Kirkwood Veteran Professor Saluted for “Positive Impact” to College and Community
A long-time professor at Kirkwood Community College recently received praise and honors from local and state organizations. Susan Simon was recognized with the Arc of East Central Iowa at their annual awards banquet, April 26 at Mercy Medical Center.
Simon received the Arc’s Meritorious Service Award for her years of education and advocacy in preparing students in Kirkwood’s Disabilities Service Careers program. Simon began her education career as a paraeducator in the College Community School District, then as a Prairie special education teacher. She came to Kirkwood in 1986 as coordinator of the college’s Disabilities Services Careers program.
In remarks accompanying the award, the Arc recognized Simon’s many years of advocacy for paraeducators in area schools. “At Kirkwood, Susan has educated literally hundreds of professionals in this field. They in turn have applied her training to work more effectively and respectfully with their students, clients and parents in area schools and agencies.”
Nomination comments also made note of Simon’s years of advocacy for state certification for paraeducators in Iowa, an effort that became reality in the year 2000. This made Iowa only the second state in the U.S. with true paraeducator certification.
Susan Simon will retire from Kirkwood at the end of June, capping 24 years of college service.