Allegan special education teacher Jeff Grabber (center) found out Monday he will receive in March the 2012 Council of Exceptional Children Teacher of the Year Award. District special education director Jodi Zenk shakes his hand above in his first-hour class, which includes (from left), Angel Sampson, Alexis Greenman, Amanda Sampson, Richard Fabijancic, Cody Sutherland, Danielle Bowes, Eric Evans, Nathan Raab and Patrick Hagerty. (Photo by Walt Kaechele)

Teacher of the Year honored

By: Walt Kaechele
Senior correspondent of The Allegan News

Although he doesn't have it quite yet, Allegan special education teacher Jeff Grabber is set to receive statewide honors for his teaching.

Nominated by one of his students, Grabber will receive the 2012 William C. Morse Teacher of the Year award from The Michigan Council for Exceptional Children. He will receive his official award and plaque at the council's March 2 convention in Grand Rapids.

When he found out, Grabber said, "I was astonished, flabbergasted, humbled. Heck, I didn't expect any of this. I was just doing my job."

The award recognizes a teacher "who currently provides direct services to students with exceptionalities and whose professional work exemplifies the best in special education teaching."

The special education director for Allegan Public Schools, Jodi Zenk, told him he'd receive the award.

Grabber said, "When I first heard her talk about the award, I thought it was a local award from an Allegan organization. I didn't realize quite the level of this award. All through the next two hours, I kept thinking and it slowly started to sink in-this was the real thing."

The Michigan Council for Exceptional Children missions, as expressed on their website, are to "improve, through excellence and advocacy, the education and quality of life for children and youth with exceptionalities and to enhance the engagement of their families."

In submitting Grabber's name for recognition, Zenk said, "I've been in Allegan for nine years, but even while I was in other districts, I heard about what Jeff had been doing.

"Jeff has always gone above and beyond what was expected of him. He constantly puts the students first and provides the opportunities and time for them to grow."

In the application for the honor, Zenk mentions, "when districts were faced with the difficulty of how to present grade-level content expectations to students with cognitive impairments in the least restrictive environment, Jeff, along with his special education director (Zenk) and high school principal (James Mallard) put together a proposal to present to the Allegan Public Schools Board of Education.

"The coursework that Jeff developed is in its second year of implementation and is being recognized by parents, staff, and neighboring districts as innovative and exemplary. The success of the program is, in large part, due to the methods that Jeff employs in presenting the material and how well he engages students in the learning process."

Engaging students is something Grabber does well and as a result is able to produce some amazing positive results. He is a huge proponent of Special Olympics and often coaches teams in basketball, softball, bowling and track.

One of Grabber's greatest successes comes from the way he works within the community to promote his kids. He makes sure they are employable through contacts within the community and with an array of his own personal commitments; his students have access to all community mental health programs; Grabber engages the local organizations to assure he has the correct information about what the latest and most available teaching tools are to enhance his students' skills.

His students understand the commitment he has made to them and returned the commitment by writing letters of recommendation to the committee in charge of selecting the teacher of the year.

Student Rachel Sponseller, in her letter to the committee, stated her reasons for why she liked Mr. Grabber.

She said, "You do Special Olympics on your free time even though you don't need to.

"You play basketball with us on free days. You are also very kind. You are patient even though us kids usually aggravate you. You are also very funny and cheerful even when you are having a bad day. I like your shiny bald head. And last, but not least, you also help me when I have bad days."

Grabber's commitment to his students has not gone unnoticed by others who work with him. Allegan High School social worker Jamie Antoine said in her letter of recommendation.

"He never hesitates to take a child to their doctor appointments, give them a ride home, or pick them up to go to the Special Olympics. The majority of these things are done out of his normal work day and he doesn't even blink an eye. He usually says, ‘Let's go.'

"A day doesn't go by that I, or a fellow co-worker, hasn't said, ‘Mr. Grabber, how does he do it?'

"The simple answer is, ‘He's Mr. Grabber. He just is.'

"He never brags or shares even an ounce of what he does for kids in our community. I wouldn't be surprised if most of his normal salary goes to kids he pays for doing odd jobs he created on his farm so he can help them make some money to give to their families to buy groceries and pay some bill.

"He is an amazing human being and is a gift to all the lives he has touched."

After he is presented the award in March, his name will automatically be filed with the The Michigan Council for Exceptional Children for the Clarissa Hug National Teacher of the Year Award.

For Grabber, the whole affair is both humbling and rewarding.

He said, "It is a rewarding feeling to know others are recognizing you for your efforts.

"But most of us don't do it for the recognition; we do it because it's something we love to do. The award is kind of a wonderful bonus though."

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