Sat, Sept 7, 2024
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Dorothy H. Baker Recital Hall
at Community Music School
Community Music School is pleased to welcome Sr. Carol Ann Nawracaj OSF for this free seminar on best practices to provide inclusive and accessible education for persons with learning differences, including Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Sr. Carol Ann is an educator, author, artist, football coach, magician, and Bernardine Franciscan Sister, who resides at the motherhouse in Reading, PA. She holds a master’s degree in special education and is state-certified in special education and administration.
This is a free public event. Everyone is welcome. Please use this link to reserve your seat and materials for the presentation by Friday, August 30.
This event is free for the public to attend; however, CMS is a nonprofit organization. If you are able, please consider making a charitable donation to help support our mission here.
About the Speaker
Sr. Carol Ann Nawracaj OSF
Sister Carol Ann is a Bernardine Franciscan nun, who resides at the motherhouse in Reading, Pennsylvania. In 1967, sister began teaching in elementary schools and in 1973, she was assigned to Villa Maria Education Center, a school for children with learning disabilities. After teaching at the Center for nine years, she became the head of school in 1982. She was in education for 53 years and in special education for 47 of those years. Sister holds a masters degree in special education and is state certified in special education and administration.
In the past, Sister’s summers were spent at Fairfield University as a professor of the Graduate school and as a member of the Advisory Board for Graduate Programs in Special Education. She was on the Advisory Board for the Connecticut Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, was inducted into their Hall of Fame, and is listed in Who’s Who in American Education and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. She was listed among one of the “Teachers Who Make It Work” and her article was published in The CHADDer Box, a newsletter dealing with Attention Deficit Disorders. She is frequently a guest speaker on topics of Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorders.
In addition to her professional responsibilities, Sister Carol Ann is very active in her Community, using her artistic abilities and professional expertise in a variety of ways which range from designing banners to conducting workshops. She was first Councilor of the Province from 1985 through 1993. At present she is the Vocation Director and Aspirant Director for the congregation.
As a youngster growing up in New Jersey, Sister found magic a fascinating hobby and enjoyed performing homemade tricks. Today, she is a professional magician and a member of the Society of American Magicians. Besides performing for her students, faculty, family, friends and other sisters, she has performed for David Copperfield and Paul Newman, and been on Entertainment Tonight. Sister also used her magic to entertain the audience of Nunsense at the Connecticut Broadway Theater.
In 1997, she added author to her other titles. Her book, Treasures from Heaven, a collection of essays related to her teaching and interspersed with biblical quotations and photographs of children, went into its third printing with over 28,000 copies sold. Sister’s second book, Thank Heaven for Little Girls was published in 2001. While promoting her book, Sister appeared on The God Squad, The Catholic Corner, Weekend Today in New York, The Exchange, and Trendsetters.
During the summer of 1974, Sister was studying at Fairfield University and the Football Giants were training at the University. A friendship began with Sister and the team. In 1981, then head coach, Ray Perkins named her Honorary Assistant Coach of the Football Giants and subsequent head coaches have renewed her contract. In this capacity, she has boosted the morale of the team through her “spirit” talks at team meetings, her congratulatory messages, her birthday and holiday remembrances, and her faithful collection of newspaper clippings that she artistically displays for the players at the end of each season. She was privileged to accompany the Giants to all five Super Bowls and shared in their victory celebrations. Her status as coach has been nationally recognized with articles appearing in newspapers from here to California, and through her appearances on CBS, FOX, WOR, NFL Today, Sports Channel and Sports Update.
