HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 10-19 St. Jerome teacher recognized for inclusiveness MAPLEWOOD REVIEW
St. Jerome teacher recognized for
inclusiveness
Submitted by admin on Wed, 10/19/2016 - 12:00am
Paulette Krawczyk was named Teacher of the Year by the
Arc Minnesota after being nominated by Kelly Kausel, left, and her husband Mike Kausel, right.
Krawczyk known for ‘building family’
“My job is to make my classroom an inviting and successful place,” said Paulette Krawczyk, a teacher at
St. Jerome Catholic School in Maplewood who is affectionately known as “Mrs. K” to her kindergartners
and their parents.
Krawczyk received the Teacher of the Year Award from The Arc Minnesota for demonstrating excellence
in education and including students with disabilities in a regular education setting as much as possible.
The award was presented to her at The Arc Minnesota’s Awards Banquet on Sept. 23 at the Shoreview
Community Center in Shoreview.
“The Arc Minnesota supports inclusion for people with disabilities to the greatest extent possible,” said
Mike Gude, The Arc Minnesota’s communications director and staff member for the agency’s awards
committee. “With the Teacher of the Year Award, we celebrate those teachers who realize our vision of
full inclusion in our schools. Paulette is a great example of a classroom teacher who has done exactly
that for Noah Kausel.”
Noah’s mother, Kelly, nominated Krawczyk after her son completed kindergarten last school year. In her
nomination Kelly explained that until Krawczyk met Noah, she did not have experience with anyone with
an autistic spectrum disorder, but she welcomed Noah into her classroom and worked to make the
environment as inclusive as possible.
“Mrs. K is a great teacher who communicates very well with her students and parents,” Kelly said in a
recent interview.
In her nomination, Kelly explained that in addition to the communication, Krawczyk took it upon herself
to learn all she could about autism and the Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy program that required
Noah to have a therapist with him in the classroom.
“I always felt like Noah was included and was just like any other kid in the class,” Kelly said in her
nomination.
“Each student got individual attention whenever needed, but Mrs. K also made sure fun group activities
were incorporated. During these group sessions, Mrs. K focused on inclusion; she made a point to have
every student talk or perform the task each time.”
Kelly also explained that the effect of Krawczyk’s inclusion was that the other students in the class
“mirrored” her actions, and also included Noah in their learning and play.
“Mrs. K builds community and family by laying a foundation of respect, inclusiveness and caring for each
other. She loves her students and they love her,” said Principal Laurie Sherman, who added that
Krawczyk’s teaching abilities are her superpowers.
“Mrs. K is happy,” Noah said when asked what he liked about his kindergarten teacher.
This is Krawczyk’s 12th year teaching at St. Jerome School. Before she began her position at the Catholic
elementary school, she taught first grade for two years in California and kindergarten for two years in
Wisconsin.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the College of St. Benedict, and has her
Minnesota Reading License. She is pursuing a master’s degree in reading at the University of St. Thomas.
She lives in Woodbury with her husband and two children.
“I think teaching kindergarten allows inclusion to happen more naturally,” Krawczyk said. “The
beginning of the year is all about routine and structure. Repeating and modeling expectations and skills
are helpful for all kinds of learners.”
“\[Paulette\] knows her students’ gifts and challenges, and she designs her instruction to foster growth
and academic success for all,” Sherman said. “Paulette continues to search for new strategies to meet
the individual needs and learning styles of her students.”
She added that Krawczyk includes current technology, hands-on experiments and real world experiences
in her lessons.
“Noah lacks some of the social skills other children have, but that was not a hindrance in Mrs. K
classroom,” Kelly said.
“Students come to kindergarten at many different academic and social levels, so I already have to
differentiate my classroom instruction,” Krawczyk explained. “Many of the new strategies that I have
used while working with students who have autism or Down syndrome are also strategies that I find will
benefit many of the students in my class.”
Krawczyk said her greatest challenge in the classroom has been the limited resources that result from St.
Jerome being a small, private school.
“To overcome this challenge \[all staff\] know each and every student and work together to try to make
St. Jerome a safe and successful place for all,” Krawczyk said.
During her award banquet speech, Krawczyk said, “My success was a team effort and I guess I had the
home field advantage.”
Krawczyk’s advice for other teachers wanting to improve inclusiveness in the classroom is “to be open to
the challenge, use a wide variety of teaching strategies and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
“My favorite part of being a teacher is watching the students grow-academically, socially, emotionally
and even physically,” Krawczyk said.
“This year was wonderful for Noah, and I saw so many improvements in his social behavior and intellect
that I can only credit to Mrs. K and his kindergarten class,” Kelly said in her nomination.
“She went above and beyond, using her free time to better understand not only my little boy and the
other child with autism but all her students.”