Chester County Intermediate Unit’s Heather Kilgore nominated for 2024 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year

CALN — It takes a very special teacher to do what Heather Kilgore does.

Kilgore, a special education teacher at the Child and Career Development Center, with the Chester County Intermediate Unit, has been recognized on the state level for the job she does.

Kilgore is one of 12 nominees chosen by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the 2024 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.

The Robeson Township, Berks County, resident gives multiple disability support, while teaching all non-verbal kindergartners through second-graders. This is achieved by using communication devices. Almost all her students are non-ambulatory and confined to wheelchairs.

"We are teaching how to communicate what they want and need," Kilgore said. "Some have had success for the first time.

"I build relationships with those who can't verbally speak. We figure out how to communicate."

An important part of the learning experience involves families.

Messages are recorded during the school day, with communications devices, while students speak from their own individual voices. Everything that happened during the school day is sent home to parents, siblings and grandparents.

Things that might have been missed by the students become dinner conversations.

"The family can talk to them about their day and have that conversation — otherwise they would have no idea," Kilgore said.

Parents are then asked to do some "homework" and record a message concerning what they did at home for the child to share with their peers.

Singing is a huge part of the school day. The kids light up when Kilgore sings and there is a song for most everything, including the morning meeting.

The teacher, a reader of mysteries and a fan of the Eagles, Phillies and basketball, doesn't do it on her own.

"You can't do this alone," she said. "It takes a village to raise a child.

"It takes a village to be a teacher."

Everybody is involved. Families, nurses, therapists and administrators all help with educating.

"The families have to put so much trust into the teachers who are taking care of the child, it's really hard for the first time when the child can't say what's going on," Kilgore said.

Parents and teachers work closely together.

At the beginning, parents tell Kilgore what the child likes.

"They know their child the best and know I really care," she said.

The 19-year veteran teacher at the school for students aged 5 through 21 said that the students are exposed to everything their peers the same age are exposed to. Young students learn the alphabet, writing, math and numbers, patterns, sentence structure, and setting and plot.

The Child and Career Development Center teaches 380 students from 36 school districts.

The mother of three is proud of the recognition the school received from the state level due to her nomination.

"Teaching is challenging," she said. "There are so many ups and downs and bumps.

"Our administration trusts us to make the best decisions for our classroom with the best interest of the kids in our hearts.

"We do what we need to do to make the students successful. There are challenging times and also time to celebrate."

Kilgore said that her students have taught her so much in their young lives, including, perseverance, facing challenges, getting right back up, patience and so much love.

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