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Dec. Educator Spotlight: Cornelison & McElwee

Dec. Educator Spotlight: Cornelison & McElwee

 

HELEN CORNELISON

Cornelison

Harding Middle School paraprofessional Helen Cornelison may just be starting out on her educational career, but her way with students is wise beyond her years. Helen uses our Vision of a Lakewood Educator competencies and knowledge gained in her undergraduate psychology classes to meet students where they are at.

“Helen is able to change her communication style based on the student she is working with, she understands that every child communicates differently and respects it,” said Helen’s nominator, Harding paraprofessional Genevieve Mehok.

Listening is an important part of Helen’s communication style. “I’ve learned to stop speaking when I should be listening,” Helen said. “I need to be comfortable with the awkward silence.” When her students do speak, Helen always has an empathetic ear for them. She extends that empathy to her work in the Harding Reset program as well.

Helen - who started with the District in 2020 - is extremely creative when it comes to motivating students. “She makes learning fun but also personalized and original,” said Genevieve.

Helen embraces a growth mindset, which is complemented by her goal-oriented focus. She will graduate from Cleveland State with a BA in psychology this month and has set her sights on becoming an intervention specialist.


CHRISTINE McELWEE

McElwee

Christine McElwee always knew she would land in a career centered on children. The Hayes Elementary K-3 intervention specialist, who enjoyed playing school as a child, approaches her work with students as if they were her own.

“She listens, collaborates and strives to individualize her interactions. She is one of the most genuine and giving teachers I know,” said STEM teacher Julie Ferrone, Christine’s nominator. 

Christine’s heart lies with special education students and feels like she can make the biggest difference in the small group settings that intervention specialists operate in. She listens empathetically and knows she must “read between the lines” to determine what a student’s issue may be that they can’t express.

Christine's impact is also felt among Lakewood City Schools staff as she splits her time between teaching and serving as the District’s multi-sensory literacy instructions specialist. For the past five years, she has been the in-house literacy trainer for the Wilson Reading System, assuring that our staff is implementing the curriculum correctly. She is also the District’s lead in providing the staff professional development needed for the District to comply with the new dyslexia law.

 Despite juggling two roles, Christine is never too busy to help out. Julie Ferrone sums it up best: “Christine is a consummate professional who does not hesitate to work with anyone who needs her expertise. She goes above and beyond her required duties for the benefits of student and staff alike.”