A. Quinn Jones teacher selected for 2022 award for supporting behavioral health

Gershon Harrell, The Gainesville Sun
·2 min read

A teacher at A. Quinn Jones Center was selected to receive the 2022 Division for Emotional and Behavioral Health Region 8 Teacher of the Year award.

Cassidy Klein, a ninth through twelfth grade high school English language arts teacher, has been with A. Quinn Jones for four years. She was chosen as the teacher of the year for the 2021 school year.

The award was presented by the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders, an international community of educators who are dedicated to helping children with emotional and behavior disorders succeed. According to the press release Region 8 represents Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

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Klein, a UF graduate, was nominated for the award by her former professor Ashley MacSuga-Gage.

Klein recalled after her nomination she applied for the award in early December. She found out that she was a winner by the end of the month.

Klein teaches students who have emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD). She said students will get diagnosed and have it put on their record as early as elementary school.

She said EBD is induced by trauma that a student may have experienced. Students may show aggressive behavior and could have a hard time regulating their emotions.

Klein was presented Jan. 17 at the Division for Emotional and Behavioral Health Business Meeting at the CEC Convention and Expo in Orlando.

"I was really surprised that I got it, but also really thankful because at the end of the day I really love my job and I love the very specific field of kids that I work with. It just felt like a huge honor," Klein said.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Alachua County teacher wins 2022 award in behavioral health