Mindy Aleksiejczyk

WINTERSVILLE — Two representatives of the Indian Creek Local School District will be recognized for their efforts through Ohio State Support Team Region 12.

Indian Creek High School intervention specialist Brad Long and parent Mindy Aleksiejczyk will be honored during a bamquet on June 10 at Villa Milano in Columbus. Long will receive the Franklin B. Walter Outstanding Educator Award for his commitment to help students with disabilities succeed in school, while Aleksiejczyk will receive the Margaret M. Burley Outstanding Parent Award for her diligence in supporting her child and others through advocacy. The awards are sponsored by the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities.

John Rocchi, district special education coordinator, nominated Long for the honor, as well as Alexis Davis, preschool teacher at Cross Creek Elementary; Amy Lane, teacher at Hills Elementary; Connie Parise, intervention specialist at Indian Creek Middle School; and Dave Moffat, ICHS career tech teacher. He cited the nominees as being a “dedicated staff who work diligently to meet the individual needs of each kid every day.”

Long’s award is named in honor of the late Dr. Franklin B. Walter, who served as the state superintendent of public instruction from 1977 to 1991. The honor is presented to one educator or team from each of Ohio’s 16 SST regions who have made extraordinary contributions to the education of students with disabilities. Long has served with the school district for 10 years, beginning as an intervention specialist at ICMS before transitioning to the high school’s Opportunity Center. The center is an adaptive program for grades 9-12 that is self-paced and assists with credit recovery, academic needs and supplemental resources, and it currently aids 25 students.

“I was definitely surprised and humbled that Mr. Rocchi would think of me in that light,” Long said. “It is nice to be recognized. It’s an honor and I’ve had great administrators over the years, especially Mr. Rocchi. He’s a great mentor.”

Brad Long

His experience includes teaching social studies as well as being an intervention specialist and working with typical and special needs pupils who are mostly at risk. He spent seven years at the middle school and is in his third year at ICHS.

“I feel like more of a catalyst of change. I can see their appreciation of education at an earlier stage,” he added. “It’s really rewarding to see their enjoyment of learning. The Opportunity Center is a unique situation and is something our district should be proud of.”

Rocchi praised Long for being respected and working diligently with co-teachers at the middle school to meet the needs of every student whether identified with a disability or being at risk, typically developing or being gifted, and that admiration has continued during his time at ICHS.

“General education teachers would lobby each year to have Mr. Long as their co-teacher. He is always prepared, collaborates on lessons and never takes the easy way out of tackling tough situations. Students gravitate toward Mr. Long because they know he cares about them and creates a safe haven for learning,” Rocchi added. “When the Indian Creek Local School District created the Opportunity Center at Indian Creek High School, the administration knew the perfect candidate to oversee and run this program– Mr. Long. The Opportunity Center was created to require students who had previously been at home completing online learning a face-to-face option while still completing online courses. The ICLSD examined the graduation and dropout rates and determined that students who chose online options were less likely to graduate. Since the inception of the Opportunity Center, graduation rates have increased and dropout rates have decreased for this population of students. Mr. Long provides a setting at ICHS which fosters learning and promotes goal setting and attainment of a high school diploma. Mr. Long provides each student with individualized attention and shows them compassion when life’s struggles may be overwhelming.”

Aleksiejczyk was nominated for the Margaret M. Burley Outstanding Parent Award in recognition of one Ohio parent of a child with disabilities who has demonstrated a commitment to advocacy for their child and other children to receive quality educational services; leadership in local, state or national organizations; initiatives to promote public awareness of issues affecting children with disabilities and their family; and creating innovative programming to improve services for children with disabilities.

“I think I started advocating as soon as I learned of my son’s diagnosis. Advocating for him was natural, then it became a privilege to be able to help other individuals and their families. I was given a wonderful path into advocating and speaking for those who do not have a voice,” Aleksiejczyk added. “This award means a great deal to me. It is a very special award handed out by the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities, and Margaret M. Burley was a parent who has led a path to advocating for children with disabilities. To receive this award means that I show qualities of someone who is helping to support this part of our population and continues to make positive changes. It confirms that what I have been doing has been noticed and I have a responsibility to continue to speak up and support children and families.”

She has also served on the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities and is currently president. She continued that advocacy was extremely important to give others a voice, and being in a position to help them and making sure they have access to the services and education they deserve will help them become the best adults they can be.

“Our communities are better for it, and the individuals are able to live the best life possible. When I started on this journey of advocating, I wanted to not only be a voice for those who do not have a voice, but to empower other parents to speak up for their child. I hope I can continue to be a positive example in our community and state to ensure individuals with disabilities have the rights they deserve and thrive.”

Rocchi said Aleksiejczyk met all of the criteria through her advocacy for her son, T.J., and other children and her involvement with the community, particularly JCBDD.

“She has actively engaged with educators, administrators and policymakers to ensure that her child’s individual learning needs are met, whether through tailored interventions, accommodations or specialized programs,” Rocchi noted. “Beyond advocating for her child, Mindy has worked tirelessly to improve the educational experience for all children by participating in school committees, supporting fellow parents and collaborating with advocacy organizations. She has used her voice to raise awareness about the importance of inclusive and equitable education while working with local communities to help secure necessary resources and support services. This dedication extends to ensuring that educational policies are not only effective but also fair, striving for long-lasting change that benefits all children, particularly those with special educational needs.”