Do you have any mentors in your professional life?
Several
What was your first job?
Summer camp counselor
Who inspires you?
My family
What kind of music do you like?
Country
What’s the best concert you’ve been to?
Garth Brooks
Do you like traveling?
Yes
Do you like reading?
If so, what genre of books do you like? LOVE – mystery, true crime
What’s the most exciting part of your job?
Building relationships with people I wouldn’t have the opportunity to know if it wasn’t for this job
What is your favorite animal?
Giraffe or elephant
What’s your favorite movie?
Top Gun and Lion King
Do you have any pets?
Dog – Freddy, Two Cats – Ike and Chichi
Are you a sports fan? Who are your favorite teams?
Soccer all day long – Manchester United, NY Red Bulls, USWNT
What’s something you find challenging about your work?
Not being able to fix every situation
What motivates you at work?
Individuals with PWS
What’s your favorite memory?
Some of the last moments with my dad when he was sharing his feelings about what was happening
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
My brother telling me that I did an incredible job caring for my father throughout his illness and passing.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Mommy
What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekends?
Go to camp with my mom
What’s your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving
Can you speak more than one language?
No
What was your favorite subject in school?
English
If you could play an instrument, what would it be?
I can play clarinet and saxophone. Would love to learn the drums.
Which historical figure would you most like to meet?
Eleanor Roosevelt
What’s your favorite season?
Summer
What three items would you take with you to a deserted island?
Book, lighter, and knife (gotta eat some how)
Perry A. Zirkel has written more than 1,500 publications on various aspects of school law, with an emphasis on legal issues in special education. He writes a regular column for NAESP’s Principal magazine and NASP’s Communiqué newsletter, and he did so previously for Phi Delta Kappan and Teaching Exceptional Children.
Jennifer Bolander has been serving as a Special Education Specialist for PWSA (USA) since October of 2015. She is a graduate of John Carroll University and lives in Ohio with her husband Brad and daughters Kate (17), and Sophia (13) who was born with PWS.
Dr. Amy McTighe is the PWS Program Manager and Inpatient Teacher at the Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome at the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Duquesne University receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education with a focus on elementary education, special education, and language arts.
Evan has worked with the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) since 2007 primarily as a Crisis Intervention and Family Support Counselor. Evans works with parents and schools to foster strong collaborative relationships and appropriate educational environments for students with PWS.
Staci Zimmerman works for Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Colorado as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) consultant. Staci collaborates with the PWS multi-disciplinary clinic at the Children’s Hospital in Denver supporting families and school districts around the United States with their child’s Individual Educational Plan.
Founded in 2001, SDLC is a non-profit legal services organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of people with disabilities throughout the South. It partners with the Southern Poverty Law Center, Protection and Advocacy (P&A) programs, Legal Services Corporations (LSC) and disability organizations on major, systemic disability rights issues involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the federal Medicaid Act. Recently in November 2014, Jim retired.