Teri Lindner was my brother's teacher. She did things for students with special needs that absolutely blew wide open the doors of possibility. She taught these young people how to stand up for themselves, to work hard and to work well, to live on their own, to further their educations, to plan trips, to raise money, to get jobs... remarkable!

Centre Daily Times article

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State High teacher turns dreams into reality

Local educator retiring after decades of making connections, pushing boundaries

Ed Mahon- emahon@centredaily.com

June 21, 2010 12:50pm EDT

Last year, Teri Lindner asked Bob Ehrmann to help lead a fundraiser with her Wild Dream Team.

CDT/Nabil K. Mark

Teri Lindner is retiring after working with the State College Area School Districts LifeLInk PSU program for the past 8 years and teaching for over 40 years. CDT/Nabil K. Mark

Ehrmann, a parent of one of her students, at first figured he didn’t have the time. But that’s not the answer he gave.

“It’s very hard to say no to Teri,” Ehrmann said with a laugh, adding, “You want to help her, because she’s so giving.”

And so in February, Ehrmann found himself co-chairing the Soup-er Bowl. And with that, he joined the ranks of Sen. Ted Kennedy, Paul Newman, the Walt Disney Co., and hundreds of special education students Lindner has taught during her more than 40-year career. When Lindner asked them for a favor — be it frequent flyer miles, an extra seat at an event, or to push themselves out of their comfort zone — they said yes.

“She is such a visionary, in terms of dreaming big dreams for her students and encouraging them,” said Ellen Campbell, whose son, Matthew, was taught by Lindner. “She really pushed him toward independence and us toward allowing him to be independent.”

Lindner retired from teaching last week, after more than 20 years with the State College Area School District. During that time, she’s had lunch with Newman, been honored as the Disney teacher of the year, and co-founded the LifeLink PSU program — a partnership between the school district and university that provides transition services to 18-to 21-year-old students with disabilities. She and her students call themselves the Wild Dream Team.

Students credit Lindner with helping them meet goals such as communicating clearly, finishing high school, landing jobs and living on their own. When it comes to personal goals, Lindner says she tries to be realistic.

But when it comes to trips, they aim above their reach. They’ve traveled to California, London, New York City. This year, students canceled their trip and instead donated $20,000 to Haiti for earthquake relief.

“When you set your goals high, sometimes you might not reach that goal,” said Lindner, “but because you’ve been working so hard, you’ll be reaching other goals along the way.”

Exceeding limitations

When Matthew Campbell was 4 years old, a pediatric neurologist told his parents their son would never be able to live on his own or work in the community.

Now 37, Matthew Campbell lives in a group home, does janitorial work at Grace Lutheran Church and washes uniforms for Penn State’s gymnastics and fencing teams.

“He exceeded all of the limitations that were placed on him. And it really is because of Teri,” said Ellen Campbell, who’s also a State College Area High School teacher.

The journey wasn’t always easy, though. Ellen Campbell said her son’s first out-of- town trip without her — to a dude ranch in Arizona — was difficult for her. She also had reservations about Matthew living on his own. Lindner helped with both.

“She always pushed me out of my comfort zone in an understanding, and good humored, and resolute way that was ultimately best for Matt,” said Campbell. “She gave me the poke, and the prod, and the encouragement — and then the faith.”

When a group home called the Campbells to tell them Matthew had been accepted, Ellen’s first call was to Lindner.

The Campbells’ story is a common one for Lindner’s students, who come to her with varying needs and abilities.

Jim Purdum said the program helped his daughter, 27-year-old Lena, come out of her shell. She came to the program struggling to communicate with others.

“Lena developed the confidence to express herself in group situations, and one on one, where she otherwise would have clammed up,” said Jim Purdum.

When Fallecia Ehrmann first came to the LifeLink PSU program last year, she would put her head down and cover her face with the hood of her sweatshirt.

“I used to be really shy,” said Ehrmann. “I was afraid in the beginning that they might judge me, but they were just like family.”

She completed the program earlier this month and now plans to study criminal justice at South Hills School of Business of Technology. She’s grateful to Lindner.

“She’s pretty much another mom to me,” said Ehrmann, 20. “I can always go to her.”

That’s a common sentiment among the students.

“She has a huge heart,” said 19-year-old Dani LaMar, who’s working on obtaining a child care certificate.

The same could be said for the rest of the Wild Dream Team.

Earlier this month, Phil Jones welcomed about 20 students and staff members to the House of Care on West Beaver Avenue in State College. They were there to present a $1,000 check to the nonprofit, which provides personal care for people with declining or compromised health.

They talked about what the House of Care does, the daily meal routines, and one of the residents who’s in her 90s and loves to dance.

