This year, the Concord-Carlisle School District welcomed Vanessa Rosalan, a teacher who works with students with visual impairments. She helps Concord Public Schools students access the accommodations and modifications they need, supporting their independence. Ms. Rosalan works both one-on-one with students, and also teaches classes for both students and staff.

When asked what she loves most about her job, Ms. Rosalan’s face lit up. “Everything!” she said. She feels that she can do her job well here and loves that the students and staff she works with can learn from each other. When she first took up this position, she was most excited to get to know her students. Now, she helps empower them, and loves to watch their independence grow.

Before this position, Ms. Rosalan worked as a school counselor. She found meaning connecting with students, however she felt she was spread too thin and had to play many roles. Now, she can focus more on her one job, allowing her to spend more time with her students and build more meaningful connections. Switching roles was still a big adjustment, and in her new position she has to navigate being a traveling teacher. This means she works with students across the CC school district, in addition to a few students out of district as well. So far, she says, she’s had the time in her schedule to accommodate everyone, also playing an active role in community events.

This past October, Ms. Rosalan organized a White Cane Awareness Assembly for Willard Students, where she invited speakers to teach kids how to engage with people who have visual impairments. Students learned about the importance of vision, and ways to support people who are blind or visually impaired. They were also shown the different types of equipment used as vision aids and how to engage with guide dogs. Ms. Rosalan has also worked with the Concord Lions Club to launch a program to collect old eyeglasses to donate to countries where people may not be able to afford them. 

In the short term, Ms. Rosalan wants the Concord Public Schools to have programs that “empower staff in terms of providing support and accommodations for students with visual impairments.” Eventually, she hopes to set up vision services that other school districts can take inspiration from to help empower their students.