IOWA FALLS, IOWA (May 1, 2020) — Senior Erica Sporrer of Nevada Schools is the recipient of the 2020 Special Education Teacher Scholarship of Iowa in recognition for her academic accomplishments, volunteerism, extracurricular activities, and educational goals.
“As a future teacher, I hope to touch each of my student’s lives in some way. Each child has different needs that need to be met in order to grow and thrive in the classroom. As teachers, we must adapt and teach to each child’s strengths and embrace their weaknesses. That is the kind of classroom I hope to have someday,” said Sporrer.
Sporrer has received academic awards, academic letters and athletic letters throughout her high school career. She has been actively involved in extracurricular programs and activities including soccer, basketball, 4-H, Future Farmers of America, and National Honors Society.
After graduation, Sporrer plans attend Iowa State University and major in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Special Education. “In second grade, I was diagnosed with ADHD, which made school and learning really hard. I always thought I’d struggle and that I could never amount to much. My elementary special-education teacher, Mrs VanDam, has impacted my life significantly — she is the reason I want to teach,” says Sporrer.
Sporrer originally planned for a career in criminal justice, but ran into a roadblock before that dream could become a reality. “When the hearing in my left ear deteriorated and I began to wear a hearing-aid, I knew I couldn’t be active on the police force. When Mrs VanDam heard this, she invited me into her classroom to work with some of the children and I soon fell in love with her classroom and her teaching style. She has shown me what I am really meant to do — and that teaching is my calling,” says Sporrer.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, awards were not presented in a live ceremony this year. The information was sent to the student’s guidance counselors for recognition.
ABOUT THE AWARD: The Special Education Teacher Scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior who plans to study education, with a focus on special education. Cosponsored by ClaimAid Consulting Corporation and the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB), the scholarship is awarded based on a number of requirements, including educational goals and academic accomplishments.
ClaimAid is a leading provider of comprehensive Medicaid eligibility and enrollment services, school-based billing and claims resolution for schools, hospitals, patients, individuals, and their families. IASB is a non-profit organization representing Iowa’s 327 public school districts, nine area education agencies, and 15 community colleges.
