Sharon Head, doctoral candidate in Special Education at The University of New Mexico's College of Education, was recognized by the Moriarty-Edgewood School District with the New Mexico School Boards Association 2019 Excellence in Student Achievement Award.
The Excellence in Student Achievement Awards program seeks to promote student achievement in school districts and assist local school boards in recognizing school leaders, staff and other individuals who have played an important role in improving student achievement at the local level.
Head was awarded the recognition by the district's school board for her work in support of the inclusion of students of all abilities in general education settings. She has worked for the Moriarty-Edgewood School District as a special educator and behavior specialist for the past five years. Head values the strong connections between students, families, and staff that are available in a small school district. She is grateful to be part of the district’s committed and highly effective special education staff.
“In my current role, I am a part-time behavior specialist. I work with teachers who have students who are having significant behavior issues in their classrooms. I help teachers to better understand what their student’s behaviors are communicating and to build a system of supports, in the classroom and school, that helps the student be more successful,” she explained. “I also support teachers in learning how to use technology to accommodate for their students who have significant learning disabilities in the areas of reading and writing. Although I do still work directly with students, the focus of my job is to help teachers to see the potential in and foster the achievement of all of their students.”
Head completed her master's degree and teacher licensure requirements at UNM in 2008 and is now working on her doctorate.
“My learning from and continued work with the faculty and students of the Special Education Department at UNM undergirds everything that I do in my work with the students, families, and teachers of the Moriarty Edgewood School District. I returned to work on my doctorate to push myself to keep learning and to continue to work with my advisor Dr. Susan Copeland on questions of importance to teachers who seek to include and educate students with significant disabilities,” she said.