Amy Campbell Biography Elementary School #41

1 Amy Campbell Biography Elementary School #41. Amy Campbell grew up in the Memorial-Houston area and attended grade School in Spring Branch ISD. She received an associate's degree in Elementary education from Blinn College and graduated from Sam Houston State University with a bachelor's in Elementary and special education. She began her teaching career as a substitute special education resource teacher in Spring Branch ISD and in the fall of 1982, was hired as the adaptive behavior teacher at Katy High School . Throughout her career, Campbell invested in ways to make daily School activities more relevant to everyday life for her students.

2 She understood the need for them to be respected members of the community and to engage in activities that enrich their lives throughout their entire life. Her ability to combine innovative ways of teaching with a sense of security and patience were vital to her success with her students. Campbell 's biggest strength was the way she instilled a sense of confidence, self-esteem, and perseverance in students. She was extremely concerned with the outcomes for those with disabilities. That concern led her to collaborate with other colleagues to explore avenues for students to do work-related jobs in local businesses.

3 In 1987, she piloted the Life Skills program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and at the same time, began the Occupational Lab, a place where students completed jobs for area businesses. Her persistence in presenting the idea to local civic and service organizations showcased her passion for the success of her students. Her students were soon invited to extend their classroom learning into various workplace environments. Today, this program exists in every Katy ISD high School . Many of the students who participated in this program have been successfully employed after graduating from high School .

4 They are making a difference for everyone in the Katy community. While at Katy High School , she also helped start a swim program for students with special needs that later became known as the Adaptive Aquatics Program. In 1995, Campbell moved to Taylor High School to start the Life Skills and Work-Based Learning programs. While there, she and a fellow teacher founded the second Texas high School chapter of Best Buddies, a program dedicated to creating one-to-one friendships, securing successful employment, and developing leadership skills for both students with and without disabilities.

5 She remained a sponsor of the program until her retirement in 2015. Campbell 's dedication to children went beyond the classroom. She led Cane Island Camp at the City of Katy Park during the summer for adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities. She was an instrumental player in the establishment of The Arc of Katy, an organization supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She has also been a member of the organization since its original charter in 1990, and continues to serve as a member of the board of directors as well as volunteers at The Arc of Katy Day Program.