Cimmon Burris was selected as our Thursday Related Service Provider Spotlight for Teacher Appreciation Week 2018! Cimmon is a hard-working Occupational Therapist at three elementary schools within Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland. She also works at the Ruth Parker Easton School, a public separate day school for students with moderate to severe disabilities from age 3 to 21 years old. She was nominated by a peer who recognizes and respects her resilience and tenacity while helping her students with complex health challenges to improve their safety and independence. As a thank you from all of us at MindWorks Collaborative Cimmon will receive a gift card and certificate of appreciation. Learn more about her below and look out for the rest of our spotlights during #TeacherAppreciationWeek 2018!

How long have you worked in special education?

• 8 years

What is your favorite aspect of working in SPED?

• There is always a new problem to solve and multiple ways to approach it. The student is actually the best teacher.

What does an Occupational Therapist do?

• My job as an OT is really to be a detective and solve the mystery. I identify the problem or challenge and break it down piece by piece. This allows me to think of numerous modifications or accommodations to make the school environment more accessible and easier for students to succeed. Adapted paper, chairs, keyboards, tips for sensory input/regulation and so much more are all tools in my toolkit.

What is one accomplishment at work that you are most proud of? Why?

• I get to teach students how to work around the challenges of their disability and demonstrate all the things they CAN do in spite of.

What past experiences helped to prepare you for your current role?

• Working in psychiatric facilities prior to the school system helped me be prepared for the unexpected and truly see the whole person and not just the challenge before them.

What keeps you motivated day in and day out?

• Each day I’m excited to make a tangible difference by helping students shine or educate teachers on how to differentiate for student specific needs. It’s not all about the grades, but more so analyzing the task to see how the student accesses materials and copes in the learning environment from the cafeteria, to art class, to their job site and back in the main classroom as well.

What is one special ritual you have to start or end your day at work?

• Each and every day I use natural gifts (OT’s call it “therapeutic use of self”) to make the staff smile and laugh. Teaching is a hard job and I’m there as a related service provider to make things better. I firmly believe laughter is the best medicine because it immediately makes you feel upbeat and positive. Starting and ending the work day with a positive outlook is like hitting the lottery.