Marva Collins made an impact on many children in Chicago who had been labeled
as disabled and unsuccessful. Her success with these children stemmed from
her desire to find the most effective teaching methods and her belief that
they could learn. The Marva Collins Diversity Award honors a special education
teacher who makes a significant impact in the education of children and
youths with Learning Disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse
backgrounds. The award consists of a $200 stipend and free registration
to the DLD National Conference. The Cultural
and Linguistic Diversity Committee is pleased to announce Rosalind Simpson
is the winner of the first ever Marva Collins Diversity Award!
Rosalind Simpson has been an elementary Special Education
teacher (special day class, grades 4-6) in the West Contra Costa School
District in Richmond California since 2000. From 1998-2000, she was a
Resource Specialist in the Oakland Unified School District in Oakland,
CA. From 1984-2000 she was an academic therapist in-home private practice.
She has her MA in Special Education with an emphasis in reading from
Holy Names College in Oakland, CA and she is a lecturer at Saint Mary's
College in Moraga, CA.
In her letter of nomination, Yvonne Bui wrote
Ms. Simpson is an extraordinary
special education teacher. Her positive energy and enthusiasm for teaching
are contagious. Ms. Simpson's teaching style is unique, and she incorporates
culturally responsive pedagogy into all of her lessons. For example,
she teaches phonics and vocabulary words through movement and rhythmic
chants.
In addition to core instruction, Ms. Simpson believes
in teaching to the "whole" student. She engages her students
in daily community-building activities where they learn to work collaboratively
and value themselves and each other. Ms. Simpson also has high and
consistent expectations for students' behaviors, and she fosters a
safe and positive learning environment for her students. As a result,
the students with disabilities blossom under her tutelage.
Currently she is a doctoral fellow for the
Department of Learning & Instruction
at the University of San Francisco. |
