Moses Lake teacher up for state award

Wins regional recognition

MOSES LAKE - After winning a regional Teacher of the Year award, Moses Lake special education teacher Ted Mack is a candidate for the state title.

Mack, a teacher at Discover Elementary School, is one of nine contenders for the state Teacher of the Year award. The winner is going to be announced Wednesday in Seattle.

"I think it's very humbling, but I understand the responsibility to represent my craft," Mack said.

He said he believes he may be the first teacher "of the severe profound" to win the regional award. District Superintendent Steve Chestnut nominated him.

"He's a fantastic teacher and has been for many years and does a great job with our special education students," Chestnut said.

Mack was recognized last year at the school district's excellence awards as one of the district's top teachers, Chestnut said.

Mack taught at Longview Elementary School for two years, until the program moved to Discover Elementary School. He is entering his ninth year at Discover. Most of his five educational assistants have also been with the program the past 11 years, Mack said.

"Every day I love it," he said. "I can't imagine doing anything else."

Mack said his experience in school influenced his decision to pursue a career in special education.

He said he grew up in Ephrata in a dysfunctional household, with an abusive and alcoholic mother.

He said he had a strong influence from his grandparents.

"School was kind of my sanctuary," he said.

Mack said he stuttered in school. A speech therapist helped him overcome the speech impediment.

He said he wondered why someone who didn't even know him would care enough to teach him how to talk.

At first, though, Mack did not pursue a career in special education. Instead, he worked for Lamb Weston in Quincy for 20 years.

When he turned 30, he decided to return to school.

While earning his degree, Mack worked on the family farm and a full-time job.

He earned his associate of arts degree from Big Bend Community College, followed by a bachelor's degree in special education and a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Central Washington University.

He said he doesn't regret his decision to pursue higher education at an older age.

"I think I matured a lot," Mack said.

He said when he went to school, he knew what he wanted to do.

At first, he thought he wanted to teach first grade with special needs students included in the classroom.

But after he graduated, he taught special-needs preschool children for a year in Quincy.

He was next offered a job in special education at Longview Elementary School.

"I thought I would try it for a year and then move on," Mack said.

Eleven years later, Mack is working in his same position, now with a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Eastern Washington University.

The best part of the job is working with the children, he said.

"(Having) the kid that someone says 'they'll never talk, they'll never walk' … seems to fire something up in me," Mack said.

The most challenging part of his job is working as part of a team and organizing stakeholders, he said.

He said the focus can be taken away from students.

"The students are our clients," Mack said.

Mack draws from a curriculum including Growing with Mathematics, Read Well and Handwriting without Tears.

"We modify it to each student's needs, so they can demonstrate excellence and mastery at their level," she said.

Students started a new curriculum called Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling. The curriculum teaches sounds before letters, he said.

"The kids get that. They understand," Mack said.

Students face a variety of challenges, from emotional to visual to auditory, he said.

The primary concern of the educators is to provide students with a form to communicate, he said.

He offered the example of a child who slaps someone to get their attention. To someone who was never taught socially acceptable communication, the slapping seems appropriate, he said.

It gets the attention of the recipient, lets them know something is wrong, and places the focus on the child, Mack said.

He said he sees a lot of progress made in the students. One child who used to spend a lot of time in time out, where he swore profanities, is now better behaved, he said.

"Kids who were hitting and slapping are now able to play with other kids at recess," Mack said.

Mack said he keeps thinking his award for North Central Educational Service District Teacher of the Year is a mistake and someone is going to tell him so.

He said he can think of other teachers in the district who deserved the award.

Mack is attending a news conference Wednesday at 10 a.m., at the Museum of Flight Skyline Room, located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S. in Seattle. The winner of the state award is being announced and regional winners are being recognized at the event, according to the state superintendent's office. The state winner competes for the national award, according to the state.

Other regional winners are Dave Gamon of Mead School District, Susan Johnson of Cle Elum-Roslyn School District, Katie Hebner of Vancouver School District, Heather Byington of Shelton School District, David Young of Central Kitsap School District, Kimmie Read of Puyallup School District, Toni Cuello of Pasco School District and LaLani Mitts of Mount Baker School District.