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Michigan Transition Services Association 
 

  2009 Anderson Award Recipient

 

In honor of C. David Anderson, our dear friend and colleague, the Michigan Transition Services Association issues an annual award to a MTSA member who exemplifies outstanding support and promotion of transition services through leadership, advocacy, and/or innovation.

 
Congratulations to Ann Marie Ball !
 

It was truly an honor to announce Ann Marie Ball as this year’s winner of the C. David Anderson award.   Ann Marie was presented with a commemorative plaque and many accolades during the awards ceremony at this year’s MTSA Annual Conference on March 19th.  Her husband Tim and several colleagues were able to surprise Ann Marie and join us in honoring her contributions to the field of Transition.

Ann Marie has been the Transition Coordinator at Tuscola ISD for more than 13 years.  She provides guidance, training, and resources to staff within the ISD and those in the professional community in Michigan.  She is responsible for the coordination of Transition activities including work-based learning sites, student entrepreneurships, student transition council, family nights student transition conferences and summer programs.  Ann Marie is directly responsible for the development and supervision of two off-campus Transition programs whose goals are employment and independent living.  She also helped to establish a post-secondary program based in a home built specifically for the program.

 James Walker, Assistant Superintendent of Special Education at Tuscola ISD wrote a moving testament of Ann Marie in his nomination letter; “Ann Marie takes the position as Transition Coordinator as much more than a job.  She believes this is a chance to make a difference in the lives of children.  Her vision of individual independence focuses on the needs of the individual child.  Having known David Anderson, I know he would have been proud to know her as a friend and colleague.  He probably would break out a nice, new cigar and say something like, “Jimmy, that transition gal of yours does one heck of a good job for you.  You better take care of her.”  Mr. Walker’s letter ends with; “On behalf of all our young adults ...Tuscola ISD is truly blessed to have Ann Marie Ball.” 

We in MTSA agree, and are proud to have named Ann Marie Ball as the 2009 winner of the C. David Anderson award.

                                                                                Julia Flowerday, MTSA President 2008-2009