By Ann Marie Shambaugh
Study hall may not be known for inspiring life-changing moments, but an otherwise normal class period led to a career calling for Zionsville resident Megan Guard.
Guard, who teaches a severe disabilities Life Skills class, recently earned the Teacher of the Year honor at Brownsburg West Middle School. In only her second year at the school, Guard earned the votes of her fellow teachers in naming her the Teacher of the Year.
“I am so honored and humbled to have won this award,” Guard said.
This year Guard, 24, teaches a class of eight students with a range of disabilities that include autism, Down syndrome and muscular dystrophy. She decided to pursue a career in special education after the life skills teacher gave a presentation in her study hall during her freshman year at Zionsville Community High School.
“I felt a calling to help students with disabilities, so I was a peer assistant all four years of high school,” Guard said. “There were a few students I worked with in particular that I developed friendships with, some of which I’m still in contact with today. I grew a passion for working with these students and found that it was very rewarding.”
Guard continued learning about and working with students with disabilities at Ball State University, graduating in 2009. With only two years of professional teaching under her belt, Guard has already made a huge impact on the students and staff members at her school.
“Megan is phenomenal with our life skills students,” said Laurie Johnson, BWMS principal. “Students that struggled previously with their behavior are now thriving. Megan took the time to understand why the student was having the behavior and then teach the student a replacement behavior.”
Because her students have unique needs and goals, Guard customizes the schedule and curriculum. In addition to classroom work, her students have jobs in the cafeteria and frequently head off campus to learn life skills. They go to the grocery store, library and restaurants to practice what they’ve learned.
“I try to make learning as fun as possible while creating natural environments for learning,” Guard said.
Meet Megan Guard
Favorite movie: The Proposal (I love anything with Sandra Bullock)
Favorite food: Mexican
Favorite quote: Ephesians 4:2, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Pets: My family has a sheltie named Lady. We have a love/hate relationship.
