Courtney Nolan completed her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education in 2006 from the University of Washington. She has worked in various education settings including birth to 3 early intervention programs, early childhood Montessori classrooms, developmental preschool programs, self-contained elementary education classrooms, and residential home placements. She has worked in a number of both special education as well and Montessori Classroom environments. Throughout her years as an early intervention teacher, Courtney also provided direct assistance and strategies for various daycares, providing instruction and support to those working with children and families with disabilities, giving a valuable insight to a variety of classroom and care settings. With the help of her mother, a Montessorian with over 35 years of experience, she has designed a combination approach to the education of young children using special education and Montessori techniques. In addition, Courtney also serves on the Board of Directors for Smithwright Services, a residential home program serving both children with Autism and adults with varying special needs in Lynnwood, WA. In 2009 Courtney received the honor of being named Teacher of the Year from the ARC of Snohomish County, a national non-profit agency that provides advocacy and support to individuals with disabilities and their families, located in Washington State.
"As a parent of a child with autism, I understand the value of finding resources to help your child reach their full potential. Through my role as the Executive Director at the Arc of Snohomish County I am connected with countless parents in our County and across Washington State. We are a national non-profit agency that provides advocacy and support to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The importance of early intervention and inclusion is critical to children that face challenges with their development. Every year, at our Annual Meeting we recognize community members for outstanding achievements. Courtney Nolan was nominated by parents from Harbour Pointe Montessori for Teacher of the Year 2008/2009. In their own words Courtney's passion and expertise gave their child the tools he needed to learn to communicate, express emotions, play & socialize with other children and participate successfully in life. Courtney's knowledge and experience extends beyond her classroom as she sits with me on the Board of Directors at Smithwright services, a community residential agency providing housing options for children with autism and adult with developmental disabilities in Snohomish County. Clearly our County is lucky to have such a stellar individual making a difference in the lives of so many families and individuals both young and old."
Shayne Nagel, Executive Director at the Arc of Snohomish County
