​ Medfield SEPAC Honors MPS Employees with Jim James Inclusion Award

Medfield SEPAC Honors Medfield Public School Employees with Jim James Inclusion Award

The Medfield Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC) is proud to announce the 2024 Jim James Inclusion Award recipients. This honor is dedicated to recognizing district employees who exemplify and promote inclusive practices within our schools. This award is named after Jim James, a former educator and owner of Park Street Books who has made significant contributions to fostering inclusivity in our community.

Jim James is a true champion of inclusivity, consistently demonstrating a commitment to support the entire community. His efforts include inclusive employment practices and increasing accessibility to books. Through Park Street Books, Jim and his team have provided employment opportunities to individuals with special needs and donated nearly a million books to schools and hospitals in need.

At the June 6th School Committee Meeting, Medfield SEPAC along with Jim James recognized the following Medfield Public Schools faculty and staff members for their outstanding efforts in promoting and modeling inclusion:

• Caitlin Fahy, Food Service Director
• Erik Ormberg, MHS Guidance & Football Coach
• Jamie Tighe, MHS Behavior Technician
• Jason Heim, Blake General Education Teacher
• Hunter Stewart, MHS Special Ed Teacher
• Kymberli Brenton, MHS Behavior Technician
• Liz Bennett, MHS Nurse
• Melissa Newton, Memorial General Education Teacher
• Michael Kraemer, MHS General Education Teacher & Coach
• Susan Bycoff, Blake General Education Teacher
• Kimberly Kristof, Memorial General Education Teacher
• Russ Becker, MHS Adjustment Counselor
• Sheanah Lamb, Wheelock Preschool Teacher
• Stacy Burns, Blake Adjustment Counselor
• Tricia Foley, Memorial & Blake Art Teacher (3 nominations)
• Molly O'Sullivan, Wheelock Special Educator (2 nominations)
• Zachary Barrows, MHS General Education Teacher

These individuals have been nominated by their peers, families, and students in the Medfield Community for their dedication to inclusivity. They have made a significant impact on our students by integrating inclusive practices into their daily work, not as part of a program or incentive but as a way of life. Their commitment has created a positive ripple effect, benefiting countless others beyond the immediate school community. The nominations for each recipient were submitted to the school committee in our End-of-Year report, which is available on our website.

For more information about the Jim James Inclusion Award and the Medfield SEPAC, please visit our website or contact us at sepac@email.medfield.net.