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Meet Haverhill's teacher of the year

Eagle-Tribune - 11/23/2017

Nov. 23--Danielle Gregoire became a teacher as a way to help her son, who as a child was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Her son is now in high school, but Gregoire continues to work with other children, some of whom face serious challenges to learning.

Because of her efforts to help children grow, Gregoire, 40, of Haverhill, has been named Educator of the Year by the Haverhill YMCA.

Her students at the Moody School, a pre-kindergarten center, are a mixture of typically developing children and those with special needs ranging from the autism spectrum and speech delays, to developmental delays and physical disabilities.

"I love working with little children ... I love their innocence, and I love watching them grow and change so much in a short time," she said. "Being a parent of a child with special needs, I can sympathize and empathize with parents and help support and direct them in various areas of their children's development."

Gregoire was one of 16 nominees from schools across Haverhill. She was honored by the YMCA at its ninth annual Educator of the Year and Recognition Event last week at DiBurro's function hall in Ward Hill.

"You never count a kid out," she said. "Kids are remarkable and I always have high expectations for them. And when you do, they always rise to the challenge."

As Educator of the Year, Gregoire received citations from Mayor James Fiorentini and the Massachusetts Senate, which was signed by Senate President Stanley Rosenberg and State Sen. Kathleen O'Connor Ives.

Gregoire also received 50 six-month youth memberships to the YMCA for her students, as well as a pizza party from UNO's for her class.

The event also honored retired Haverhill teacher Jean Ray for her Commitment to Community. The Covanta company was named Business Community Partner.

Gregoire changed careers 10 years ago, after leaving her job in California as a human resources and marketing director for a high-tech company.

The Haverhill native returned to her home town to start a family and continued to work in the high-tech industry, until her son, Edward, who was 3 at the time, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Edward is now a freshman at Whittier Regional High. Gregoire's daughter Noelle is in seventh grade at Whittier Middle School, and her daughter Adria is a fourth-grader at Silver Hill School.

All of Gregoire's children, along with her mother, Dorette Simes, attended the Educator of the Year program. Gregoire's husband, William Gregoire, was home sick.

"I went back to school to do what I could for Edward, and what I learned in school I applied at home to help him, which helped him grow," she said.

Seven years ago, Gregoire got a job as a substitute teacher in Haverhill and fell in love with the Moody. She's been there ever since.

She does "simple little things" for her students that make a big difference, such as at the end of the school year, when she hands out pails filled with learning activities for the summer. And at the end of every month, she sends home a craft project, such as this month's which is to disguise a paper turkey by dressing it any way a child wants.

Gregoire was nominated by parent Lauren Ignos, whose daughter Emily was in Gregoire's class last year.

"Her letter made me cry," Gregoire said "It was very beautifully written."

Ignos lauded Gregoire in her nomination letter, saying her commitment and dedication to her students is "remarkable."

"Never one to look for recognition or thanks, she quietly goes about her mission to make the world a better place one child at a time," Ignos wrote. "She is an unsung hero in her school, home and community."

Ignos also noted the charitable efforts put forth by Gregoire and her daughter, Noelle, whose charity "Laps 4 Backs" has, since 2014, donated more than 25,000 gift items for children who are patients at hospitals across New England.

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(c)2017 The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Mass.)

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