Two educators at the Clairview School in Hempfield recently were honored by the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit.
Adaptive physical education teacher Jeff Beard won the Annie Sullivan Award, and classroom assistant Beth Giesmann won the Outstanding Paraeducator Award. Both recipients were awarded during the unit’s board meeting in late October.
Beard has been working with the intermediate unit since 1999. He serves as the school’s Special Olympics coordinator and works with students and staff to plan for other annual games. Officials said Beard has led the installation of a sound system in the school’s gym and added yoga to the curriculum.
He is working with Saint Vincent College to create a course study that would allow a student to specialize in adaptive physical education, according to information provided by the intermediate unit. The Annie Sullivan Award is given to a person who promotes the understanding of students with disabilities.
Giesmann has been working as a personal care assistant with the unit since 2013. She is assisting a nonverbal student who enjoys socializing with others at the building, helping the student communicate. She jumps in and helps other students in need in the event of an absence, according to officials.
Giesmann often is creating ways to better educate students or decorate the school building and events. Officials said she is instrumental in awareness events and soliciting donations for the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit’s foundation.
There are more than 100 students at Clairview School from Westmoreland and surrounding counties.
