Elizabeth Garey, Mueller Park Jr High

“Mrs. Garey is a Math teacher and Spec Ed Teacher at Meuller Park Junior High, who puts in extra time as a case manager for students with an IEP or 504. Mrs. Garey puts in countless hours with parents, teachers and students to help us all work as a team in the best interests of the student. Last year, in 6th grade, my daughter was diagnosed with ADHD and learning in difficulties in Math, Reading & Writing. It’s been a rough go getting that diagnosis and setting up an IEP in February of 2021. Of course, the school year ended in May and my daughter moved to Junior High in August. I was so concerned that the IEP had been written with elementary school in mind and didn’t want to wait until February of 2022 to update it. That would be too far into the school year and my daughter could already be sinking by then. Before school even started, Mrs. Garey reached out to me to let me know what her role is and how to reach her. We immediately met and she answered my many questions and updated the IEP. She had wonderful suggestions and I felt she was my advocate as well as my daughter’s. She assured me that if any of the teachers were having difficulty with the IEP or weren’t following it, I could reach out to hear anytime for assistance and she has held true to that. When my daughter’s schedule came out, she is in two elective classes that would be very hard for her due to her being behind grade level in writing and reading. I reached out to the counselor and initially didn’t hear back. School was about to start and I was in a panic. I reached out to Mrs. Garey and she helped me navigate getting those classes changed to ones that were more on her level academically. I know I can go into Mrs. Garey’s office anytime and get help. She has met with me several times this year. She loves her students and wants to see them succeed. She intervenes when needed. Most recently, my daughter as having difficulty getting her math turned in. I reached out with my concerns. Mrs. Garey spoke with the math teacher about the process and set it up so my daughter could turn the assignments into her directly and she can follow up in a timely manner when my daughter doesn’t understand. She also spent time helping my daughter make math notes of the formulas she can use during Math tests. My daughter came home and was so excited that she passed the next Math test on the first try with 92%. She found success and it was motivating for her! She’s getting a taste of how exciting learning can be and Mrs. Garey has been a part of that. I am so grateful for Mrs. Garey and the other fabulous teachers at Mueller Park Jr High who are helping my daughter succeed.”

-Cyndalynn Tilley