Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1133200
Member Spotlight 6 Summer 2019 | wyoea.edu Communication and Leadership Award Presented to WEA Member By Andrea Shipley The spirit of the Wyoming Education Association (WEA) manifests itself in a variety of ways through each of its members. The WEA Northeast Region Vice President exemplifi es that spirit and was recently recognized by the Toastmasters for her outstanding service to her community, state and industry through communication and leadership. Judith "Judy" Crow is a special education high needs paraprofessional at Campbell County School District in Gillette, Wyoming as well as an adjunct Speech and English Instructor at Gillette College, and a community volunteer. In celebration of her of her professionalism and work in the community, she was recently awarded a prestigious Communications and Leadership Award by District 26 Toastmaster serving Colorado, Wyoming, and western Nebraska. Working for decades as an educator, Judy has spent the last 11 years in the fi eld of special education. She works tirelessly to prepare special-needs Students to meet every day "real life circumstances" and to learn how to face and overcome challenges. Her former job at Campbell County High School included taking special education students to job sites and helping those students participate and succeed in classroom activities. Judy's colleagues commend her for her commitment to advocating for her students. Colleagues proudly state that Judy constantly uses her voice to advocate for others in diff erent situations and under diff erent circumstances than what the general public may face. "Judy is an educator who believes in volunteering and giving back to her community," says Judy Trohkimoinen, WEA Northeast Region UniServ Director. "She constantly uses her voice to advocate for others." Just one of the many roles she has played at WEA, during her time on WEA's Member Advocacy and Civil Rights Committee, she worked with the committee to revise education documents to remove potentially biased language. Additionally, Judy's leadership and speaking abilities have helped her to be elected to four diff erent offi ces on the executive board of the Campbell County Education Association. Currently, Judy serves as WEA's Northeast Region Vice President. She has also been elected several times to represent Wyoming at the National Education Association Representative Assembly. When WEA members, like Judy, lead with work that they are most passionate about, great things happen in our schools and communities. Judy is a great example of putting this kind of leadership to work! Congratulations on your well-deserved award, Judy! WEA member and Toastmaster Awardee Judy Crowe from Gillette is pictured here with Judy Trohkimoinen, WEA Central/Northeast UniServ Director. Judy Crow pictured center with Northeastern WEA leaders at the 2019 WEA Delegate Assembly.