Type Of Business:
Special Needs Consultation, Advocacy and Professional Development Firm
Expertise:
Ms. Farinholt's expertise includes autism and low incidence disabilities and chronic health issues.
Major Product/SVS:
Special Needs Consultation, Advocacy and Professional Development
Favorite Business Publication:
Educational Leadership; Teaching Exceptional Children; The Journal of TASH Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities; Journal of Special Education Leadership
Hobbies/Sports:
Gardening, Reading, Spending Time with her Two Daughters and Three Grandchildren, Going to the Beach
Education Degrees:
Master of Science in Administration and Supervision, McDaniel College (1994); Master of Education in Special Education, McDaniel College (1986); Bachelor of Science in Education, Towson University (1976)
Affiliations Awards:
Council for Exceptional Children; The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps; Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development; Connections Beyond Sight and Sound
Place of Birth:
Baltimore, MD
Industry:
Special Education Consulting
Children's Names:
Cassondra, Jessica
Date of Distinction:
11/13/2009
Work History:
Special Education Administrator, Carroll County Public Schools (1993-2009); Adjunct Instructor, McDaniel College (1999-2002); Physical Education Teacher, Special Education Teacher, Carroll County Public Schools (1978-1993); Athletic Coach, Carroll County Public Schools (1977-1992)
Career Achievements:
Member, Maryland Autism Task Force; Member, Connections Beyond Sight and Sound Advisory Board; Member, Carroll County Recreation and Parks Advisory Board
What do you feel separates you from the rest of the professionals in your industry?:
Ms. Farinholt's unrelenting passion for promoting the lives of children and adults with significant disabilities separates her from her peers.
What has been the most outstanding thing you have done thus far in your career?:
Her greatest career achievement was realizing that her students were, in fact, her teachers.
How would you like to be remembered by your peers?:
Ms. Farinholt would like to be remembered as a person who is consistently positive, inquisitive and constructive and who sees potential and good in everyone.
If you could solve one problem in the world today, what would it be?:
If she could solve one problem in the world today, it would be the false perception of most people that individuals who have disabilities are somehow less capable of learning and thinking.
If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?:
If she could have lunch with anyone, living or dead, Ms. Farinholt would dine with Helen Keller in order to gain insight into the the challenges and victories of her life; for the same reason, her second choice would be Albert Einstein.
Throughout the duration of your career, what was the one highlight that stood out the most?:
The most rewarding aspects of her career have included witnessing students achieve milestones that others thought were not possible and seeing parents become accepting of their children as children with special needs.
Charity:
Carroll County Public Schools Education Foundation; Hailey's Wish
Number Of Years In Profession:
33
Number Of Years In Current Position:
13
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
She attributes her success to her desire to learn and her passion for helping others.
Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:
She became involved in her profession because she felt it was her calling to teach special education.
Extended Bio Profile:
Ms. Farinholt previously taught special education on the elementary through secondary levels. She was an itinerant teacher and then taught at a public separate day school. In 1993, she moved into administration. She would like to emphasize that she does not believe anyone is cognitively limited or deficient, saying, 'As educators, we are much more limited in our ability to access and assess a student's knowledge than the student is in his or her ability to think and learn.'
Position Responsibilities and Duties:
Offering Parents, Caregivers, Teachers and Support Staff Resources and Skill Development to Communicate and Focus on the Students' Needs, Strengths and Progress in School and the Community
Education Certifications:
Certified Advanced Professional, Maryland State Department of Education; Certified in Special Education (K-12); Certified Secondary Principal and Supervisor; Certified Special Education Principal; Certification in Physical Education (K-12)
Awards/Honors:
Recognition for Excellence in Building Resilience in Children and Youth, National Association of School Psychologists; Recognition for Contributions to Promoting Employment of Individuals with Disabilities, Division of Rehabilitative Services; Governor's Citation for Outstanding Services to the Citizens of Maryland