Recently, we wrapped up another wonderful school year at our preschool. This week, we shine the spotlight on one of our outstanding teachers, Lucille Kelly, who has been with Jawonio for 15 years. She is enthusiastic, comes to work with a smile every day, she is an energizer bunny too. She is compassionate, caring and loves Jawonio!! Most especially, she loves her kids!
Let’s get to know Lucille a bit better!
Here are a few fun facts about Julio:
- Born and raised in the Dominican Republic
- Moved to Rockland County as a teen
- Mother, Born in Syria
- Father, Born in Dominican Republic
- Two brothers (one, his twin; other older)
- North Rockland HS Graduate
- St. Thomas Aquinas College, BS Pre-Engineering
- Fairleigh Dickinson, BS Applied Mathematics
“I was always involved in supporting children who might not feel a part of their peers.”
Lucille Kelly
DH: Tell us about your childhood hometown, growing up, schooling? Were there any experiences there that sparked your interest in working with students with disabilities?
LK: I grew up in Nanuet, NY, and I went to Nanuet High School. I was always involved in all kinds of activities, and one of those activities was a volunteer with Jawonio. i also helped Arc and Best Buddies in their fundraising programs, I worked one-on-one with a student who had physical and cognitive disabilities. I was always involved in supporting children who might not feel a part of their peers. My family had a big influence on my involvement.
My parents were always giving of their time and talents. They were compassionate, showed patience and were willing to drop everything to help someone in need. They taught us to listen to others and respect that people have differences in beliefs and opinions. I am from a family of five and the second youngest. My Dad will be 97 years old in August and we stay close to him. We are always willing to share a root beer float or go to Cornetta’s for lobster with him.
DH: Let's talk about your professional career. Did you always know you would become a teacher? Were there any teachers in your family?
LK: I originally wanted to go to school for social work, but the program disintegrated so I had to change my major. My father was a teacher, I admired what he did with his students. He was compassionate and caring, and I was ultimately drawn to that. Throughout my childhood I had many experiences with children with special needs either during school programs, my church or in community affairs.
DH: What initially drew you to special education? Was there a specific person or experience that inspired you?
LK: I was drawn to people who were less fortunate and who needed extra support. When I saw someone different than myself, I wanted them to feel included. My thought process early on, translated to my own approach to the classroom, in that specifically I wanted to help students with disabilities feel challenged and engage with other peers. Additionally, I had an art teacher in high school who was very compassionate and inclusive to everyone. I saw how she treated people, and how she stood up for people, ultimately modeling how I wanted to act in my own professional life.
DH: Can you share an impactful moment in your teaching experience?
LK: There are two stories that really cemented my passion for education. In my first year of teaching, I worked in a program that supported juvenile offenders. The organization was an outdoor rehabilitation program. While teaching the students we also traveled along the east coast in a wagon train with horses and mules. A young 16-year-old student came into my classroom; and he did not know how to read. In my time working with him, I was able to take him through the basic steps for a beginner reader. I gave him homework which he did diligently during our journey along the coast. My classroom consisted of a trailer with basic books. Ramon worked hard and every time we came into camp, he was eager to get the next assignment. He was in the program for a year with me and went on to get his GED. With his incredible success, he became a role model for the group and other students in the program.
Another example is that when I began my work in a public school district I began teaching in a self contained class with one student who struggled with writing. Together, we got one of his papers published in a literary magazine through high school. He was reluctant at first and did not trust me and was reluctant to do any work. He was used to failing and being reprimanded often. It took time to build a relationship with him and the others. In the beginning of the year, I had the students journal every day and it was private. As the year went on the class started to trust each other and started to share their entries. This process of free writing developed into short stories and working with each other. He became very excited about his work, and his story was picked and got published. He was so proud and grateful to the students and me for encouraging him.
DH: What keeps you passionate about special education, even on the most challenging days?
LK: I always want to figure out the pieces to the puzzle. I enjoy thinking outside of the box and enjoy encouraging my students to do the same. I want to figure out what is going to make a student tick and what’s going to drive them. I love when I can challenge a student and show them with hard work, fun and some grit they can accomplish many things. I also enjoy going to professional development conferences that help staff think of new strategies to encourage and challenge students to work towards their potential.
DH: If someone expressed interest in a career in special education, what advice would you give them?
LK: If someone was interested in special education I would advise them to first get connected to the staff and ask questions! Find a teacher and make sure that you ask for help and know that you are not in it alone. Progress is more important than perfection for the students and you. If you think you are interested, try to get into a classroom as soon as you can, volunteer and get your hands dirty. It’s important to understand what the day-to-day looks like before you begin teaching.
DH: Reflecting on your career, what are some of the most heartwarming memories you have of your students?
LK: My first year at Jawonio, I had a student who was unsure of himself and very shy. He came back to visit this year! Now, he is a junior in high school, and he read to my class. He sat down with the kids, who he now towered over as a 6’5” young adult. But he stayed to play with students, and it was wonderful to see how he has grown since he was in my class. Other memories include sharing student portfolios that I created for our families. I love seeing the parent’s reaction, happiness and appreciation of how much their child had grown during the school year.
DH: What makes Jawonio special and who were your mentors, and what have they meant to you?
LK: Jawonio is all inclusive. It provides a program that truly supports people of all ages with the opportunity to learn and to help them on their journey to independence. I would say the person who not only mentored me, and who made the biggest professional impact on me was Jerry Staller, our former Division Director. Jerry looked at the whole child. He always operated from compassion, patience and honesty. Jerry believed that the preschool staff works best when they work as a team. He placed emphasis on team efforts and focusing on what is best for the individual student and their families.
DH: As you know, Jawonio is always seeking great special education teachers, do you have any advice for students today interested in the profession?
LK: It’s easy to leave college and enter the classroom thinking we know everything, but you will soon encounter obstacles you might not have read about in a textbook. It’s important to always pursue continuous professional development to keep up with the latest research. It’s also important to cultivate patience and empathy with students. Building relationships with students will eventually lead to a more effective classroom environment.
DH: Lucille, before we say goodbye. Can you share some Lucille fun facts such as what you love to do and what foods you love?
LK: I love kayaking, hiking and getting my hands dirty in the garden. My most fun fact is that I love spending time with my family. I have three amazing children, Flynn, 32, Emma, 30, and Maeve, 26. My favorite times are when they come home and we sit around playing games and laughing. I also love going to the beach while listening to Simon & Garfunkel. My early morning walks with my husband Mike of 36 years and our dog Hank are the most fun. My husband and I met in first grade and he knew we were going to be married! Finally, I would say my favorite “food groups” are ice cream and salads. Give me a great salad with avocado and shrimp, Friendly’s mint chip ice cream with walnuts anytime.
DH: Do you have any plans for the summer?
LK: I have splendid summer plans with my husband! We are going to Iceland to see the glaciers, hike the mountains and relax in the hot springs.
Thank you Lucille, there is a line from a Simon & Garfunkel song that says “All I got to today is smile”. Thank you for for providing smiles for children and families each and every day for the past 15 years.
SO MUCH GOOD HAPPENS HERE.
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