Making a Difference for Students with Disabilities

Ms. Nicole D'Vignon is off to a great start as a special education teacher at Corliss High School. She wanted to pursue this role because she struggled with learning disabilities growing up. At one point, she dropped out of high school, but she never gave up and has earned two master's degrees. Right now, she’s in school to earn her principal endorsement. 

Her late son also struggled with learning disabilities, and she explains that she was inspired to become a special education teacher because she wanted to become the teacher that he needed. She believes that it isn’t enough to promote inclusion for students with disabilities. Instead, you need to ensure that each of them receives a quality education and has a rightful presence in the classroom. 

We interviewed Ms. D’Vignon to learn more about her approach to supporting her students. Read more about it below.

Has your first year at Corliss been what you expected, or has it been more unexpected? 

The population of children that I serve has taught me more than I could have ever learned in school, which is why I think it has been unexpected. My students are extremely bright and have amazing personalities. When they are challenged and their needs are met, they can accomplish their goals. 

In fact, one of my students was actually able to transfer out of the cluster program. I never expected that to happen, but it shows what is possible with the support of our staff. I really love teaching this population of students. 

Do the qualities needed to be a successful special education teacher come naturally to you, or have you had to work on them? 

I think I have a natural ability for this work because of my own struggles. They have helped me have the patience, understanding, and overall mindset that you need to be successful. It feels like a gift that can’t be taught in school or read in books. 

How do you collaborate with your colleagues to help every student reach their full potential? 

Everybody has a different role and a different perspective. It’s really important for everyone to chime in and collaborate with each other to support the students. To foster a sense of rightful presence, students need to be included as much as possible within the school community. All of our staff members contribute to this, from purchasing items from the students’ coffee cart store, to helping out with Special Olympics, to acknowledging and highlighting their amazing moments. 

What’s your long-term vision for your students? 

I hope that they have transitioned into being productive, happy, and accomplished adults. They need to understand that there is a world out there for them, and even though they might be different, they can still live a great life as a part of a community. 

What is your message to your students for the rest of the school year? 

Keep growing, keep developing, keep dreaming, and keep working hard.