Gina Vincent, Lincoln Elementary School’s 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year, has taught resource classes for the last ten years, but her dedication to special education is lifelong.

 

“I have two special needs brothers,” she said. “One of them has mild/moderate disabilities, and the other has severe disabilities. Growing up with them pushed me in this direction. When I went to USU, I couldn’t decide whether to pursue mild/moderate or severe special education, but I ultimately decided on mild/moderate.”

 

Vincent loves advocating for students with mild/moderate disabilities, which she believes are often more difficult to recognize than severe or profound disabilities.

 

“Within Special Education, you see this wide range of students and abilities,” she said. “A lot of people, when they think of special education, think of students with more significant disabilities because their disabilities are very visible. But, many of the students I work with have invisible disabilities. They’re struggling with dyslexia, dysgraphia, or sometimes behavioral or emotional disabilities. These are kids that are in the general education classrooms. These are kids you see every day. And it’s our job to help them find ways to be successful.” 

 

 

“Gina is a shining example of what it means to be student-focused,” Lincoln Elementary Principal Audrey McKell said. “Every one of her students is on an individual education plan, and she meets them right where they are.”

 

Vincent’s approach centers around helping her students win everyday battles with the challenges they face.

 

“It may seem cliche,” she said, “but the moment when something clicks for a struggling student - helping them find that confidence in success is so much fun! I have a student who has just struggled with confidence because they have been so low academically. But this year, we have found things they’re good at. I love getting to see that confidence start to grow as they try things independently.”

 

Principal McKell praised Vincent’s excellence in teaching language arts and math. She also highlighted Vincent’s commitment to helping students succeed socially and emotionally.

 

“She promotes character by leaving her students with the emotional regulation and social skills that they need to succeed in school and life,” McKell said. “She helps these children become not only better students but better people.”

 

Vincent excels at helping her students develop a growth mindset and set goals by modeling those behaviors in her own life.

 

“I mentioned that I love seeing how far my students have come,” she said. “But I would say that for myself as well. I am a completely different teacher than I was at the start. It’s just amazing not only to watch them grow but to see myself grow.”

 

Principal McKell expressed profound gratitude for Vincent’s exceptional contribution to her school. 

 

“It is Gina’s passion, dedication, and sense of the school community that makes her deserving of this award,” she said. “We are grateful for her inspiration to all of us and for touching our lives forever.”