Presented for providing quality educational opportunities and creating supportive, inclusive learning environments for students of all abilities.
Elizabeth Edwards, The Karasik Family, Infant and Child Care Center, The Arc Montgomery County
Elizabeth Edwards has been an early childhood educator for 36 years. For 30 of those years, she has worked for The Arc Montgomery County. When The Arc Montgomery County first envisioned an inclusive childcare and educational program, Elizabeth was there. She was a central part of establishing the Karasik Family, Infant & Child Care Center (KFICCC) as the first fully inclusive childcare center in Maryland. With her certification in early childhood education, Elizabeth was qualified and also instrumental in having KFICCC participate in the first cohort of PreK classrooms in the state. Over the years, our participation in this PreK program has risen from 10 seats to 55 seats. As with all classrooms at KFICCC, 1/3 of the students in Elizabeth’s room have identified disabilities, are medically fragile, or are identified as both. She also has many students who speak a language other than English at home and/or qualify for scholarships due to income. The outstanding results she achieves with her students help us make the case that inclusive early childhood programs are great for all children.
She encouraged her associate teacher to work towards becoming a PreK teacher, and this year, they were able to promote her associate to a PreK position. Elizabeth has mentored many PreK teachers, without being asked. As the Director of Children & Youth Services, she is extremely helpful to her team. She continues to be the type of teacher who sends helpful articles, reminders about upcoming projects, and anything else that she feels will support the team. During a recent visit to KFICCC by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), the grant manager said she was not going to visit Elizabeth’s classroom anymore. Rather, she was just going to wave to her and thank her for her extraordinary teaching. All of the children at KFICCC benefit from Elizabeth’s superior teaching abilities, but particularly the children in her classroom. Her excellence has been instrumental in making the case that PreK inclusive education can and does work for all children. Elizabeth is someone who could easily become an administrator, which is financially more rewarding. Her team is fortunate that she decided to stay in the classroom and become the master teacher that she is.
Donna L. DePamphilis
Donna DePamphilis has dedicated more than 40 years to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), leaving a lasting impact across classrooms, families, and the broader Maryland community. Throughout her career with the Charles County Public Schools system, she has worked directly with students both in the classroom and one-on-one, serving as a trusted IEP facilitator who consistently helped students achieve and often exceed their goals. Her commitment to individualized support and meaningful inclusion has empowered countless students to thrive academically, socially, and personally.
Beyond her work in schools, Donna has demonstrated exceptional leadership and advocacy through her longstanding involvement with The Arc Southern Maryland, where she has served in key board leadership roles. She has also contributed at the state level through The Arc Maryland, helping to advance inclusive education and services for people with IDD across Maryland. Her dedication has been formally recognized through her selection as an honoree in The Arc Maryland’s leadership and advocacy awards. Donna’s advocacy is deeply personal as well as professional. As the adoptive mother of Reshawn, a young woman with IDD, she has demonstrated what is possible through unwavering support, high expectations, and inclusive opportunities. Through her guidance, Reshawn has grown into an independent and capable young adult reflecting the same values Donna has instilled in the many students and families she has served.
As she prepares to retire this year, Donna leaves behind a powerful legacy of inclusion, compassion, and impact. Her career exemplifies what it means to champion the potential of every individual and to build systems that support success for all. Donna DePamphilis is truly deserving of recognition for her outstanding contributions to inclusive education and the IDD community.