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Mariel Krakowiak
My goal as a visual arts teacher is to give each student a well-rounded art experience that includes art history, creative thinking, aesthetics, and real-world connections in a hands-on art activity.I am alumni of Olmsted Falls High School, class of 1998. I received my B.S. in Art Education from Bowling Green State University in 2002. I earned my M. Ed. in Educational Administration from Cleveland State University in 2005.
I have been teaching for OFCS since the fall of 2002. Along with teaching visual ... read morearts in the classroom, I have also been involved with extra curricular activities. I coached volleyball and fastpitch softball from 2002-2006, I was the HS Art Club adviser from 2009-2013, and I am also the founder, and Executive Director of OFCS Helping Hands, a disability awareness group which started in 2012.
I am married to my best friend, Heath who is the transportation supervisor for OFCS. We have two wonderfully unique children, Colbie and Lleyton. Both of our children have special needs. Their hard work and perseverance inspired me to help others and to enjoy the little things in life. After years of teaching and observing the relationship between typical peers and special needs students I wanted to be sure that when my children grew up that they had true friends. While both groups were tolerant and accepting of each other, for the most part, I wondered what kinds of relationships could be created if they were more educated about each other’s differences. I wanted all people to learn attitudes of acceptance, dignity, and respect towards others no matter their differences. It was from this inspiration that Helping Hands Friends Club was created.
Helping Hands is a disability awareness program that helps people of all ages learn attitudes of acceptance, dignity and respect toward all people, especially those with disabilities. The Helping Hands program will help you and your child discover new friends, develop new ideas and learn more about people with disabilities through organized events and interactions with their peers. The “Helping Hands” are typical and highly functioning special needs OFCS students in grades K-12. The “Helping Hands” invite special needs students in any grade at OFCS to participate at the events and celebrations. Check out our website for updates and events: https://sites.google.com/a/ofcs.net/helping-hands/
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