Autumn Geragthy Named Finalist For Special Ed Teacher Of Year

Autumn Geraghty, a functional mental disability (FMD) teacher at Ahrens Work Transition Program, has been selected as one of three finalists for the 2016 Kentucky Special Education Teacher of the Year Award.   The award is one of the highest honors available to Kentucky’s teachers of students with disabilities.

Geraghty, who began her teaching career as an FMD teacher at Fairdale High School, has served as a Special Olympics coach in basketball and cheerleading and helped develop a Peer Tutoring program for high school juniors and seniors, some of whom are now teachers.

Geraghty said she developed a love of teaching as a young girl while helping in her mother’s classroom.  “Each time I see a student reach a goal that they thought they couldn’t reach, their success motivates me to be a better teacher,” she said.

As a teacher in the Ahrens, she works with students ages 18 to 21, connecting them with employers, social contacts and community resources to help them transition to post-school adult life.

The recipient of the Special Education Teacher of the Year award will be announced Monday, Nov. 21 during the fall Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children conference being held in Louisville.