Awards

Named in honor of Margaret Burley, who served for thirty‑nine years as executive director of the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities, the Margaret Burley Impact Award celebrates an individual whose work has meaningfully improved the lives of people with disabilities. As a parent of a son with disabilities, Margaret was a powerful advocate for his right to learn, grow, and contribute to his community. Under her leadership—and with the support of many partners—the Ohio Coalition grew from a single part‑time director into a statewide organization with more than twenty‑five staff members and a $2.5 million budget.

Nominees for the Impact Award have served as mentors, coaches, advocates, and connectors within the disability community. They demonstrate sustained passion, dedication, and support, carrying forward the spirit of impact that defined Margaret’s life and work.

Amy Szymanski
Secondary Transition and Workforce Development Consultant, State Support Team Region 1

Amy Szymanski has dedicated more than thirty years to the field of education, with a passion for supporting students with disabilities and the educators and systems that serve them, particularly in the areas of secondary transition and dropout prevention.

Amy currently serves as the statewide Secondary Transition and Workforce Development Consultant at State Support Team Region 1. For the past 11 years, she has supported the work of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s Office for Exceptional Children, leading initiatives including Each Child On Track, a five-year state systemic improvement plan, which focused on improving graduation rates for students with disabilities.

Amy began her career at the Perrysburg Exempted Village School District as an elementary special education teacher and later served as the district’s special education coordinator. Her career has also included work as a special education and school improvement consultant with State Support Team Region 1 and as a Technical Assistance Consultant at the American Institutes for Research.

At the center of Amy’s work is a commitment to ensuring students with disabilities have equitable access to the opportunities, experiences, and supports that put them on a path toward successful post-school outcomes.

Outside of work, Amy enjoys spending time with her husband and their dog, along with her large extended family and friends.