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Media contacts:
Sharon Goolsby, Public Information Office: (864) 577-7505
Katie Rice, Public Information
Office: (864) 577-7506
Breitweiser
to Receive the Order of the Palmetto
Breitweiser
will be one of few people who have received the highest civilian honor from two
states. She was also awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine,
by multiple groups in recent months. She has received
many honors including the Southeast Regional Institute on Deafness (SERID) 2007
Outstanding Educator of the Year Award, the National Federation of the Blind of
SC Distinguished Service Award, the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International
Paul Harris Fellow, the Spartanburg Lions Club 2007 Lion of the Year and the
Melvin Jones Fellow, among others.
Breitweiser
will leave a model state agency that has made tremendous strides forward during
her 11-year tenure. Her work with the
state Legislature, donors and federal officials has ensured major facility
improvements on the 161-acre campus.
Those improvements translate into safe, quality teaching and service
environments.
Under her
leadership, the State Department of Education (SDE) has recognized SCSDB’s
academic achievements by naming the school a
Statewide
recognition is well deserved as the school has worked to provide meaningful
learning opportunities to its students and outreach clients. A tenth month of school, added to the
traditional nine months, will maximize success opportunities for students. Academic, residential, athletic and the fine
arts program have all been enhanced during the Breitweiser tenure.
Growth of
the school’s outreach programs has been phenomenal over the past decade
ensuring that quality services for sensory disabled students are available to
every school district in the state, that early intervention services are
readily available to families of deaf and/or blind infants and that individuals
who are deaf or blind have access to a
myriad of needed services.
“Those of us
who have had the opportunity to serve with Sheila Breitweiser are inspired by
her extraordinary accomplishments and her total commitment to SCSDB’s students
and clients,” said Spartanburg County Rep. Scott Tally (R) District 34.
Even though
Dr. Breitweiser spends countless hours serving SCSDB, she generously volunteers
her time and abilities to numerous community organizations and state agencies
such as the
When she retires,
Breitweiser will continue to be a positive influence on our community and
state. She and her husband, Bob, are building a home in Landrum. She plans to
spend time with family and relax a little, but there is no doubt that this
energetic and dedicated community servant will continue to make a significant
difference in the lives of individuals throughout
SCSDB offers programs for
preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, sensory multidisabled,
vocational and postsecondary education students, as well as a variety of
outreach services through regional centers located throughout the state. The main
campus is located in