Christine Bloch joined CIU 20 in 2012 when she moved to Pennsylvania from California. She began as a classroom teacher in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program at the middle school level, and moved to Liberty High School in 2014. She has embraced working with students at the high school level and says that "I enjoy helping my students navigate their transition into the "real" world...the students teach me something everyday."
Ms. Bloch acknowledges that success for students served by IU 20 requires a team approach, "I couldn't do my job without the support of my amazing team. I am fortunate to have associate specialists who always step up to help as well as a hearing therapist and speech therapists."
She also credits a willingness to be flexible with helping her students achieve their goals, "Thinking outside the box and the classroom helps me help my students. We follow the student's lead in the classroom. When they don't understand, we change direction or present it in a different way. We also have created such a family environment within my classroom. Students feel safe with making mistakes and asking questions."
It's evident that Christine deeply cares for her students and wants to see them succeed in and outside of the classroom. She has advocated for a student of hers to be included on the Liberty HS football team. She was also instrumental in helping a very resilient, courageous, and determined student receive a special holiday surprise from members of the CIU 20 team. These are just two examples of her daily commitment to go above and beyond to serve her students.
Christine's piece of advice for a new employee starting at the IU is "Ask for help and reach out. There will be hard days...we are not in this because it is easy. We are in this for the students. When you see them succeed, whatever that looks like for the individual student, remember that moment."