Gretchen Wolfe Highlight

The Cuvilly Program at Chaminade Julienne High School was created to help students with learning disabilities. The teachers in this program are dedicated to helping their students everyday and adding a special touch to CJ. We asked the teachers of this program a few questions about their job and what it is like to work in their field. Here is our second teacher highlight!

1. Can you talk a little bit about your job and what your primary roles and responsibilities are in that position?

I have a licensure in Intervention Specialist Mild to Moderate K-12. That means that I can teach students with mild to moderate disabilities from grades Kindergarten through 12th grade. My primary roles and responsibilities as an Intervention Specialist are to assist children with special needs, giving them a special education and social adjustment needs in classrooms and other settings. I help design, execute and assess individualized education programs. My key role is to assist students who are experiencing difficulties in the classroom and provide expertise and intentional support to students who demonstrate behavioral, social and educational challenges.

2. Why did you choose to pursue this occupation?

I chose this career because I have a younger cousin who has Autism. I grew up babysitting him and I was always intrigued by the way his way of thinking worked. I then volunteered in high school at a special needs daycare and fell in love with the occupation. I have also always been told since I was little that I had “the patience of a saint”, and this job does require a lot of patience and understanding.

3. What are the most fulfilling or rewarding aspects of your job?

Some of the most fulfilling or rewarding aspects of my job are when you really get through to a student who maybe has behavioral issues or specific learning disabilities. Another rewarding aspect of my job is when a student who has been struggling with a specific subject or learning topic and they finally get it and understand it, to see their smile and confidence rise is just so amazing.

4. What are some of the greatest challenges you face in your position?

Some of the greatest challenges I sometimes face is when a student or students are having a particularly hard time or bad day, especially a student with behavioral problems, it is sometimes very emotionally, mentally, and physically draining at the end of the day. There are times in my career where I have had to properly physically restrain a nonverbal 8-year-old student because he had a violent outburst towards me or other students around him. That takes a toll on everyone around, and it can be sad because he might not be able to control those emotions and outbursts because he can’t verbally express what he is feeling.

5. Is there anything you want others to know about your work and your students?

I just want others to know that students with disabilities are first and foremost, students. They are children and want to be treated like every other child and to be able to do things as every other child does. I want people to know that they can do anything that a “normal” child can do, they just might have a different path to get there.

6. Are there any misconceptions you would like to see corrected?

Students or people with disabilities are sometimes often thought of as “stupid” or “slow”. That is not true at all. Some of the smartest people I know and some very smart famous people have a learning disability or are on the Autism Spectrum. People with disabilities can do anything anyone else can, they just might have a slightly different way of doing it.

This is a quote I have given to my students since I started teaching 10 years ago.

“We are all on the same boat. But we must row with the oars God has given us”

I always explain the quote as, you were gifted with your own set of talents and abilities different from everyone else to do the same as everyone else, yes it might be harder or take you longer but you can and will be able to do it all with hard work and dedication.

We are so appreciative to Ms. Wolfe for agreeing to provide insight and assistance for our project. Thank you!