Special education teacher has seen a lot of change
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers ABOUT TO SAY GOODBYE- - Joyce Silberberger, a veteran teacher of young people with special needs, will retire in January. She's been an asset to the district and to Newbury Park High School.

When Joyce Silberberger was a teen in Montana, she worked after class in the local school district office. A special education class was held there in the room next to hers.

Silberberger's observations at the time laid the foundation for her desire to work in special education.

"I really thought, even then in high school, that things could have been done differently," Silberberger said. "It made me want to go to college to be a teacher."

In January, more than 30 years later, Silberberger will end her career and retire from Conejo Valley Unified School District.

After attending Eastern Montana College, now part of Montana State University, Silberberger worked in Montana for 10 years.

Her first job involved kids who'd been institutionalized their whole lives and were coming home after adequate care guidelines were updated in the early '70s.

In 1982, Silberberger moved to the Conejo Valley with her husband, James, CVUSD human resources director for classified personnel. He will retire next month as well.

For 15 years, Silberberger has been at her current position, teaching high school students with severe disabilities. The program is co-taught by Brenda Sampson, who's been learning from Silberberger for the past year.

"In school I didn't learn how to teach this population," Sampson said. "As a mentor, (Silberberger) has taught me with her years of experience. And because her experience is so varied, she challenges me to think and to be thoughtful regarding this population as far as what my expectations are.

"Everybody should be so lucky to have had the opportunity I've had to learn from her."

The special education program, which combines kids from all three CVUSD high schools, begins at 7 a.m. with communications skills. Next the group studies math and English. They count and learn the value of money, and the few students who can comprehend read, while others learn safety words.

For juniors and seniors, the next two periods are spent working with businesses who've signed on to the program, including Applebee's, Starbucks and CVS.

Meena Benson's 17-year-old son, Michael, has been in Silberberger's class for four years and will continue in the program until he's 23.

"She's wonderful," said Benson. "She's well-rounded and extremely sharp. I think it's because she's done it for so long, but she's just great. I don't want her to leave. We'll really miss her."

Ashley Singleton, 16, has been in the class for three years.

"She's been so wonderful for Ashley," said her mom, Kim. "It's been such a change from middle school to high school- she's really taken them in a totally new direction. Ashley is so much more independent because Mrs. Silberberger expects them to do what every other student does.

"She doesn't (put up with any nonsense). But she's kind and caring and goes out of her way to help."

As an adviser to the Panther Pals Club, which allows handicapped and non-handicapped students on campus to celebrate holidays or do service projects together, Silberberger ensures that her kids are more visible on campus.

"It's a chance for the high school kids to know some of our students," Silberberger said. "Sometimes they'll even take our kids to eat with their friends."

The educator is also known throughout the district for organizing teas twice a year, events that serve both as social gatherings and learning tools. Silberberger's students work half the tea, cooking, serving or cleaning, and use the other half to practice their social skills.

"We use the teas as an activity to use the things we're learning," Silberberger said. "We'll cook or practice measuring, put up decorations and practice verbalizing and socializing. One student who never wanted to serve or approach someone he didn't know finally did go up to someone with some encouragement. It was my last tea, and it was really great to see."

JoAnn Yoos, assistant superintendent of personnel services, has worked with Silberberger for many years.

"She is one of the finest special education teachers I've ever seen in action," Yoos said. "Her caring nature ensures that each of her students feels special and finds success. . . . For some of these students, being with Joyce allowed them to open up and grow despite any limitations they have. She will be so missed."

Since her high school days listening in on the special education class, Silberberger said, she's seen great strides in programs all over the country.

"There's been a lot of change," she said. "The students are more visible on campuses, and there's more opportunity for them to be integrated into mainstream classes. I've seen great growth since I had my first group of students straight out of the institution."

Silberberger has two grown daughters; both attended Newbury Park High School. She and her husband are leaving for a six-week trip to India at the end of January.

Silberberger's last day is Jan. 25. For more information regarding her retirement arrangements, call Brenda Sampson at (805) 498-3676, ext. 1403.