A special educator for students some people discount

Denasha Gomez gets the best feeling watching her students master a new skill or concept, no matter how big or small. She says each of her students are a success story, and they enter her classroom with their individual needs and with tough love and guidance, leave with their needs met.

The special education teacher in the prevocational unit at H.O. Nash Junior High School teaches students with and without disabilities, whether a learning disability, ADD/ADHD (attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), an intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, or autism spectrum disorder.

She has a class of fifteen unisex students between the ages of 11 and 15 years old, which she views as an exciting feat, especially when she sees the improvement of her students from their first day in her class.

One of her success stories is of an extremely shy student who lacked confidence. She worked with the student and had to find the medium between easy going and stern.

Gomez said they spoke positive words daily, and by the end of the first term, the student was no longer shy, the student became quite outspoken. The result of the breakthrough was an improvement in the student’s grades.

“Watching this student become proud of their progress made me happy,” said Gomez. “Seeing my student who initially despised school create goals and attain them, then graduate and continue to make strides in their academic career reaffirms that teaching is indeed my calling.

“Truthfully, everyday my students do something that makes me smile. And on the days where it is tough, they somehow manage to do something that reaffirms teaching is my calling, and in most cases it’s their gratitude – a hug, a message on the board, or a card.”

While her students are dear to her, she says it is important to not coddle them as she is preparing them to live a normal and productive life in the real world.

In her class she is firm with them, and she says they show her love and respect as they know that her instructions and admonitions come from a place of love.

“They need to know that someone cares,” she said. “Additionally, they are also taught life skills.”

Gomez, who has been teaching for four years said a career in education was not her first choice, but that it was one of her choices.

Her first career choice was a neontologist. After the birth of her daughter, she made the decision to think about a career that would allow her to have a more present role in her life.

She knew she wanted to work with children, she had an interest in helping them, and realized education was the right fit for her.

Gomez said a number of factors pushed her in the direction of special education.

“I have a cousin with special needs, but I did not really know that until I got old enough to see there were certain milestones he had not accomplished or took longer to accomplish. At St. Thomas Moore, a student’s twin had Down syndrome, but she spent the day in our school. A family friend’s child has special needs as a result of a complication at birth. In all three cases, I wanted to know what they had, why they did or did not do certain things, and how they became the way they were. I was very eager to understand them. From what I could remember, the parents answered all of my questions. As I got older, and realized that my calling was indeed education; I wanted to make a difference and be the teacher for the students everyone counted out.”

Gomez said there are people who believe special education is only for people who are “intellectually disabled”, but she says it is much more than that.

“My short and sweet explanation for the term special education is specially designed instruction with a range of services for anyone that operates above or below their typical peers.”

To be eligible for special education, an individual would be categorized in one of the 13 categories: autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, or visual impairment (including blindness).

As she goes about making a difference, Gomez is reminded of educators that made a difference in her life.

“In my primary years at St. Thomas More [Catholic Primary School], I always had teachers that made learning fun – even though they were very strict. My primary school teachers always found different ways to ensure we understood the concept they were teaching even if it meant creating a song or taking us outside to play soccer with a twist on knowing your timetables. They influenced the type of teacher I want to be and hope to be every day.”

Outside of teaching, Gomez also has a love for dance and is also the dance coach for the Royal Divas of H.O. Nash, the school’s dance troupe, and has included one of her students as part of the dance team, and she is proud of the student’s ability.

Her advice to anyone considering education as a career is to be open-minded and to have a growth mindset.

“Education is not a free summer as most believe, so if that is your selling point, abort mission,” she said. “Coming into education, I believe you have to have a love for children and learning. The classes you take in college or university prepare you for the academic aspect, but being an educator is more than teaching. In more ways than one you are the students’ bonus parent. It is a big responsibility that we cannot be reckless with because we shape their minds. We prepare the future,” she said.

Gomez, whose mantra as an educator is “to unlock the potential and talent of every child to be the best version of himself/herself and succeed in all endeavors, is pursuing a master of science degree in exceptional student education.