Special Education Long-Term Substitute

Bernadine Welke

Education

****: Graduate, Bowling Green State University, dual graduate in Elementary and Special Education, Student teaching, Franklin Elementary School, Martha Burr, special ed supervisor; Josephine Pickering, elementary supervisor, Dr. Robert Joydt, supervisor, BGSU.

1972: Graduate, Xavier University, Masters in Education, Cincinnati, Ohio, Practicum supervisor, Nick Seta, Longview State Hospital, Ed Wing, Adolescent Psychology, Emotionally Disturbed Children.

1981-1984: University of Dayton, specialist degree program, 45 hours in Educational Leadership and Administration.

Experience:

1968: Long-term substitute teacher, Dayton Public Schools, Educable Challenged Students, Dayton, Ohio

1969-1970: Holy Family Catholic School, Grades 4, 5 and 6, P. E. and Social Studies, Dayton, Ohio

1970-1971: Montgomery County Department of Special Education, Dayton, Ohio, Multiple-Handicapped students, supervised two para-professionals

1971-1974: Pine Ridge, South Dakota, multiple age groups, cognitively challenged, supervised para-professional

1975, U. S. Forestry Division, taught algebra to young fire-fighters to assist with earning their GED

1975-1977: Substitute Chadron Elementary, Chadron, Nebraska

1978-1979: Taught Adolescent young men, all subjects, Behaviorally Handicapped, supervised two para-professionals

1979-1985: Taught Middle School students any subject needed, Learning Disabled (included blind and deaf students)

1985-2015: Department of Defense Dependent’s Schools, K-12, special education and grades 1-8 elementary education, introduced Read 180 program, supervised para-professionals, served as acting Principal when needed, taught all subjects in a myriad of settings, including departmentalized (mathematics)

Retired 2015

*Two years ago, I took a long-term substitute job in York, Maine. I resigned due to health issues. I had a bad cold which resulted in bacterial pneumonia.

That said, having been retired eight years out, I realized I was not current with testing methods and IEP development. I didn’t feel it fair to continue to take a salary I was not earning. Even though I was asked to stay, I could not. I could have remained there, had I been given some time to update my skills in special education. In fairness to my employer, they didn’t have the time to do this.

About Me:

I was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1946. Yes, I am 79 years young! I am in shape, very active and healthy. I am very aware of agism, but dismiss the term, as not all seniors should be labeled too elderly. And, we should not label our students! Every student I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing, offered endearing parts of themselves, and were able to share that with others eventually, if not immediately. It is up to us to seek out these attributes and to articulate them. I don’t have a philosophy regarding educating our future leaders in whatever they endeavor to do. I do believe we have a responsibility to guide them, nurture them and listen to what they have to say. My most excellent instructors were older, experienced professionals.

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