Alumnae Direct Special Education Services in Clovis
By Dr. Janet Roehl
They took parallel paths beginning at ENMU to their current positions in the Clovis school district. Carlyn Hancock (MEd 05, BUS 91) is the executive director of Student Support Services for Clovis Municipal Schools. Her colleague, Becky Johnson (MEd 04, BSE 96), is the director. After graduating from ENMU, Becky and Carlyn took positions in public education, working together several years teaching special education at Marshall Junior High School and then as special education liaisons. Carlyn and Becky recall with fond memories their experiences at ENMU and their favorite professors. They praised the faculty as mentors and sources of inspirations. “Eastern prepared us not only with book knowledge, but also how to put those lessons into practice,” Carlyn says. “Because of the preparation we had at ENMU, we have been able to meet the needs and challenges of a large district.” As the chief administrators of Student Support Services, they are responsible for the overall special education in the district, including supervising 90 staff, overseeing
the gifted program, supporting special education teachers in all the schools in the district, and overseeing diagnostic and testing services. They share a common philosophy that is rooted in their ENMU experience. “We treat the child, not the disability,” explains Becky. “The disability does not define the child,” adds Carlyn.
Becky Johnson
Carlyn Hancock
In their positions, they often work with current ENMU students in the alternative licensure program and recent graduates. “We still feel a connection with Eastern, and when we see ENMU students we know the preparation they have had. We have that trust in the faculty who prepared them,” Becky comments.
“I spend time helping students transition to postsecondary education and am comfortable recommending they consider Eastern,” Carlyn explains. “Eastern is a great university with small classes and caring faculty offering personalized instruction. The cost is reasonable and the environment welcoming. I never hesitate to recommend Eastern. Even my own children attended ENMU.”
The Problem with Giving Your Retirement to Family
What will you do with your
unspent Retirement savings? If you are like most people, you will designate family members as beneficiaries of your retirement accounts. The problem with doing this is that most of your savings will never go to your loved ones. Contact us to learn more about how you can help support ENMU students with your unspent retirement savings. Toll-Free: 888.291.5524 ENMU Station 8, 1500 S Ave K Portales, NM 88130
While most people would like to care for family members after they are gone, the problem with giving your unspent retirement savings to your family (other than your surviving spouse) is that the majority of your savings will be taxed. A better solution is to give your family stock and real estate. These assets may be received and sold by your family without paying any tax. To save on estate tax, your retirement assets actually make a better gift to charity. This is because a charitable organization like ours can receive the entire asset tax-free and make use of it to further our mission. Bequest of Retirement Assets Perhaps the easiest way to make a gift of your retirement assets through your estate is with a bequest. It is easy to designate us as a beneficiary. Contact your custodian to complete your beneficiary designation. Retirement Assets for Life Income You can make a gift to our organization after your passing and care for your loved ones by creating a testamentary charitable remainder unitrust funded with your retirement assets.
Green & Silver | May 2015
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