NAPSEC FOUNDATION

Educator of the Year

ScenicView Academy

Kelli Johnson is the Dean of Education at ScenicView Academy and has been a long time extraordinary teacher with over two decades of experience. Her instructional leadership, innovation, and unwavering commitment to students with special needs have transformed the teaching practices and educational outcomes at ScenicView Academy. Kelli is known for her professional warmth and her exceptional depth of knowledge in teaching strategies and instructional design. She is widely respected for her ability to individualize instruction, making complex concepts accessible through concrete tools, visual supports, and data-informed strategies. 

Her classroom expertise is matched by her strength as a mentor: she regularly observes teachers, provides thoughtful and actionable feedback, and encourages continuous improvement—even when lessons are already strong. Under her guidance, educators grow more confident, reflective, and effective. Kelli’s impact extends well beyond the classroom. 

She has strengthened partnerships with universities to expand services and instructional opportunities, bringing additional resources and expertise to students who might not otherwise have access. These include ongoing research projects that benefit our students, such as AI-assisted social media supports, and innovative services such as Occupational Therapy that can enrich and enhance their time at ScenicView and their skills when they graduate. As Dean of Education, Kelli has played a pivotal role in unifying our academic programs into a cohesive, evidence-based Academy focused on meaningful skill development and student growth, and we are grateful every day that she chose to leave the public school system to come and work for an experimental program trying to pioneer learning for neurodivergent adults. 

Approachable, curious, dependable, brilliant, and deeply invested in both staff and students, Kelli exemplifies the very best of educational leadership—combining expertise, innovation, and heart to help learners and educators alike reach their full potential.

Related Service Provider of the Year
ScenicView Academy

Deb Hamilton is one of those staff that students and their parents fall in love with and greatly appreciate because of her exceptional services delivered in such a warm and caring manner. Deb is a Nationally Certified School Nurse whose clinical excellence, innovation, and compassion have profoundly strengthened the health, independence, and well-being of hundreds of neurodivergent young adults at ScenicView Academy. As an RN with over 30 years of professional experience in a wide variety of settings, Deb brings deep medical expertise paired with an extraordinary ability to teach students how to understand, manage, and advocate for their own health. More than this, however, Deb is an invaluable part of the ScenicView team, whose warmth and wisdom enhances the lives of everyone who interacts with her. Deb is known for adapting her interventions in real time to meet students’ individual needs. She continually evaluates and refines her practice, researches emerging medical interventions, and applies evidence-based strategies to ensure students receive the highest quality care. 

She incorporates incentive programs, individualized teaching, and animal-assisted care by bringing her therapy dog, Gizmo, to campus weekly. This approach reduces anxiety, builds rapport, and creates a welcoming space where students feel comfortable seeking care and asking questions. Students who once avoided medical appointments now engage confidently and consistently because of Deb’s approach.

Deb’s impact reaches far beyond the nurse’s office. She collaborates closely with students, families, educators, residential staff, and medical providers, ensuring continuity of care across settings. She attends frequent team meetings, shares insights proactively, and provides calm, trusted guidance in both routine and urgent situations—even outside scheduled hours.

Deb has partnered with foundations, community organizations and local universities to help students access essential services including a dental clinic at ScenicView, and epi-pen resources and trainings. In all she does, her genuine love for others has shaped a culture of trust and empowerment.  Deb exemplifies the very best of related services—combining skill, innovation, and heart to help students stay healthy, grow confident, and prepare for independent living. 

Direct Care Worker of the Year
ScenicView Academy

Caitlin White is an art instructor and mentor at ScenicView Academy. Teaching students to express themselves through art is the medium through which Caitlin has influenced many individuals. Caitlin’s boundless creativity, compassion, and commitment have had a profound impact on autistic and neurodivergent young adults at ScenicView Academy over her eight years of service. Through innovative, person-centered instruction, she creates empowering experiences for our students that foster confidence, self-expression, and personal growth.

As an art instructor and mentor, Caitlin teaches across a wide range of creative disciplines, including painting, mixed media, digital art, creative writing, and musical theater. She continually expands her skills to better meet students’ individual needs and sensory profiles. Her Hero’s Journey class is a standout innovation, using art as a tool for self-exploration and helping students see themselves as capable, resilient, and growing toward independence as the sole author of their life’s story.

Caitlin’s exceptional care is evident in her patient, calm, and strengths-based approach. She allows students to move at their own pace while offering consistent encouragement and genuine praise. Students who struggle to engage elsewhere reliably show up and thrive in her classes, where they feel safe, valued, and understood. She frequently goes above and beyond—using her own time and talents to support student performances, celebrations, and confidence-building moments.

Beyond her classroom, Caitlin is a trusted and generous teammate who strengthens the entire school community. She collaborates closely with therapists and staff, supports major events and fundraisers, and is known for stepping in during high-pressure moments with creativity and grace. Her professionalism, teamwork, and kindness make her a role model for colleagues and a cornerstone of ScenicView’s culture.

Caitlin exemplifies the very best of direct care—combining skill, compassion, and dedication to help students and her school community thrive.