Mrs. Alycia Lenart, Exeter's K-12 Student Supports Coordinator, was Exeter's nomination for this year's BCIU's Annie Sullivan Award. This annual award recognizes people who work in educational institutions who provide outstanding advocacy and service to students with disabilities. 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. Mrs. Lenart was nominated by her peers for her ability to "move mountains" for students who are struggling. Mrs. Lenart's role in the district is so broad--it's often hard to define exactly what she does since she will do anything to help any student who needs it--but if forced to define her role, Mr. Tom Campbell, high school principal, says: "She works with at-risk students who have academic, attendance or behavior issues in a much more holistic manner than a typical school counselor. Her work with kids is often about things in their lives that extend beyond the school day and beyond the school walls."

In her nomination letter, Mrs. Vickie Willier, Exeter's 5-8 Special Education Supervisor, wrote: "Our students are struggling, our resources are strained, and our programming development has shifted. In the gray areas between IEP service and medical need, there can exist a disconnect that becomes a student’s biggest barrier to school success. And while these barriers are very real and can feel impossible to displace, Exeter is able to do just that through (her) tireless work."

Anyone who works with Mrs. Lenart describes her as creatively able to bridge school and community agencies for students and families by tapping into a wide network of resources that she's built during her 20-year career in Exeter. But Mr. Campbell noted that it's also Mrs. Lenart's ability to build relationships that makes her such a valuable asset to the Exeter student community. "She has a wonderful ability and skill to develop trusting relationships with both students and families." Indeed, in her nomination, Mrs. Willier echoed Mr. Campbell's thoughts: "If you don’t know Alycia personally, you most certainly have a friend of a friend or a cousin who does, as she seems to know, have graduated with, be related to, or is somehow connected to everyone in Berks County and she will not hesitate to ask for a favor! She is well respected by clinicians, and routinely can find appointment openings, funding streams, and opportunities for students where there seemed to be none."

Mrs. Willier noted that the work that Mrs. Lenart puts in daily is rewarded when she sees students she's worked with receive their diplomas on graduation night: "If you ever need to be reminded why we each do the work we do, stand with Alycia at our high school graduation ceremony. She is easily one of the most sought after hugs from our graduates, who melt into her with gratitude and relief on the night they receive their diplomas. She is often the unilateral support that created their path to success... She is often the only one they are looking for in the crowd."

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. Our warmest congratulations to Mrs. Lenart and her fellow nominees for their heart-felt and dedicated work for students throughout Berks County.