This spotlight is of Megan Maddock, a Special Education Teacher at Tappan Middle School. Megan is applying for The 2024 Kerry Magro Special Education Teacher, Therapist, and Aide Grant via the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference started by me, Kerry Magro. I was nonverbal till 2.5 and diagnosed with autism at 4, and you can read more about my organization here.
In the heart of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Megan Maddock, a dedicated special education teacher, has spent the last eight years shaping the lives of students with emotional impairments. As an EI Self-Contained Special Education teacher at Tappan Middle School, Megan has honed her ability to support students with a variety of unique challenges, including ADHD, learning disabilities, and emotional impairments.
Her philosophy is simple yet profound: “Teach the way our students learn.” To Megan, this means going beyond conventional approaches to education and deeply understanding the individual needs of each student. “I believe building strong relationships is a crucial element in helping students with emotional impairments access general education instruction and foster connections with their peers,” she says. This approach is especially important when working with students who often feel disconnected from the traditional school environment due to their emotional and behavioral struggles. Megan works tirelessly to create a classroom where students can thrive emotionally and academically, acknowledging that every student is unique, and each needs a tailored approach.
Her commitment to adapting content to her students’ learning styles ensures they feel both supported and challenged. By building rapport and gaining insight into her students’ personal experiences, Megan creates individualized plans that foster both social-emotional growth and academic success. In her classroom, students are not just recipients of knowledge—they are empowered to engage in learning on their own terms, building the skills necessary to navigate both academic and personal challenges.
This unique blend of empathy and strategy is evident in her classroom, where students are encouraged to practice coping strategies and learn skills that promote emotional regulation. “My classroom is structured as a safe space where students can retreat when they are feeling overwhelmed,” she explains. “We prioritize practicing various coping strategies during calmer moments so that students can effectively utilize them when they need them most.”
For Megan, a key part of her role is addressing the stigma that many students with emotional impairments face. In her work, she sees firsthand how overrepresentation of young boys of color diagnosed with emotional impairments can sometimes overshadow the academic needs that lie beneath the surface of their behaviors. Her goal is always to see past those labels and provide a pathway to both academic and emotional growth.
One of Megan’s greatest challenges is ensuring that her students feel safe in the classroom, particularly when they experience heightened stress. The grant she is applying for, the Kerry Magro Special Education Teacher, Therapist, and Aide Grant, would help her equip her classroom with the resources needed to support her students’ emotional regulation. The funding would allow her to purchase items such as tumbling mats, sensory tools, and compression vests, all of which would help her students express themselves safely and build coping strategies to better handle their emotions.
Megan’s work is not without its rewards. One success story stands out this year, demonstrating the incredible impact of her individualized approach. A new student joined her class mid-year, a young boy who had faced numerous challenges in previous schools. He had a history of aggressive behaviors and frequent school transfers, making it difficult for him to feel a sense of belonging or success in the classroom.
In the beginning, the student showed promise, enjoying social interactions with his peers and engaging in class activities. However, as time passed, his aggressive behaviors resurfaced, leading to increased absences and suspensions. The situation was challenging, but Megan and her team knew they had to dig deeper. After a thorough review of his academic history and cognitive abilities, they discovered that the work he was being asked to complete in general education was far beyond his current capabilities.
With this new insight, Megan and the team shifted their approach, focusing more on academic support tailored to his needs. They allocated additional time for him to work closely with Megan, engaging in lessons that were more appropriate for his cognitive level. The results were immediate: his disruptive behaviors began to decrease, and his overall mood and self-regulation improved. This success story highlights Megan’s unwavering belief in teaching students the way they learn, adjusting the pace and content of their education to fit their unique needs.
Megan’s dedication to understanding and supporting her students is a testament to the power of empathy in education. Through individualized plans, a safe classroom environment, and a focus on social-emotional learning, Megan ensures that every student has the opportunity to thrive. The Kerry Magro Special Education Teacher, Therapist, and Aide Grant would provide vital resources to continue this important work, empowering Megan to further support her students’ emotional and academic journeys.
In the end, Megan’s approach is about more than just teaching. It’s about creating a community where students feel valued, understood, and empowered to succeed—both inside and outside the classroom.
Have Dr. Kerry Magro give a student assembly, staff development for your educators or a parent talk for your parents by contacting him here for more details.
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My name is Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also on the autism spectrum. I started the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help students with autism receive scholarship aid to pursue post-secondary education. Help support me so I can continue to help students with autism go to college by making a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit here.
