Left to right: Walnut Springs Principal Becca Yanni, Westerville City Schools Director of Special Education Guerdie Glass; Walnut Springs speech pathologist Jill Shaffer; Westerville City Schools Special Education Coordinator Lindy Whitson, and Westerville Area Civitan Club representatives Donna DeTray, Judith Pagani and Candy Kline.
Walnut Springs Middle School speech pathologist Jill Shaffer has received the Westerville Civitan Club’s first-ever Special Education Professional Award. She was surprised with the honor on February 27, during a staff meeting.
Civitan Club’s Donna DeTray presented the award, saying Shaffer arrives early and stays late to support both staff and families. DeTray said Shaffer has always demonstrated professionalism and found joy in the daily challenges that are often presented when serving students. Without fail, Shaffer finds strengths in students that build their outlook on their own potential. She mentors staff and others in her field. DeTray concluded, “Her commitment to the district, her building, her students and her craft will serve as a constant reminder to future recipients of the level of dedication that is valued and admired by the community.”
The Westerville Area Civitan Club is a small group locally, but Civitan is an international organization whose goal is to find ways to help communities. Part of their mission statement says their clubs are “dedicated to serving individual and community needs with an emphasis on helping people with developmental disabilities.”