Conant High teacher receives award

Conant High School Special Education Teacher Matt Meyer received the UPS for DownS “Commitment to Excellence” Award at the organization's annual fall event Oct. 15. The award recognizes his work enriching the lives of children with Down syndrome and their families.

“Matt believes that all children with disabilities deserve an education; one that is not limited, but all inclusive,”said UPS for DownS Chairwoman MaryLynn Cassata.

Meyer joined Conant High School in 2005, and has included kids both academically and socially.

“He has been a pioneer, breaking down barriers that normally exist with inclusion, by setting high standards of what is acceptable and what is not,” Cassata said. “In five years, Matt has accomplished what most people spend their entire career trying to achieve. He has turned around the culture of an entire school, and in doing so has changed their thinking process making the face of down syndrome equal, not special.”