10 pre-k programs in Clark, three in Floyd win state recognition

Clark County

Discussion

April 18, 2008

By TARA HETTINGER The News and Tribune Fri Apr 18, 2008, 11:37 AM EDT

With his eyes squinted as he focused on his paper, 5-year-old Cole Brown drew a large fish in his journal during his pre-kindergarten class at Henryville Elementary School Wednesday morning.

As he finished, he smiled at his completed art work.

“Ms. Vicki! Look, I did it,” he yelled out cheerily to his teacher.

“You sure did,” Vicki Higdon-Horine said, walking over to see it for herself.

As her class of 14 finished up their journals, they moved on to the separate play stations, which teach them different things, such as math, art and other skills.

Though this pre-school class may look similar to others there is something that is different. Half of Higdon-Horine’s students are special needs students.

“We don’t call ourselves special education. We take great pride in calling us a preschool,” she said. “I want them (special needs students) to just be regular kids first. It doesn’t matter what ability or disability you have. We’ll find the level you’re at and work to get you to that next level.”

That work has gotten her recognized by the state. Her program, along with the nine others serving special needs students in pre-K in Clark County and three in Floyd County, received an award of recognition from the Indiana Department of Education Division of Exceptional Learners.

“To me, this is like the U.S. Seal of Approval,” Higdon-Horine said. “This shows we’ve got what our students need.”

Higdon-Horine, who has taught special education students for 22 years, said the best part of her job is making a difference in how students view each other’s abilities and disabilities. She said at the start of every school year she tells the students about what’s different with some of the others so that they understand. Once they understand, she said, that makes them see each other as the same.

“They don’t see any differences,” she said. “If we can imbed that in these itty bitty children, imagine how much better they will be as adults.”

A few years ago, she overheard a child talking to one of her former students in the hall, making fun of a special needs student for being different.

“I overheard her saying back, “No there’s not. She’s just like you and I,’” Higdon-Horine said, smiling. “That’s what this award is about.”

Principal Glenn Riggs said this award just shows everyone else what he already knew.

“I already knew we have an excellent program,” he said. “Sometimes in the business we’re in, there’s very little recognition on the positive things. Here’s a situation where we’re meeting the needs of children with both exceptional and unique needs and we’re doing a good job with it.

“I think it’s (the award) wonderful!”