Joann Rossi Named Contra Costa County Office of Education 'Teacher of Year'

News from the Contra Costa County Office of Education:

In recognition of her 25 years of outstanding work and results, Joann Rossi was selected as the 2014-2015 Contra Costa County Office of Education’s Teacher of the Year.

The numerous children and their parents whose lives have been empowered by Rossi’s teaching skills throughout the years will certainly concur with her choice for this honor.

As one of the Contra Costa County Office of Education’s (CCCOE) Early Start instructors, Rossi works with children, newborn to 3-years old, who qualify for special education services. These young children have vision, hearing, orthopedic challenges, or other developmental disabilities.

Though Rossi works out of the CCCOE’s Marchus School, in Concord, her classrooms are primarily in her students’ homes.

“Being told that your baby has or may have a disability or delay is not something any parent wants to hear and it may very well be one of the most painful experiences in their lifetime,” says Joann. “Whether I’m providing direct services, helping a family navigate the confusing system of early intervention, or brainstorming ideas with them on the issue at hand, I am grateful and honored that I’m able to share this journey with them, even if it is for a short time.”

When Joann was a high school student in Brooklyn, New York, she served as a volunteer at an event called One-to-One Festivals.

The daylong festivals were held in Central Park, they provided music, activities, food, and fun for people with disabilities, who would have a volunteer assigned to them. Joann was one of those volunteers, and that began her long and esteemed career in the field of special education.

Soon after her volunteer experience and graduating high school, she earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from City University in New York, at Brooklyn, followed by obtaining a master’s degree in special education from St. Mary’s College in Moraga.

“Ms. Rossi’s greatest strength is her ability to easily communicate and connect with both the infant/toddler she is working with and their parents,” says CCCOE’s Early Start Speech Language Pathologist Lexie Gittings. “Over the years, many parents have told me what a great job she is doing and how much their child looks forward to ‘Miss Joann’s visit each week. She has a wonderful way of engaging her students and teaching them how to improve their language skills, play skills, motor skills, and cognitive abilities.”

Joann, along with her 21 fellow distinguished Contra Costa County TOY district representatives, will be honored at the upcoming Teacher of the Year Dinner Celebration on September 11, at the Concord Hilton.

Because only K-12 teachers are eligible to participate in the California state and national Teacher of the Year Program, Rossi is not eligible to advance any further than the Contra Costa County program.

For additional information about the Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year program, please visit the Web page.