BARRINGTON, Ill. — Special education teacher Ms. Anne McNamara is always going the extra mile for her students and their families. Her goal is to find ways to show off their immense potential. From creative lessons in the classroom to forming a basketball club, parents say she treats her students like they are her own children.
The energy and joy in her classroom at Countryside Elementary in Barrington is infectious.
McNamara been teaching special education at Countryside for 23 years. Her parents were teachers and at 18 she volunteered at a therapeutic day school.
“The second I walked through that door, I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” she said.
For four years now, nominating parent Colleen Dallmeyer has watched her now 8-year-old son K.C. grow in McNamara classroom in a space where she knows he’s supported and loved.
“I don’t know how not to thank Ms. Anne. She is his second mom,” she said. “When you have a child who is developing atypical, he is nonverbal, you don’t how things are going, you have all these fears. As soon as I met Ms. Anne, my fears went out the window.”
Dallmeyer says it’s a seamless transition from home to the classroom.
“She communicates on daily basis with us. I know exactly how K.C.’s day went,” she said.
“Every parent deserves to know their child is having a good day or having a rough day. It’s my job to bridge the gap between families and their students,” McNamara said.
Watching Ms. Anne,, it’s clear she and her team are inspired by the students thinking outside the box to tap into their potential.
“They are capable of so much and they deserve that chance to show that off to the world,” she said. “And it’s my job to find creative ways to show off everything they can do.”
Dallmeyer knew K.C. wanted to be part of the school’s theater performance and Ms. Anne made it happen. She stood with him and sang with him on stage.
Its big moments like that and smaller moments in the classroom, that keep the children engaged and excited. Not every day is easy, but every day is a new opportunity.
Award sponsor Ankin Law presented Ms. Anne and the school with a $1,000 check. And McNamara ideas for the check are limitless.
Ms. Anne has also gone into general education classrooms to promote inclusion.