Jim Ageton
Hartley Elementary
Special Education Teacher
Nominated By: Principal Jeff Rust
Jim goes above and beyond by making his students feel every bit of their success. He is transparent with them and is able to have tough conversations to help his students better understand the bigger picture of it all. Jim is able to take a student who does not think of themselves as a learner and build a great foundation for them to become lifelong learners. He has taken on some of the tougher students with ease and they respond so well to him. Jim doesn't give up and knows when to reach out for help and how to use the resources he has access to. His collaborative efforts with other teachers and parents have created successful outcomes because the student and their needs are always the focus. Jim has been a wonderful mentor; providing countless resources, helpful teaching tips, and ways to collaborate with others. By sharing a room with him, he has also modeled some classroom management skills that I am able to add to my toolbox, and ways to coach our para-educators. He takes initiative when it comes to discussions about scheduling and provides useful ideas for the students that are stuck, while always making sure the outcome is the best for the student. He plays a vital role on the Special Education team at Hartley and we would not be as successful without him, his ideas, and encouraging pep talks!
