Straight-A Teacher

Teacher Hannah Ehrli’s, ’08, commitment to exceptional student education started at home when she learned her newborn son required ESE services. As a result of her experience with her son, she realized her goal was to teach exceptional children in the public school system.

“I became a part of the puzzle, turning what could have been devastating into a door of entry to wonderful experiences,” she says.

In honor of her dedication to her field, Hannah, who has taught ESE at Dr. Phillips Elementary School in Orlando for the past 10 years, was named 2010 Florida Council of Exceptional Children Marjorie Crick Teacher of the Year.

While she was at UCF, Hannah was an autism spectrum disorder scholar and collaborated with special educators in Serbia. She presented her collaborative initiatives at the Nashville CEC Expo, subsequently going to Serbia to present lectures on inclusive practices. She has been invited to return to Serbia to develop its first inclusive summer camp program. (Inclusive in education means students with special needs are included in activities or education with students who do no have special needs.)