BOUNTIFUL — Heidi Schaefer, the third grade-teacher at St. Olaf School, was honored as an outstanding teacher on KSL NewsRadio and during Mass at St. Olaf Church Nov. 2. KSL NewsRadio, along with Zions Bank, sponsors a weekly program called "Teacher Feature." The program was developed to recognize outstanding teachers who have gone the extra mile, not only in the classroom, but who also have made a significant impact on many young lives. Schaefer was selected by a panel of representatives from the State Office of Education and the local business community for helping children in one of the most important aspects of their young lives – education. "Thank you just does not seem to say enough," said Wayne Welninski, the father of Joe Welninski, who was in Schaefer’s third grade class last year. "Joe is now 70 percent deaf, and although Schaefer had limited experience with hearing deficient children, she remained a model for her vocation. She worked with my son’s speech therapist at another school to ensure the vocabulary he learned in therapy was reinforced in the classroom. Often this entailed faxing lesson plans between the two schools. "Ever interested in understanding his deficit and how to help him learn, Mrs. Schaefer attended meetings with speech therapists, audiologists, and school administrators learning how to help Joe understand what was going on in the classroom," said Welninski. "On certain days she would finish class early so she could be at my son’s individual education plan meeting, which took place at another school." The 2006-2007 school year was Schaefer’s first year at St. Olaf School. Welninski said as it might happen with any new faculty member, there was trepidation about her skills which soon turned to confidence. Schaefer set lofty goals for her class, and began nurturing her students toward those goals. She held the students accountable by working with parents. When extra clarification was indicated on a homework assignment, she often took the time to send home a note so parents could help support her expectations. Through communication she enforced shared values so good behavior was rewarded and bad behavior was corrected. "Most importantly, Schaefer ensured my son was not ostracized from classroom activities," said Welninski. "She placed a microphone to his receiver/amplifier where he could hear and be involved with other ambient conversations. She always ensured he remained focused on the lessons and accountable for his assignments." "One thing I did for Joe was to help the other students understand what not being able to hear is like for him," said Schaefer. "Sometimes with behavior there would be misunderstandings. Somebody would tap him and he would think they were attacking him and would swing around. So I had to teach them that he cannot hear. I attended a conference with his audiologist and we sat through a presentation of what it is like to be deaf. We took a spelling test with different degrees of hearing loss and realized what it would be like to actually have that kind of hearing loss and how frustrating it is to not be able to hear and try to take the test. It was very frustrating for us. When they simulate learning disabilities or loss of hearing, you really are in the shoes of those with the disabilities. "I borrowed the spelling test tape and gave the class the spelling test," said Schaefer. The students were so annoyed and frustrated. The words on the tape were almost mumbled or muffled. I told them this is what it is like for him everyday. He cannot hear the way you can, and it really helped them be more accepting of him. Joe loses his hearing first at the higher frequencies. So it is easier for him to hear his father’s voice because it is lower than his mother’s voice because it is a higher pitch." Simulating the hearing loss for the whole class helped Joe feel accepted and a part of the class. He quickly made some new friends. Schaefer said at the first of the year Joe was lonely and said he did not have friends. "That broke my heart because he was only 8 years old," said Shaefer. "He felt isolated. So the biggest thing was to open the eyes of the other students. I focused on making him feel like he belonged to the class. By the end of the year he had friends. "Academically he is very smart. He does a lot of lip reading," said Schaefer. "So I made sure he made eye contact with me when I was talking. I would ask him what I said and he would repeat it back to me. In math he is very smart. His brain is like a little computer. So he is going to do well in life regardless of his hearing. "Joe is now in the fourth grade, he was on the honor roll, and he seems to be happy," said Schaefer. "He has changed so much from the beginning of last year. He has really grown a lot, and that is really nice to see. He talks to me often and he smiles when he sees me, and that is nice. "Joe is a great kid and the Welninski’s are very appreciative of everything we can do for them," said Schaefer. "Joe will eventually go deaf. What he hears, he feels is normal. But once his hearing is gone that is when it is really going to be scary." Welninski said there are different options from which to choose, but they are expensive and he and his wife, Carol, will have to see what will be in Joe’s best interests. In recognition of this achievement, Schaefer received a Teacher Feature plaque and three gift certificates. One certificate for dinner at La Caille Restaurant, a certificate for an overnight stay at the Anniversary Inn, and a certificate for season tickets from the Hale Center Theatre in West Valley City. She will also be honored at a banquet at La Caille hosted by KSL NewsRadio. But Schaefer is most appreciative of Welninski’s thoughtfulness.
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