The Domenica Leone Award of Recognition for Exceptional Service to Special Education was presented on Thursday, June 5th at the final General Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT) meeting, recognizing the exceptional contributions of staff who embody the spirit of inclusion and demonstrate extraordinary care and commitment in supporting students with diverse learning needs.
Established in loving memory of Domenica Leone, the award honours HWCDSB staff who model her passion for inclusive education. Over the course of a 35-year career, Domenica served as a classroom teacher, Special Education Resource Teacher, Vice-Principal, and Assistant Superintendent, always guided by compassion, collaboration, and the belief that Each Belongs. The award, created by the Leone family, continues her legacy by highlighting the dedicated service of special education staff whose work reflects that same unwavering commitment to student success and well-being.
Joining in the celebration was Diana Leone, Domenica’s daughter, who offered her personal congratulations and helped present this year’s awards.
This year’s recipients included four outstanding nominees from across the system:
• Jessie Berdan, Rolando Flores, and Ashley Walsh, Educational Assistants at Cathedral High School, were recognized for their teamwork, creativity, and compassion in supporting a student with complex needs. In collaboration with the ABA team, the trio implemented strategies to support life skills development, foster peer connections, and promote greater inclusion within the school community, often going above and beyond by personally acquiring resources and seeking enriching off-site learning experiences.
• Carmela Zelenika, Educational Assistant, was commended for her innovation and initiative in supporting students through personalized games and activities that promote engagement and learning. Beyond the classroom, she played a key role in organizing a school fundraiser, demonstrating her broad impact and commitment to community.
• Tanya Spraggon, Central Resource Teacher at Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School, played an instrumental role in helping Grade 8 students and their families transition successfully into high school. Her consistent care, coordination, and compassion have helped create a more supportive and welcoming start to secondary education for many students.
• Sarah Dennison, Alternative Learning for Life teacher at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School, was recognized for fostering a classroom culture grounded in respect and inclusion. Through her application of the TEACCH program, Sarah has created a space where students not only thrive academically, but feel valued, safe, and seen.
In offering her congratulations, Superintendent of Education Tracey Ferrie spoke to the heart of the work done by special education staff across the system.
“Each of you should be incredibly proud as you're recognized today for your commitment to the students in your care,” said Ferrie. “We know you don’t do the excellent work you do to be recognized or for accolades. You don’t do it because it’s your job, you go beyond for others because it’s a vocation, and it’s a calling that drives you forward. It pushes you past the minimum, the average, and the everyday into the realm of the beyond.”
The Domenica Leone Award stands as a lasting tribute to the belief that inclusive education is not just a responsibility, but a calling, one answered daily by educators who quietly and faithfully uplift the lives of exceptional learners.
