Dana Moran

Dana Moran is a Special Education Teacher at Pleasantville High School. She has been a teacher for over 16 years and got her start as a classroom aide for a preschool disability classroom. That experience led her to pursue a career in Special Education. Her work with Pleasantville students has been rewarding, especially so because she has been able to follow her students through each grade since elementary school. This is made possible by

Pleasantville's Multiple Disabilities Program.
Her students are now in High School, so planning for life after school is something they are focusing on. Dana explained in addition to academics their goal is to prepare students for success as they transition beyond school, "they need life skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives." They are working on a number of skills and have partnered with Atlantic CIL on topics like transportation, social media and online gaming safety, and kitchen safety. Kitchen safety has been exciting because her students are gaining the skills to cook and bake with hands on activities. They most recently made grilled cheese sandwiches and chocolate cake. By following a recipe and working together students are also developing their communication and social skills. Next year plan to create a morning café where they will learn business skills and sell breakfast items like muffins, bagels, juice and coffee for school staff and students. Dana is committed to providing her students with meaningful interactive experiences that will prepare them for their future.