Autism Teacher – Special Education 

Teaching wasn’t my original career choice. It chose me and I am thankful it did. My first career in Advertising taught me that anything is possible through hard work (approach problems with solutions, follow-through, be strategic); invaluable lessons I still apply today. Although I learned a lot, it wasn’t personally fulfilling. This epiphany influenced me to make a change in my life. Luckily for me, it was the perfect time to switch careers. There was a teacher shortage and within the year I was in the classroom.

I was nervous; I remember struggling when I was in school and how exhausting it was to earn the same grades as my friends who put in less effort. Thankfully, I had a phenomenal Mentor and ICS teacher my first year. With their guidance, and my personal experiences with disabilities, I was able to take an empathetic approach to teaching, and it worked. I tell all my students on the first day of school that I have a disability to prove to them that all things are possible. A disability is an ability displaced; everyone learns differently, but everyone learns. I teach every student thoughtfully, strategically, and individually, successfully combining my past and my present to help better their present and future. The struggle will always be real, but it shouldn’t lessen one’s self-concept. It is my honor to give my students the tools they need to navigate through school and through life. I am thankful the education profession chose me.

An outstanding teacher is someone who understands that teaching is hard work and learning is also hard work. They know that not everyone learns the same way. An outstanding teacher is flexible and believes that “a day spent without learning, is a day wasted” (Anonymous). They smile when the students walk into the room and genuinely care about their well-being.

My favorite part about being an Autism Teacher is enabling my students to transition into the ‘real-world’ by helping them find their strengths (organizing, drawing), accept social norms (who is/isn’t approachable, conversation skills), become marketable (resumes, Microsoft software), develop life skills (cooking, laundry),  and develop a desire to explore and learn (beyond personal technology devices). Since I’ve joined the program, I have taken my students to malls, grocery stores, the library, the theater, the park, learning centers and bowling, and even more pending. Despite their classwork before, during and after every trip, they are always eager to go and even offer suggestions for new places to explore. It has been rewarding to see their self-concept increase by engaging with the ‘real-world’ alongside their peers.

I love when my students say, “Thank You, Ms. Schiffl”. When my first student said that to me in 2006, I was hooked. All these years later, the happiness I get hearing those words hasn’t changed. I am humbled to be a Governor’s Educator of the Year Award Recipient. Thank you for honoring me as an Outstanding Teacher.

School Nurse

There are a few factors and life experiences that helped influence me on choosing nursing as a profession. One of the earliest experiences I had was with my maternal grandmother who I affectionately called Mom Mom. She told me stories when she was a young woman that nursing was not a respectable profession at the time and that her mother would not let her become a nurse at 18. My grandmother was born in 1900; she was a turn of the century baby. I can remember my grandmother telling me stories of how her mother showed her how to care for the sick, injured and the dying. She talked about nursing techniques such as how to make up a hospital bed with the hospital corners and she showed me how. She discussed and showed me how to reduce the spread of germs with dressing changes. Wipe in one direction inside to out and throw away the soiled gauze. Place on new clean bandages never touching the clean area that goes on the wound. I even remember her discussing dipping clean sheets in water and a little bleach solution. Then she would hang the sheet in the doorway to reduce the spread of germs. Her stories and medical techniques always interested me.

Then time went by, and I was in high school. My older sister registered for nursing school. Nursing had changed over the years, and it was and still is a very respectable profession of my time. I have always had an interest in nursing techniques and nursing theories. Now my interest was renewed, and I was excited to watch and learn what my older sister was doing and learning in nursing school. I was able to see the different areas of nursing study and theories as my sister studied and did her nursing assignments. I learned more about what is needed to get a degree in nursing from my sister. Another influencer for me in nursing was that I enjoyed helping others. I enjoy running my own school nurse's office and working with the school staff. As the school nurse, I feel I am a part of the school team and that I make a difference every day in the lives of my students and staff.

School nurses have numerous responsibilities to keep students and staff healthy. They must maintain a well-equipped nurse's office, follow Elizabeth Board of Education's (EBOE) medical policies, and adhere to the EBOE Medical Directors' standing orders. Nurses collaborate with student doctors, maintain State of New Jersey health records, and include necessary medical information like vaccines and yearly tests (vision, hearing, blood pressure, height, and weight). They treat sickness and injuries, complete various reports, and evaluate students suspected of drug or alcohol use. Nurses also liaise with parents through phone calls, meetings, and emails, and attend all relevant meetings. The role is demanding but crucial in ensuring the well-being of the school community.

I believe my extensive knowledge and diverse experience directly impact students' success and make me an exceptional nurse. I am licensed by the State of New Jersey, hold a School Nurse Certification, a bachelor's degree in nursing, and a master's degree in education. With 38 years of nursing experience, including 27 years with the Elizabeth Board of Education (EBOE) and 11 years in hospitals, my background spans multiple areas such as medical/surgical units, respiratory units, detox units, emergency rooms, and psych units. My wealth of experience plays a crucial role in the school setting as the sole medical professional, ensuring the well-being of the learning community.