Special Education Pre K Teacher Shapes Futures at English Estates Elementary

Mary Stratton, who has worked for the Seminole County School District for 27 years and at English Estates Elementary for six years, has made early childhood special education a career shaped by personal experience. As a young student she struggled with reading and writing and credited a fourth grade teacher with changing her path. "I had difficulty with reading and writing in school and she just took the time to work with me as well, as I received services like an ESE student.” That history guides her approach in a classroom that serves children ages three to five.

Stratton teaches ESE pre kindergarten, and she described her role as often being the first formal teacher families encounter. "When they come to me, I am usually their first teacher. I want to make it such a good experience for my students and families that this is what they expect." Her work focuses on routines, clear expectations and preparing each child to enter kindergarten with a foundation for learning.

Every student in her class follows an individual education plan. "They all have an individual education plan which is an IEP with academic goals, social goals, and behavior goals and independent functioning goals." Stratton sets high expectations while acknowledging the complex needs many families face in her school community. "This is a difficult area. We have challenging needs and challenging behaviors."

The local impact goes beyond classroom instruction. Early individualized supports can improve long term educational and health outcomes, reduce the need for intensive services later, and promote family stability. Stratton emphasized partnership with families as essential, and she cited the children themselves as her motivation. "The students. This is my happy place in my classroom."

For Seminole County residents, Stratton's work is a reminder that investment in early special education services addresses educational equity and public health by helping children gain skills that affect lifelong learning, behavior and social functioning. As district leaders and community partners plan services for the coming year, sustaining trained staff and family centered supports will be critical to ensuring that more children in neighborhoods like Fern Park receive the early help that can change their lives.