Glenda Gray, Rocky Mountain Middle School, Wasatch School District

“Glenda Gray is amazingly patient. She has one of the hardest jobs I am aware of. She teaches students with severe disabilities in the Learning Lab at Rocky Mountain Middle School in Heber. Very often she teaches the same skills over and over and over again because the students she works with require so much support. Glenda does this with a great attitude and a smile on her face. She teaches many subjects, and she individualizes instruction on every topic because the needs of the students vary greatly. Glenda earns continuing education credits to use best practice in her teaching. She varies her teaching each year because the abilities of her students change a great deal each year.”

“Glenda’s caseload in the 2021-22 school year includes a student with severe social deficits, a student in a wheelchair who has multiple disabilities and many physical needs, including tube feeding, and other students with similar challenges. These students require significant care, and they are thriving in Glenda’s classroom even with a large number of students in the room.”

“On top of a large caseload, Glenda has had personal health challenges this year. She has managed her time very well and has missed very little school while she has attended regular treatments and checkups. Glenda doesn’t complain about the challenges she is going through. She keeps giving 100% to meet the needs of all her students, taking care of them and helping them learn and thrive. She helps them make progress, and she rejoices when she sees their achievements. She also goes the extra mile by filling other assignments at the school. She maintains a positive attitude and brightens the lives of her students, co-workers and peer tutors every day. Sometimes she stops me in the hall to tell me about a breakthrough skill a student has learned. She is happy and excited at how well her students are doing. She really is a teacher worthy of recognition.”

“Glenda has taught for many years, yet she keeps her enthusiasm high. She is an expert in Special Education, but she keeps learning and adapting her teaching to meet the changing circumstances of her class. She has a positive impact on many lives. Glenda is a treasure!”

-Vicki Hunsaker