Two Angels: Special-needs student blooms

It can be done.

Angel Gonzales, a student in Cathy Williamson’s fifth-grade homeroom at Continental School, has made the honor roll.

Since the beginning of the school year, teacher’s aide Rosie Blanco has worked one-on-one with Angel, who is autistic.

Not only have Williamson and Blanco seen big improvements in Angel’s behavior, social skills and school work, but his parents have noticed great improvement overall in their son and are overjoyed.

Blanco, who is with Angel all day, every day said his progress since the beginning of the school year has been tremendous; when his parents came to a parent-teacher conference they thanked her for giving him so much attention.

“He writes his full name; at the beginning of the year he could only write ‘Angel.’ He’s reading; before I couldn’t get him to open a book. Now he wants to read. I compliment him every day.

“He’s handing in work. He has confidence and his self-esteem is up there. His head isn’t down anymore. He participates more with classmates,” Blanco said.

She said recently there was a special honor roll assembly but Angel didn’t want a fuss made about him; he didn’t want to be “up there.” Instead he was congratulated in the classroom and received two certificates.

Williamson said when Blanco was out for a day recently Angel easily joined others in class and was able to go through a full day without his one-on-one aide.

“He was so calm; he was doing work just like the others. Rosie has done so much.”

In addition to Angel’s social and scholastic growth this school year, Blanco raved about his art skills, which she thinks will be the path he’ll follow after high school.

“He’s an excellent artist. He drew a rattlesnake and labeled where the body parts were. When he was learning about the Oregon Trail I showed him a photo of a covered wagon and he drew it. He’d look and draw, look and draw.

“If we can get across that way, through art, he’ll be OK ... Angel has come a long way and I think he knows how far he’s come.”

Though Blanco credits Angel for his growth Williamson said it’s Blanco’s one-on-one attention, daily compliments and overall nurturing that are responsible for the noticeable changes.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.