McBeth Winner Loves Teaching Students With Special Needs

PLAINFIELD, IL —Simply put, Bonnie McBeth would have loved Kelsey Miller.

Miller teaches special needs children – particularly those with autism -- at District 202’s preschool, which is named for McBeth, District 202’s first kindergarten teacher.

She is also the winner of the 2017 Bonnie McBeth Early Learning Scholarship. Miller, who has taught at Bonnie McBeth for six years will use the $1,500 prize to complete graduate-level work focusing on teaching autistic early learners.

“Kelsey Miller is a fine example of the type of educator Bonnie McBeth sought to support through this scholarship,” said Plainfield Foundation for Excellence Advisory Board member Ina Brixey. She and Foundation Trustee Pat Herman were both close friends of McBeth’s and chose this year’s scholarship winner.

The Plainfield Foundation for Excellence – District 202’s private fundraising organization -- administers the McBeth scholarship on behalf of McBeth’s family.

Bonnie McBeth was District 202’s first kindergarten teacher in 1951. She taught kindergarten and reading and also worked as a reading specialist during her 38-year education career.

She created and endowed the annual scholarship in 2007 to support early learning teachers taking graduate-level course work in early childhood education. McBeth passed away in February 2014.

Miller is completing her first semester at Ball State University. She is a Project LEAP teacher at the Bonnie McBeth Early Learning Center. Project LEAP is a self-contained early childhood program focusing on children who need more-intensive instruction.

“I love working with both young children and students with significant special needs,” Miller wrote in her application. “That makes teaching 3 and 4 year olds in a self-contained autism program the perfect fit for me.”

Miller has also volunteered at Camp SOAR (Special Outdoor Adaptive Recreation) every summer since 2005. Camp SOAR is an overnight summer camp for children and teens with moderate to severe special needs.

Brixey and Herman praised Miller for her volunteerism as well as her professional skill, leadership, collegial interactions, cooperation and positive, “can-do” attitude “which enables each child in her classroom to learn, grow and develop,” Brixey said.

“Kelsey is eager to increase her knowledge, improve her skills, gain new insights and become an even more effective teacher of young children with special needs,” Brixey said. “Mrs. McBeth would smile knowing that this scholarship will help Kelsey achieve her goals.”

While she definitely appreciates the financial assistance to meet her goals, Miller said her best reward comes every day in the classroom.

“I truly believe I have the best job in the world,” Miller wrote.

Submitted article

Photos:

• Bonnie McBeth Early Learning Center teacher Kelsey Miller (second from left) is the 2017 Bonnie McBeth Early Learning Scholarship winner. Miller teaches special needs students at District 202’s preschool. Mrs. McBeth, who passed away in 2014, created the $1,500 scholarship to help early childhood teachers continue their studies.
• Miller is pictured with Foundation for Excellence Trustee Pat Herman (left), Foundation Advisory Board member Ina Brixey, and Bonnie McBeth Early Learning Center Assistant Principal Lindsey Bandy.

Photos courtesy of District 202