Gov. Chris Christie has appointed two NJEA members to the N.J. Special Education and Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Task Force. Vernon Township High School teacher and Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey member Joanne Ploch and Howell Township special education teacher Linda Levine will serve on the 17-member body.
The task force was created in 2009 and was made permanent by a law signed by Gov. Jon Corzine in January 2010.The primary charge of the task force is to both develop best practices and processes for education professionals working with students with a traumatic brain injury and address the needs of students with a traumatic brain injury.
The body is tasked with additional responsibilities:
- Studying and evaluating practices for recognizing and educating children with traumatic brain injuries of all types ranging from mild to severe.
- Preparing students with traumatic brain injury for entry into college or the work force.
- Examining how current statutes and regulations affect students.
Joanne Ploch has been an athletic trainer and health and physical education teacher at Vernon Township School District since 2004. She is also a former executive council member of the Athletic Trainers’ Society of N.J., and brings over 20 years of experience in the fields of athletic training, sports medicine, and education.
Linda Levine is a middle school special education teacher and a learning consultant. She has served on the Education Committee of the Brain Injury Association of N.J. for over 15 years. She became involved in this issue after her son suffered a brain injury and continues to advocate for brain injury awareness as a parent and teacher.