SCS special education coordinator wins national award

A Shelbyville Central Schools employee won a national award for her work while employed by a special education services organization in Franklin.

Kris Baker, who is now the special education coordinator at SCS, won the 2019 Early Career Special Education Administrator award for her work at Earlywood Educational Services as the coordinator for autism and assistive technology.

The award is given to a member of the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) who is within the first five years of administering special education programs and/or services, according to CASE.

Angela Balsey, the director at Earlywood who she worked for, nominated her and informed her in June that she was receiving the award.

“I was completely shocked,” Baker said. “I’m blessed to love the work I do and to get recognized is just a huge accomplishment. I never thought that would really happen.”

Baker received the award at the Council of Special Education Administrators Conference in Louisville.

Almost every state was represented by leaders from CASE, she said.

“It was amazing,” she said. “It was a huge honor to be in that crowd advocating special education.”

SCS director of special education Andy Hensley called her a “champion for individuals with exceptional needs” in a press release and said she has made significant contributions both prior to and since joining the corporation in providing special education services.

“Kris is innovative and a hard worker,” he said. “She does a fantastic job of supporting students and teachers. We are very fortunate to have her at Shelbyville Central Schools.”