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Bridges Learning Center teacher is WJBD-WSIQ Teacher of the Week

By News Feb 8, 2021 | 8:47 AM

A teacher at the Kaskaskia Special Education District’s Bridges Learning Center in Wamac is this week’s WJBD-WSIQ Teacher of the Week.

Cory Wisniewski says he has spent his entire adult life outside of his military service in Afghanistan working with those with disabilities and follows in the footsteps of his mother who was also a special education teacher.

Wisniewski has been a teacher in the Kaskaskia Special Education District for 14 years, the last nine at Bridges where he teaches students from 15 to 21 with autism and more severe disabilities.

“We focus on a lot of life skills and my goal in the classroom is to prepare kids to be able to work, live and recreate as independently as possible and that is what we strive for in my classroom.”

And Wisniewski says sometimes that education extends into the community.

“Last year we started doing a lot of community-based instruction.  Going to restaurants and working on ordering meals.  We went to a store and they made purchases independently.  We took public transportation and they paid the bus driver and we are communicating in the community.  I think that is key, learning things in the classroom but then applying them in the community.”

And unlike most teachers, Wisniewski says he doesn’t get new students every year.

“Some of my kids I have for a long period of time and you build strong relationships with them and their family.  Sometimes you get to keep in touch with them after they moved on and see what they are accomplishing and it feels really good.  Sometimes it’s a long time in the making but it’s amazing when it works out.”

Wisniewski right now has six to eight students. He says with the help of families, they were able to continue the learning process during remote learning due to COVID-19.

The Principal at Bridges Learning Center Matt Lybarger says Wisniewski does more than his job of providing life and vocational skills.

“I think what encapsulates a lot of what he does that really sticks with me is the care and respect he has for the students.  It’s not just meeting their needs but he has so much care and respect for their needs both in the classroom and when they leave and go out in the world.”

If you would like to nominate a teacher of the week, you can do so by following the link on the home page of WJBDradio.com.

Pictured:  Bridges Learning Center Principal Matt Lybarger (left) and Teacher of the Week Cory Wisniewski.  Photo by Bruce Kropp.