clarissa Hug Teacher of the Year, Dr. Sheila Amato. Dr. Amato's strength as a teacher stemps from her philosophy of education. Every child has the right to be taught by a teacher who believes in him or her. Dr. Amato should have added that the teacher be innovative, know the best instructional strategies, be determined to ensure students have - and teach - their dreams, and be a mentor and advocate. Dr. Amato, who teachers students who are blind or visually impaired for the East Meadow School District in East Meadow, New York, does all this and more.

Dr. Amato uses real-life activities to help her students develop the knowledge and skills they will need in school and afterwards. She ensures her students, who attend district schools, learn the core curriculum and compensatory skills that enable them to participate in higher education or vocational ventures. Dr. Amato's students regularly succeed in general education classes and perform activities others believe will be impossible for them, such as creating a visual economics display and marching in teh band. Her students also excel academically, earning the coveted Regent's Diploma. In addition, two of Dr. Amato's students qualified for the National Braille Challenge.

Dr. Amato advocates for the Braille Code and forged new directions for this communications system. Library of Congress Braille certified, Dr. Amato prepares materials in Braille for her students. In addition, she developed a program to teacher Braille transcripton to students and organized a regional Braille Challenge - a first for Long Island. And, Dr. Amato made recommendations for expanding and standardizing the preparation of teachers in Braille Code.

Dr. Amato shares her knowledge generously. She has taught at the university level for more than 10 years, and she has made presentations throughout the country. Dr. Amato is also a respected author and is the editor of the Division on Visual Impairments Quarterly.

Dr. Amato has received several awards for her work as a special educator, but none speaks louder than a student who summarized the exceptional educator that is Dr. Amato: "I knew I could try anything, because Dr. Amato would always be available to help me work out any problems I might run into."