Prince William County Public Schools

The Prince William County Special Education PTA (SEPTA) recently held its first annual recognition awards ceremony virtually. Those selected for awards are educators, students, and community members who have gone above and beyond to advocate for students with disabilities in the Greater Prince William Community.

Congratulations to the following PWCS recipients of the 2019-20 Prince William County SEPTA Awards:

Isaiah-Lee Washington, rising third-grade student at Montclair Elementary School, was named Elementary Student Who Most Supports Inclusion;

Josie Boyt, rising senior at Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School, was named Secondary Student Who Most Supports Inclusion;

Laura Ryba, Ashland Elementary School, was named Outstanding Elementary Special Education Teacher;

Ashley Tayon, teacher of students with intellectual disabilities at Forest Park High School, was named Outstanding Secondary Special Education Teacher;

Kate Sullivan, second-grade teacher at Glenkirk Elementary School, was named Outstanding Elementary General Education Teacher;

Named Outstanding Secondary General Education Teachers:

• Dana Heino, physical science teacher at Benton Middle School, and
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• Jessica English, earth science teacher at Woodbridge High School;

Jamila Darwish, teacher assistant of students with intellectual disabilities at Woodbridge High School, was named Outstanding Instructional Assistant;

Margaret MacGregor, principal of Leesylvania Elementary School, was named Outstanding Elementary Administrator;

Dr. David Parrish, assistant principal at Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School, was named Outstanding Secondary Administrator;

Brenda Knopp Truax, preschool special education teacher, and her inclusion team at John D. Jenkins Elementary School, received the Outstanding Inclusive Program Award. The team consists of Amanda Dingman and Marlene Evans, Head Start preschool teachers, and Lindsey Kincheloe and Mileidis Myers, teacher assistants.

Additionally, Jaime Van Echo, speech-language pathologist who serves Metz Middle and Osbourn High Schools in Manassas City Public Schools, was named Outstanding Related Services Provider; and

Patricia Kouttab, store owner of Kerbobble Toys located in Old Town Manassas, received the Community Champion Award.

According to its website, the mission of the Prince William County SEPTA is to make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children of Prince William County, Manassas Park and Manassas City.