Jones, the director of the House of Care, asked about the students’ trip to see the Haitian ambassador in Washington D.C., and Lindner encouraged all of her students to take a turn speaking. She told one shy student to pretend she wasn’t talking to a large crowd.

“Do you have something on your mind? Something you want to say?” Lindner told the student from the other side of the room. “All right, say it to me. ...Take your time.”

Then after the check signing and group picture, Jones thanked them all again.

“I’d love to give all of you a big hug,” said Jones. “Just tell me if you’re uncomfortable with that.”

The students laughed. That wouldn’t be a problem.

“We hug everyone,” LaMar said.

Pushing boundaries

Lindner grew up outside of Chicago and spent the first half of her career teaching across the U.S. and Europe: Illinois, North Carolina, Paris, London, Geneva and Washington, D.C.

She came to State College in 1989 as a special education teacher.

“At that point, we had some kids that hadn’t been out of Centre County,” said Sharon Pearson, a support teacher with the district. “And she said, ‘We need to get kids out of their comfort zone.’ ”

That first year, Lindner and the students went on a trip to Connecticut. The next year, the kids aimed bigger and said they wanted to go to Disney World. They sent letters to celebrities, asking them to donate frequent flyer miles. Only the late Sen. Ted Kennedy donated any. The students had more luck with businesses, and they managed to get tickets for the entire group.

A supporter, Dr. Leigh Wheeler, arranged a surprise for them. A banner, with the words “Wild Dream Team” written on it, greeted them at the airport.

The name stuck. In 1991, students entered a recipe contest sponsored by Paul New-man’s nonprofit company. They created a presentation that included not just the recipe, but documentation of the entire process — students shopping for ingredients, preparing the food and hosting taste-testings with teachers.

“We thought we might be eliminated for doing that,” said Lindner. “But that’s how we feel. We’re students. So we wanted to get across the feeling that you learn while you’re doing those things.”

They won the contest and $15,000, which they donated to the Easter Seals for a van. The prize also included lunch with the actor, known for his roles as Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and “Fast Eddie” Felson. The students sent Newman, who died in 2008, a letter asking him to bend the rules and let them bring more than a couple of people to the lunch. He agreed, and about 15 students and staff members ate with Newman at the Rainbow Room in New York City.

In 1993, the district set up two apartments that students could use as classrooms and spaces to practice making meals and staying away from home overnight. Staff and students worked together to develop the program, in keeping with Lindner’s philosophy. She considers herself more of an equal partner than a leader or facilitator.

“You discover things together,” she said. “And that’s different than always feeling like a facilitator. Because a facilitator connotes leadership, bring people along ... whereas we provide leadership together.”

Pearson saw the impact Lindner made during those early years of LifeLink.

“It was an exhilarating experience to just be part of the energy and excitement of the students, and to just watch the growth,” said Pearson, still a paraeducator with the program.

In 1999, Joan Andrews and her son, Jeremy, nominated Lindner for Disney “Outstanding Teacher of the Year.” There were 75,000 nominees, narrowed down to 39 honorees. Lindner received a phone call from a Disney official to tell her she was one of them.

“She was told, ‘Come on out to Hollywood for the big event. You can bring one family member with you,’ ” said Andrews. “She said, ‘Could I bring my class with me, too?’ That’s just the way she thinks.”

The Disney official agreed, although the students would be responsible for their flight and accommodations. Lindner wound up winning the contest, which included a $25,000 prize for herself and $10,000 for the district.

When invited to education conferences, Lindner often asks to bring her students.

“When the students present it, then you see the impact,” she said.

The students have also organized and hosted a conference, and the program’s served as a model for others nationally.

In 2002, the district and Penn State partnered to create LifeLink PSU, headquartered in the HUB-Robeson Center. State College students sit in on classes, attend club meetings, hold jobs on campus and attend athletic and social functions with Penn State mentors.

Alumni of the program can visit between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekdays or attend LifeLink Late Night on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Both are ways for students to stay linked to the community.

Though Lindner’s retired, she’ll remain connected to her students. And one idea of how to do that came from a student who was stressed about graduating.

“I said, ‘Well, I’m graduating, too. What will we do?’ ” she said.

Their solution was the Dream Team Wild Adventures, which will be open to LifeLink PSU alumni and current members. They won’t fundraise for trips like the students in LifeLink PSU. They won’t meet weekly. But Lindner said if someone comes up with a fun activity or trip, he or she can bring the idea to the group, and they can all plan on saving up. Possibilities have already been popping into Lindner’s head.

“I can think of a million fun things,” she said.

Read more: http://www.centredaily.com/2010/06/21/2049127/teacher-turns-dreams-into-reality.html#ixzz0rVkrnw9g