For teacher, all education is special
Published: November 5, 2005
Gene Williams and his grandson, Chris, brought flowers to Jan Dieball and two paraprofessionals in her class at Southwest Elementary School on Monday.
The spontaneous gesture from the Howell grandfather and retired truck driver was his way to thank Dieball, who he said had changed Chris’ life and the way he learns.
The Williams family was directed to Dieball’s class for more intense, one-on-one learning. Today, the fifth-grader brings home all As and enjoys school, his grandfather said.
“He ended up with the correct teacher in the correct place at the correct time in his life,” Williams said. “I’m very satisfied with his grades and the progress he’s made. And I’m a hard person to satisfy.”
Williams recently nominated Dieball, who teaches students with cognitive learning difficulties, as Howell Teacher of the Year. She was selected by a committee of teachers, principals, school board members, parents and students and was honored during a surprise assembly at the school Oct. 26.
“It’s the children, of course,” said the Oceola Township resident on why she loves her job. “You never know what the day will bring you. They touch my life - I learn from them.”
She said the inservice training opportunities and the understanding of Principal Jill Hilla also keeps her firmly planted at Southwest.
Paraprofessional Barb Ford of Howell has worked with Dieball for 15 years. “She’s very hands-on, she’s a natural,” Ford said. “You can tell she cares a ton for the kids.”
Ford said the award was timely, as Dieball is facing many family health issues this year, including her father, who suffers from degenerative Parkinson’s disease, and a brother-in-law with cancer.
If you enjoyed this good news Subscribe to Good News Blog
Share this
To share this simply copy and paste one of the below URL's: