Teacher Liz Hanlon is an applied skills teacher and classroom manager for 13 students with developmental disabilities.

“My job is to provide them with opportunities for inclusion, job development, academic skills, and overall success in life,” Hanlon said. “ I prepare them for the future.”

Hanlon typically has students for their whole high school career, and gets new students every year as older ones graduate.

“I get new students their freshman year, and it’s really rewarding to see them grow through the years to become more independent students, independent people, and independent citizens,” Hanlon said. 

With new students coming in every year, Hanlon has to figure out how the new students learn best, and how to make high school the best possible experience.

“When you have freshmen, getting to know them and getting to know what their triggers are for certain things can be really challenging,” Hanlon said. 

Hanlon has made a lot of improvements to the program since her start at CPHS, and has tried to help make Crown Point a more inclusive town.

“When I first started the kids were mostly isolated and I feel like one of the things that I’ve helped accomplish is I started the peer tutoring program.” Hanlon said. “I feel like I created a more inclusive environment with kids getting out in classes and exposing the kids to their peers.”

Hanlon overall tries to make school a positive environment for her students and give them access to all the help they need.