VASE Education Association

05/18/2026

Happy Speech Language Pathologist Day! SLPs play a crucial role in identifying students with speech, language, and communication needs and providing intervention. They also help families and staff understand a student's needs and help supply the tools needed to communicate. Thank you for helping our students find their voice!

05/06/2026

For some reason, there is no national day for celebrating Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and that just didn't sit well with us because we think we have the best TODHH around! TODHHs help our students with hearing related disabilities access learning alongside their peers, educate staff on how to support students, and advocate for student needs. They expand a student's options for communication and help everyone understand the science of hearing. Our teams can't help all learners without you! Thank you, Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing!

05/06/2026

Happy National School Nurse Day! Our school nurses do so much to keep our students safe and healthy. From handling scrapes and bruises, to making sure students get vital medication, to ensuring medical plans are understood and followed, our nurses do it all. Thank you, school nurses, for being there for our students!

05/05/2026

Please join us in congratulating our final Golden Ruler winner for the year, Jill Brink-Rutter. Jill is one of our school psychologists and has served several districts in her time in Vermilion county.

"Mrs. Brink-Rutter is a valuable member of our school psychology team. Jill exemplifies the qualities recognized by the Golden Ruler Award through her leadership, collaboration, and commitment to professional excellence. As a school psychologist, she played a key role in developing and training of the threat assessment model that supports teams in effectively meeting student needs. Jill consistently mentors and trains colleagues, generously sharing her expertise and time. She remains current with research and regularly brings innovative ideas to her team. Her willingness to support others and her dedication to improving practices make her very worthy of this recognition."

Thank you, Jill, for your continued support of students and staff in our member districts!

Mrs. Brink-Rutter is a valuable member of our school psychology team. Jill exemplifies the qualitie...

05/04/2026

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Teachers are the heart and soul of every school, offering care, support, and guidance to our students on top of the curriculum and instruction they provide. They come in early and they stay late to make learning magic happen. They volunteer and coach to make sure students get the extra experiences that make school even more special. Honestly, where would any of us be without the love of a teacher.

Thank you, teachers! ❤️

05/01/2026

It's also National School Principal Day! Thank you, principals, for taking care of all the logistics behind the scenes, helping out when students are having tough days, and making fun things happen. We appreciate you!

05/01/2026

Happy National School Lunch Hero Day! Our kitchen staff work hard to provide healthy, tasty meals everyday for our learners. They make sure our students get the fuel they need to succeed! Thank you, Lunch Heroes!

04/30/2026

Please join us in congratulating Kayla Hiett, a speech and language pathologist for VASE, as another one of this year's Golden Ruler winners! Kayla serves our youngest learners at Judith Giacoma Elementary School in Westville, and their administration had this to say about her.

"Kayla Hiett, a speech-language pathologist with the Vermilion County Association of Special Education, serves the youngest learners at Judith Giacoma Elementary School with dedication and care. She plays a vital role in screening students and identifying those who need additional language support, helping remove barriers to learning and communication. Though employed by VASE, Kayla has become a trusted and valued member of the Giacoma family. Her flexibility, professionalism, and deep commitment to her students have made her an integral part of the school and community at Westville."

Thank you, Kayla, for your hard work in supporting our early childhood students and helping them get off to a great start! We are proud to have you at VASE!

Kayla Hiett, a speech-language pathologist with the Vermilion County Association of Special Educati...

04/28/2026

Happy National School Bus Driver Day! Our bus drivers make sure our students get to and from school safely, keep students (relatively) calm on the bus, and help make special events like field trips possible. Thank you all for your hard work!

04/26/2026

The Middlefork School Annual Plant Sale is this Friday and Saturday in Tilton! Our students and staff work all semester cultivating and growing a wide variety of plants. They always have a great deal on hanging plants, perfect for Mother's Day, but they sell out fast! They also have many herbs, vegetables, and flowers to get your garden ready for the summer.

Come early, bring cash, and be generous for our students!