Over the past couple months, it’s been so much fun to spotlight and recognize the amazing staff who work in our Center Programs across the network. This week, we’re closing out this series with the awesome staff who work at the Falcon’s Nest of Byers! Get to know Alex Bruce, Mark Hyams, Jason Tidwell, Nate Avis, Evan Constan, and Debbie Jordan.
Alex Bruce, Center Program Lead
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland
Favorite Part of the Job: Getting the students to buy into themselves; students enjoying learning; when students independently implement skills/techniques taught in small group in their other classes
Why Special Education is Important: It's important to me to help the students who potentially need the most support.
Favorite Quarantine Activity: Brewing beer
Favorite Quarantine Treat: Mr. Lucky's on 6th - Sandwiches
Currently Watching: Re-watching Breaking Bad
Fun Center Program Activities: Students created stories/comics on Pixton.com
Mark Hyams, CP Support Specialist
Hometown: Long Island, New York
Favorite Part of the Job: Being amazed by students
What Brought You to This Work: Inclusion was ignored for way too long. I was subbing Gen Ed in DSST, found my way to Byers CP… or it found me?
Currently Reading: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
Favorite Vacation Spot: Dublin
Favorite Quarantine Treat: Good Times Custard
Funniest Thing a Student Has Said: "Maybe you should retire"
Jason Tidwell, CP Support Specialist
Hometown: Moriarty, NM
Favorite Part of the Job: Seeing students being successful on their own
What brought you to this work? Special education has always been a passion for me. What brought me to Byers was being able to see a school that promotes full inclusion and works very hard with a group of kids that can easily be forgotten.
Favorite Quarantine Treat: Hot Cheetos and Lays Cheese
Currently Watching: The Mandalorian
Favorite Quarantine Activity: Fishing
Favorite Book: Inferno By Dan Brown
Nate Avis, CP Support Specialist
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Favorite Part of the Job: Building relationships with the kids
What Brought You to this Work: It is a fulfilling job
Favorite Quarantine Activity: Painting
Currently Reading: A Walk In The Woods by Bill Bryson
Currently Watching: The Office
Evan Constan, CP Support Specialist
Hometown: Denver, CO
What Brought You to this Work: The job is important to me because it helps give a voice to those students who may be heard otherwise.
Favorite Quarantine Activity: Gaming
Favorite Book: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Favorite Vacation Spot: Greece
Debbie Jordan, Inclusion Specialist
Favorite Quarantine Treat: Marcona Almonds with Sea Salt
Favorite Quarantine Activity: Knitting and watching a few more shows than I ever have!
Currently Reading: I am currently reading The Garden of the Evening Mists. It is beautifully written
Favorite Vacation Spot: Israel
Self Care Practices of Choice: Daily exercise, even a 30 minute walk with podcast is a pleasure!
Fun Center Program Moments: Building powerpoint presentations and hearing the students read their information out loud has been a total blast.
