News Releases
May Employee of the Month: Cherie Laufenberg, Assistive Technology Specialist
As assistive technology specialist for District 15, Cherie Laufenberg receives referrals from all 19 of the district’s schools seeking her expertise in providing technology solutions to disabled children. Her job, as she puts it, is “to make their lives easier and the lives of their parents and teachers, too.” She’s on the move every day, joking that her car is her office.
Cherie’s nominator described her work this way: “Cherie’s ideas are innovative and creative and vary from high- to low-technology. Her suggestions for writing can range from accessing a keyboard using eye-gaze technology or Morse code to switching to simple pencil grips or textured paper. She believes every child needs a voice and diligently works to provide nonspeaking students with tools that enable them to communicate.”
Cherie earned a B.A. in elementary/special education from the University of Northern Iowa, and an M.A. in human resources and supervision from George Washington University. She and her husband Bob moved to Wheaton almost five years ago as he was winding up a Navy career that took them to many different locations. Cherie worked in several different school districts, teaching multi-handicapped and physically impaired students before moving into the field of assistive technology. Her interest was piqued while teaching in a southern school district where there were few classroom computers. “I brought my own computer in,” she recalls. “I got hooked on what the computer could do for the kids—that’s what got me started.”
Cherie came to District 15 three years ago after working as a technology consultant and teacher of physically disabled students for the S.A.S.E.D. special education cooperative in Naperville for two years.
“Anyone who knows or works with Cherie Laufenberg realizes just how knowledgeable she is in the field of assistive technology,” her nominator said. “While this is commendable, it is her professional yet personable approach that makes her a rare commodity. She draws upon her vast experiences when planning with a team to meet student needs. Cherie not only provides the most recent technology, but also is intent on seeing that the staff is well trained. She is inexhaustible!”
Cherie and Bob are the parents of two sons, Matt, who attends the College of DuPage, and Josh, a student at Wheaton North High School. She admits to doing a lot of work at home, spending hours on-line seeking information to stay current in her field and participating in on-line discussion groups of other assistive technology professionals. She also enjoys swimming and sewing.
|
