Online Special Education Professor Earns Recognition in Community and State

Dr. Allison Nealy, a professor in the Bachelor of Science in Special Education online program, has been earning a lot of praise lately.  She was a nominee for the first Board of Regent’s Excellence in Online Teaching Award. Every year, the Board of Regent’s at the University of Georgia select professors from several universities in the state. She was the representative for UGA.

She was also recognized in the community by being nominated for the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce’s Athena award.  It is awarded to women who excel in three areas, leadership, community service, and the development of other womens’ skills. She made the cut in these areas because “I work with so many undergraduates and pre-service teachers. I do a lot of mentoring in the schools to educators.” says Dr. Nealy.  She also helps out a lot in the Clarke County School District, where she worked for nine years. The school district does have a formal partnership with UGA where professors, including Dr. Nealy, go into the schools and work with the teachers.

In 2013, she was selected as an “Exceptional” by the Athens Banner Herald, which is given to only 13 people a year for outstanding community service. She earned this award for her commitment to Extra Special People. She is on the Board of Directors for this organization which she says “provides socialization opportunities for special needs kids outside of school”.

Dr. Nealy has been involved in the online special education program since the beginning. She said “I started teaching in the online program in 2000. At first it was just a teaching certificate program.” The program has been very successful and has adapted to online learning very well. Dr. Nealy says that “We have been doing online programming in our department for a long time. We are always trying new technologies and looking for the new thing.”