For 20 years, Amanda Hummel has taught Pre-K special education at Hilburn Academy in Wake County Public Schools. Amanda is originally from Winston-Salem, NC. Amanda graduated from Meredith College in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development and Birth-Kindergarten license and is a National Board Certified Teacher. In her low incidence preschool classroom, she works closely with related service providers, classroom staff, and serves in leadership roles, including Hilburn’s school leadership team. Her focus in the classroom is on adapting toys, and using low-tech and high-tech communication systems for children to communicate and participate to the greatest extent possible. Raising funds to adapt the outdoor learning environment to meet the needs of students with significant disabilities is a passion. She added adapted swings to allow all students regardless of their physical ability to swing. She has also worked with Eagle Scouts to build custom garden beds at a child’s or wheelchair level to allow any student to engage in the learning process, while supporting cross-curricular and multi-level learning pedagogy. Amanda is this year’s PTA co-chair for fundraising for her school.

Amanda created a partnership with Meredith College for student placements, interns, and student teachers. College students work closely with her students learning how to adapt, teach, and use assistive technology to support children in participating with augmentative communication. Amanda serves as an active member of the children’s ministry at Christ the King Church in Durham, as a Sunday school teacher, coordinates nursery, supports special events and assists vacation bible school. Amanda and her husband Andy have three sons and a daughter who are all in Wake County Public Schools at Hilburn Academy.

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