About Me:

 

"Real success is finding your lifework in the work you love" David McCullough.

Hello, my name is Abby Schaaf and I am a current resident of Herndon, Virginia. I’m recently new to the Virginia area having just moved here in June of 2012 after graduating with my Bachelors of Science in Education with triple certification in Special Education, Elementary Education, and Early Childhood Education from St. BonaventureUniversity in Olean, New York.

Currently I am pursuing a Curriculum and Instruction, MEd in Integrating Technology in Schools from George Mason University. While at Mason I have thrived in the cohort community based atmosphere and have learned a great deal from my colleagues in the program. When I’m not immersing myself in my graduate studies I am in a profession that I love.

I am blessed to teach at RobinsonSecondary School as lead Special Education teacher in their Intellectual Disabilities, Category B, program where I teach adapted English and Reading to the 9-12^th grade students. Robinson Secondary school is located in Fairfax, Virginia and is part of the Fairfax County Public school system. I am very fortunate to be able to go to a job that I love each and every day and work with a student population that I am passionate about.

In addition to teaching at Robinson I also serve as my department’s lead teacher as well as coaching the JV GirlsBasketball team as well as their Special Olympics Basketball team. I also am the Varsity Club sponsor, which is an extracurricular social/service club fostering friendship, understanding, and acceptance in an effort to enhance both students with Intellectual Disabilities and students from the general education populations’ opportunities for friendships, integrated job and life skills development as well as leadership development. Robinson Secondary’s Varsity Club is committed to building an environment where social growth is nurtured and where opportunity to strengthen the sense of Ram pride in our athletic community is embraced.

Outside of work and school other aspects of my life that are very influential and important to me is my family and my faith. I was raised in a family of five that was always taught to put others first. My loving, dedicated, full of life, driven, faithful, tight knit family are the glue of my life. They have supported me in all of my hopes and dreams, and they are the reason I am where I am today.

I am an advocate for serving others and my community. I enjoy giving motivational and inspirational presentations to promote Disability Awareness and to assist youth in being leaders in their communities and faith life. I’ve enjoyed giving various speeches at youth rallies around the Western Pennsylvania area as well as hosting Disability assemblies at Robinson Secondary School.

Family, Friends, Education, Equality, Faith, Leadership and Community are what I live for and they have made my life very whole, and very happy indeed!