FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
April 19, 2016
Mary-Clare Reynolds, Executive Director
412-341-1515, ext. 206
mcreynolds@ldaamerica.org
Outstanding Educator Recognized by Learning Disabilities Organization
The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA), a premier source of information, support and advocacy for parents, teachers and individuals, recognized Nancy Hammill of Cherry Hill, NJ as the 2016 Sam Kirk Award recipient at its recent international conference in Orlando.
The Sam Kirk Award is given each year to an outstanding educator who has made a difference in the lives of individuals with learning disabilities and in the field of special education. The award is named in honor of Dr. Samuel A. Kirk, psychologist, scholar, humanitarian and pioneer in the field of learning disabilities. Dr. Kirk is often given credit for coining the term Learning Disabilities.
Nancy is a Learning Therapist and Professional Development and Outreach Coordinator, for the Cooper Learning Center, Pediatric Department of Cooper University Hospital. She received her Master of Science in Education from Bank Street Graduate College of Education in New York and has worked more than 20 years in public and private school systems in both suburban and urban settings. Nancy considers helping students thrive to be a personal calling. As a person with learning disabilities herself, she knows the impact learning differences can have on someone’s self-esteem. Her mission is to have her students achieve academic success and learn to appreciate themselves and their uniqueness as individuals.
Nancy has been active in working with LDA of New Jersey (LDANJ), focusing on bringing community awareness to best practices for people with learning disabilities in and out of the classroom. Most recently she presented a workshop for teachers at the 2015 LDANJ conference entitled The “Write” Strategies for Improving Writing Skills for Struggling Students. Her training and expertise covers the areas of corrective reading, reading comprehension, reading fluency, written expression, executive functioning and self- regulation.
Other nominees, who received Honorable Mention, were Julianne Alvarado from Illinois, Annette Lalley from Michigan, and Tobey Bullington from Oklahoma.
LDA is a non-profit organization of parents, professionals and adults with learning disabilities providing support, information, and advocacy on behalf of individuals with learning disabilities. For further information go to www.ldaamerica.org.
