PASS K-2 Class

About the Teacher

Stefanie Grasso

Special Education Teacher

PASS Program K-2

Timony Grammar School

Room 10  ext: 3310

Contact Information:

This is my little girl.

She is four and a half years old and

her name is Lola.

She is the light of my life!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             I have been a Special Education Teacher  for the PASS Program K-2 at the Timony Grammar School for four years. I grew-up in the Methuen School system attending the old Ashford School, the Timony Middle School,  and Methuen High School; which I graduated from in June of 2000.

             I was diagnosed with an LD in second grade. I  knew from a young age that I would one day love to teach Special Education; knowing first hand the struggles that students may experience along the way. I genuinely love what I do as a teacher and pray that others are able to see that through the dedication I have in regards to my students and their success in the classroom.

Academic Degrees

 

 

University of Massachusetts at Lowell

2000-2005

 

Bachelor of Arts

History

Concentration:

  Modern Europe

 

Cambridge College

2005-2009

 

Master of Education

Special Education

Teacher of Students w/Moderate Disabilities

PreK-8th Grade

The following are some of the organizations I belong to and/or have a passion for. Please feel free to check them out as they may give some insight as to the person I am in and outside of the classroom.

 

 

The Love Alliance

http://www.thelovealliance.net/

 

This is a non-profit organization that works diligently to educate various individuals on social injustice such as world poverty, clean water, the AIDS epidemic, human trafficking, homelessness, the environment, and oppression.

 

 

 Invisible Children

http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php

 

This is a non-profit organization who brings both awareness and aid to the mistreated children of Uganda. The organization is set out to make others aware of the extreme injustices which are forced upon the children of Uganda. These children are taken off the streets and are forced into fighting a war they have no gain nor understanding of. The Organization works relentlessly to change apathy into activism.

 

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

http://www.missingkids.com

 

The nations resource center for child protection. Their mission is to help prevent child abduction, sexual exploitation,; help him missing children; and assist victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them.

 

 

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

http://www.ncadv.org/

 

The mission of  NCADV is to organize for collective power by advancing transformative work, thinking and leadership of communities and individuals to end the violence in our lives. The NCADV believe violence against women and children results from the use of force or threat to achieve and maintain control over others intimate relationship, and forms societal abuse of power and domination.

 

 

National Fibromyalgia Association

http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer

 

NFA is a 501 (c) non-profit organization whose mission is: To develop and execute program dedicated to improving the quality of life of those individuals who suffer from Fibromyalgia.

 

 

The Fibromyalgia Network

http://www.fmnetnews.com/basics-symptoms.php

 

The organization aims to educate and assist patients as well as their family members with ad-free, patient focused information. The organization is founded on the idea of combining community, education, and support for those who suffer with Fibromyalgia as well as those individuals who are close to someone who does.

 

 

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries

http://www.ncm.org/

 

Compassion as a lifestyle! NCM has a four-fold approach to ministering to those in need through,  child development, disaster response, developmental education and social transformation. This is done through managing resources, empowering people, enabling compassion, and extending

hope.

 

 

My Mini Biography:

 

I am a Sicilian-American who grow up, as well as currently resides in Methuen, Massachusetts. I have spent many wonderful summers in Sicily growing up and consider the island to be my second home. Although, I must admit my Italian is quite rusty at this time.

 

                 I come from a tight nit family and keep a small  group of close friends that I consider to be just like family. I have been blessed to have met my best friend here at the Timony School when I was once a student myself. Her and I have been blessed with an incredible friendship that has lasted fifteen years and counting.

 

                 I am an avid sports lover; especially interested in baseball and field hockey. I support all Boston teams from the Red Sox to the Bruins. I must confess however, that the Sox take up most of  the room in my heart. The game of baseball in general I find to be the most enjoyable . The smell of the fresh cut grass, the dirt stained uniforms, the roar of the crowd, the rush of a great hit, to the anticipation of the next pitch makes, every part of those nine or so innings that much more extraordinary. I love every moment of the game.

 

                 I prefer to look for the good in people and do my absolute best not to judge for that is not my job, but rather one of a greater being. I believe in giving respect on the spot and do not agree with the concept that one must “earn it”. I am a huge advocate for the rights of those who are enslaved, in poverty, abused/mistreated, oppressed, and in need of love and understanding no matter what the reasoning may be.  I strongly do believe that one person can make a difference for the better; if only he or she would get out of his or her own way. There are a number of people in this world who do not have a voice. I believe it is up to those of us who do to speak for them.

 

To borrow some very wise words

from a very wise man:

 

“We need to be the change we want to see in the world.”

                                      -Mahatma Gandhi

 

One of my favorite Poems:

 

“ They came first for the communists,

And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist.

 

Then they came for the Jews,

 And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.

 

Then they came for the trade unionists,

And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

 

Then they came for the Catholics,

And I didn’t speak up because I was Protestant.

 

Then they came for me,

And by that time their was no one left to speak up.”                                       

                                                    By: Martin Niemoeller

 

 

 

 

Some Facts About Me

 

I am completely infatuated with the 1920s through the 1950s; in regards to fashion, décor, and music. I absolutely adore 1940s swing music and the old classics (for instance Billie Holiday). I grew up along with my older brother L.J. and younger sister Jenny listening to and completely in love with the music  of , “Old Blue Eyes”, Mr. Frank Sinatra.

A Chihuahua will always put a smile on my face; especially my own.  Penguins are my favorite animals although, I will gush over any cute creature I see. I am addicted to and cannot say no to cotton candy, french fries smothered with melted cheese, a big plate of gnocchi in a creamy tomato sauce, and of  course my sister Jenny’s baking (she is an amazing pastry chef)!

                 Oh, and if I could, my dream would be to live in a spa so I could be pampered everyday with spa body wraps and Swedish massages (every Fibromyalgics dream)!

 Fairness does not mean everybody gets the same,

but rather that everyone gets what he or she needs.

- Rick Lavoie