Buffalo, NY - Ask Bethany Vivian Crowe what she does in her job and her likely answer is, “Whatever it takes.”
Crowe is a mentor-teacher within the Buffalo Public School District, charged with promoting the growth and development of young educators at the onset of their careers. The position is new to Crowe but her decade of experience as a special education teacher at Stanley Makowski Early Childhood Center (Public School #99) prepared her well.
This educator and advocate inspired students in their learning, gained their trust, counseled those with personal problems and educated parents about special education law to ensure her students always received the best services available.
Outside of class, Crowe befriended her students and their families. She attended church with them, invited them to hockey games and even took students for haircuts and clothes shopping. By doing whatever it takes, Crowe saw the academic performance of her students increase and their behavioral problems decrease.
Crowe now shares her experiences and outcomes with the next generation of educators, both in her new position within the city school district and as a member of the Canisius University JUSTICE Project Advisory Council. In this latter role, Crowe provides guidance to the Teacher Education Department on curriculum revision to better prepare graduates on how to best serve the needs of students with high-incidence disabilities in high-need schools.
