Jennifer Phillips, a preschool special education teacher at Carey Ridge Elementary, was recently honored as an ExtraordinAIRy Treasure.
She was nominated by a colleague, Westfield High School English teacher Alexandria Gable.
“Jennifer Phillips is an extraordinary teacher at Carey Ridge Elementary School. She impacts, influences, teaches and loves preschoolers with a variety of special needs,” Gable wrote in her nomination.
Gable further stated that Phillips is creative and resourceful in meeting the needs of her students, whom she loves like her own.
“Mrs. Phillips is a talented and caring preschool special education teacher… Her work with children with special needs has been outstanding,” Carey Ridge Principal Susan Hobson said. “Mrs. Phillips had a student with a very rare syndrome and in order to get him in school mode, Mrs. Phillips spent time with him during the summer in her classroom acclimating him to school. This intervention resulted in the child being able to function as a part of the class when the school year began.”
Williams Comfort Air presented Phillips a $500 cash award and a matching $500 contribution to Carey Ridge Elementary.
This year, six teachers were selected from 87 nominations. Two of the six teachers are Westfield Washington Schools educators. The second teacher has not been revealed and will receive the award later this month.