Teacher of deaf and hard of hearing honored by Ventura Commerce and Education Foundation
look arial,sans-serif;”>VCEF Names Heather Hewer as January’s Teacher of the Month: Teacher of deaf and hard-of-hearing Cabrillo Middle School students receives recognition
On Jan. 6, 2016, the Ventura Commerce and Education Foundation (VCEF) designated Heather Hewer, instructor for deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) students at Cabrillo Middle School in Ventura, California, as January’s Teacher of the Month. VCEF board member, Pattie Braga, joined elected representatives and members of the business community to present Hewer with a plaque commemorating the award.
Hewer is responsible for providing language arts, social studies, math and science instruction for DHH students in grades six through eight at Cabrillo Middle School. She also spearheads a variety of other activities and programs for her students, including the school’s Laurent Clerc Club — an on-campus organization that aims to bring DHH students and other students closer together through cultural events and learning experiences — and an annual trip to the California School for the Deaf, Riverside.
“Heather does everything she can to encourage her students to believe in themselves and to empower them to achieve their goals,” said Cabrillo Middle School’s principal, Lorelle Dawes. “She works incredibly hard and is constantly planning experiences to make learning more meaningful for her students, from preparing international foods to supplement her geography lessons to coordinating science-related field trips.”
Hewer’s involvement extends beyond the classroom to the community, where she recently led DHH Storytelling — a project in which she worked alongside a Ventura College professor to teach her students how to tell creative stories in sign language. After weeks of studying creative writing and practicing, Hewer’s students presented their stories to DHH students at Loma Vista Elementary School in Ventura.
Attendees at the presentation honoring Hewer included several members of Hewer’s family as well as: Pattie Braga, Ventura County Credit Union; Michael Babb, Ventura Unified School District superintendent; Cheryl Heitmann, City of Ventura councilmember; Brad Hudson, Office of Congresswoman Julia Brownley; Angelica Cisneros, Office of Assemblymember Das Williams; Greg Bird, Gold Coast Broadcasting; Randy Jewell, Ventura Downtown Lions Club; Tori Fish, The River Community Church; Kerry Swift, massage therapist; Ben Unseth, Project Understanding; Stephanie Lundquist, Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach; Steve Brown; Gold Coast Transit.
Teacher of the Month nominees must be credentialed teachers and display certain qualities, such as outstanding commitment to students, service to school or district committees, involvement in projects on their own time and/or participation in youth-focused activities in the community. All principals and parent-teacher organizations from schools within the Ventura Unified School District are eligible to submit nominations. For more information about the Teacher of the Month program, please contact Pattie Braga, chair of the Teacher Appreciation Committee with the VCEF, at [email protected] or 805-477-4052.
ABOUT THE VENTURA COMMERCE AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The Ventura Commerce and Education Foundation (VCEF), under the auspices of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, works to provide a business link to the economic, educational, cultural and environmental interests of the Ventura regional community. More information about the VCEF can be found at venturachamber.com/ventura-commerce-education-foundation.
*Featured Image: Gina Hewer – Daughter, Susan Hewer – Sister-In-Law, Heather Hewer – Honoree, Scott Hewer – Brother
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