COUNCIL FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN DIVISION ON VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS PRESENTS 2010 AWARDS AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN NASHVILLE

DIVISION ON VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Pictured: CEC-DVI Teacher of the Year Dr. Sinkka Smothers(left) with CEC President Jacqueline Mault.

The Council for Exceptional Children, Division on Visual Impairments (DVI) is proud to present the Teacher of the Year Award to Dr. Sinikka Smothersat the Council for Exceptional Children and Expo in Nashville, Tennessee on April 22, 2010.  Dr. Smothers teaches science to students at the Alabama School for the Blind (ASB) in grades four through eight. 

The Teacher of the Year Award honors a person who is exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and a skilled, certified Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments or Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist in any state approved or accredited day or specialized school, who serves students who are visually impaired, ages birth through 21, with or without additional disabilities.

Dr. Smothers, it is said, “works miracles large and small each day.  She illustrates to students how science connects to classroom work, but most importantly, how science touches so many other facets of our lives.  She makes science real.  In Dr. Smothers’ class, ability is stressed over disability.  She expects students to perform at the level of their sighted peers across the state and nation and she will not accept anything less.   She motivates students to push the boundaries of not only science, but in all areas of their academic, athletic, and social lives.“

“Dr. Smothers possesses the traits necessary to be an extraordinary instructor.  Patience, kindness, compassion and creativity go hand-in-hand with subject knowledge, skill and drive.  All of these are skills existent in her personal life and in her work ethic.  She is incredibly energetic and constantly works to improve the educational environment of her students.  Her passion for her students transcends everything she does and it is contagious as she is highly respected among the faculty, staff, and students at ASB.”