Jae Lee, Special Education Dean, Receives First Class Award
Congratulations to Jae Lee, Annandale Special Education Dean, who was recently honored with the 2023 First Class Award for Excellence in Special Education for his work supporting the Special Olympics and Best Buddies programs at Annandale High School.
Mr. Lee was recognized for leading Annandale's Best Buddies program, which focuses on creating strong friendships between students with and without disabilities, and making Atom Nation a more inclusive place for each student.
This award serves as recognition for individuals in Fairfax County who have made exceptional contributions to the support, implementation, or design of programs and activities that encompass students with disabilities, leading to improved outcomes for all learners. In addition, his work was celebrated in the ongoing FCPS "Our Heroes" series and the FCPS' Feature Video about Annandale High School Special Olympics FanQuest Pep Rally
Known for his leadership and caring nature, Mr. Lee has made a significant impact in the Atoms community. He played a crucial role in establishing the Special Olympics unified basketball team and enlisted student mentors to support Category B (CAT B) students. Perhaps most notably, his dedication to supporting and advocating for CAT B students makes him a true hero in the eyes of his colleagues and students.
Check out the two videos below that highlight Mr. Lee's work and impact in creating a more inclusive community in Atom Nation.
FanQuest Pep Rally A Huge Success!
This spring, the Annandale Special Olympics Basketball team hosted the Lewis Lancers for our annual FanQuest. FanQuest is an event that promotes inclusion and respect for students with disabilities through sports. Both the Atoms and Lancers played with the support of general education peers involved with the Special Olympics and Best Buddies programs. These are programs in which students have the opportunity to work with their Cat-B peers.
The event, as a part of our annual Inclusion Revolution week, was supported by our leadership class and girls basketball team. It was an incredible experience to watch our Special Olympics athletes showcase their basketball skills in the gymnasium packed with student fans. The crowd went wild when the first basket was made, and the cheering didn’t stop. The support and appreciation our students had for both the Lancers and their fellow Atoms was overwhelming. Special thanks to Jae Lee and Janan Gokturk for coordinating this incredible event and to the Lewis Lancers for an amazing game.
“Our Heroes” is an on-going series of portraits of FCPS school-based and non-school-based staff told by colleagues, parents, students, and community members.
We celebrate Jae Lee. He is a Multiple Disabilities Teacher and Cat B. Department Chair at Annandale High School. Known for his leadership and creating a caring culture, Mr. Lee (or Coach Lee) is a beloved member of the Atoms community.
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