What makes Special Education SPECIAL?

Everyone has life experiences and interests that make them unique, but SPED Teacher Mary Beth Heiman stands out in our school. Not every teacher is capable of creating new ways of learning for each student, especially when it comes to children with special needs.

Mary Beth Heiman had an affinity for those with special needs from the start, her older sister had multiple disabilities. Heiman said, “ I often helped out with her while growing up, not because I had to but because I wanted to.”

In fact, because Mary Beth has been such an involved caring sister, when their mother passed she became her sister’s guardian. To this day, that love and kindness for her sister motivates her work with special needs students.

Heiman’s path to Aurora High School was quite diverse; Heiman has worked in 5 other schools at all grade levels. She started her teaching career in Stow, at Indian Trail for students in grades K-3. Then she decided to take a decade off to be a mother to her children. After that Heiman was substituting at Lake and Geauga county schools. “Mentor high school called me for a long-term sub position for their OH (Orthopedically Handicapped) class. I really enjoyed the high school students and filled in for two years. Next, I went to Painesville Township to teach another primary class of students with moderate-intensive needs. The following year, Mentor hired me back and opened a new unit for students in grades three-six with multiple disabilities. I really thought that I would finish my career in Mentor but then I took a class and met Mrs. Loudon from Harmon and she told me that Aurora was hiring a high school teacher and if I was interested, I should apply,” said Heiman. She has been working hard for 24 years to make our school’s SPED program the best it can be for the students to thrive during and after high school.

The SPED class is very unique, every student is like a puzzle. Heiman and her aids all work together to provide what each child needs to enjoy learning life skills, “I have a team of five fabulous health instructional aides that work with me and the students, they give 110% on a daily basis! I work with a wonderful team of professionals that include speech therapist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, vision specialist, mobility specialist and a deaf ed specialist,” said Heiman. The Greenmen Cafe is an example of their work bringing life skills to these kids in a fun, safe way. It is also another way, other than ABC Buddy club, for them to integrate with other students within the school

Every year the SPED class goes on a variety of field trips all over Ohio; from the Playhouse square to Cuyahoga, and parks, malls, and even to Niagara Falls! Mary Beth Heiman prepares her students for after high school life by exploring independent living schools, trips to jobs, and teaching basic life skills. Heiman is who makes the SPED class what it is today, an amazing learning experience to prepare students for life.