Latham Centers Nominates Health and P.E. Teacher, Monique Williams, for maaps’ Excellence in Teaching Award


Monique and student celebrate Field Day 2015 on Latham Campus.

Annually, Latham Centers celebrates and nominates a teacher who has truly excelled and impacted the students on campus. The nomination is for the maaps (Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private Schools) Excellence in Teaching Award. maaps seeks to, “work tirelessly every day to help students with special needs make progress and achieve success in countless areas.”

Monique has implemented curriculums in both her health and physical education classes to assist our students in being aware of how to maintain a healthy diet. She effectively writes IEP goals addressing concerns about physical education and health needs as they pertain to each student at Latham, and effectively drives her curriculum and lessons to these goals. Monique is always actively looking for creative approaches to utilize with our students. She is a role model amongst her colleagues and is always willing to lend a helping hand wherever she is needed.

Her creative approach has aided our students in being engaged and interested in physical activity, healthy eating, and personal growth and development. Monique has done an excellent job aiding our students in becoming physically active in a variety of ways. She has implemented a yoga curriculum utilizing small body movements to practice deep breathing and calming techniques as well as a weight training program using circuit rotations for large and small motor skills. The educationally-fun curriculum of the Sports Club, which meets every Friday, balances the history of sports with full body activities such as swimming and ice skating. Through her concerted use of modifications and enriched materials, the Sexual Education curriculum is now more easily understood. Monique leads the Latham School Field Day every spring and enjoys creating fun activities for the students to be engaged. Monique is conscious in her choice of different muscle movements so that each activity brings fun, but also physical activity. Monique’s love for what she teaches is evident every day. Her drive to help our students succeed is evident.

Monique has taken on the Special Olympics Coordinator position for Latham Centers and has successfully led soccer, basketball, football, bowling, and track and field teams. Through her vibrant personality and persistence, Latham has a new community partner with a neighboring elementary school whom lends a full-size gym for practice for our basketball team. She has also effectively instilled positive relationships with neighbor bowling alleys for practice and has contributed to our SummerTide Swimming Program.

Thank you Monique for all that you do.

Submitted by:

Kara McDowell