Sheila Moran first started as a paraprofessional after homeschooling her own children, one of which had a learning disability. Sheila has been a resource teacher at Holy Spirit Catholic School for the past seven years, where she works with students with intellectual disabilities and developmental delays in a small group setting, 1:1, and provides resource support within the classroom. She is grateful to work with colleagues whom she loves and students who make her happy, humble, and keep her on her toes.
Sheila earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Virginia Tech, and she's excited to finish her Master’s degree in Special Education from Marymount University this May. Twenty-three years ago, Sheila converted to the Catholic faith, and six years later, she made a lifelong promise as a third-order Carmelite. Her faith continues to play an important role in both her personal and professional life. She not only educates her students in the classroom but also in the Catholic faith. Mrs. Moran was instrumental in ensuring one of her students with Down Syndrome could receive her Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Communion with her second-grade class. She works closely with parents to develop a partnership with the families of her students and even tutors during the summer months to be sure they retain what they have learned.
Mrs. Moran is also a proud mom of four young adult children, who have played a big part in shaping the way she teaches. Her colleagues and supervisors describe her as creative, kind, loving, and patient with her students. Sheila tries to be the kind of teacher her role model Rita Pierson was. She believed that “Every child needs a champion. Every child deserves an adult who will never give up on them." Sheila hopes to be a teacher who never gives up on her students and who treats each one with their God-given dignity. Her dedication to inclusive education is tireless and she feels beyond honored to be chosen to receive the St. Margaret of Castello Award.