Rider senior recognized for excellence in special education

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Rider University senior Rylee Diffenderfer was awarded the 2024 Department of Teacher Education Special Education Award. This faculty-selected honor recognizes excellence in special education coursework, commitment to the field and outstanding student teaching performance.

This accolade marks a milestone in her journey as she prepares to begin her teaching career at Millstone River School in the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District in the fall. 

Originally planning for a career in arts management, Diffenderfer experienced a pivotal moment during her senior year of high school when her brother, who has special needs, entered the school as a freshman. Observing his classroom, she was moved by how his teacher sparked his enthusiasm for learning and created an inclusive environment. This experience not only deepened her brother's love for education but also inspired Diffenderfer’s future path.

"Receiving this award was a deeply emotional moment for me because my main goal has always been to create a better, more inclusive world for my brother and people like him," she says. "It confirmed that I am already making meaningful progress toward that goal."

Diffenderfer, an elementary education and multidisciplinary studies dual major with dual minors in special education and Spanish, credits Rider’s College of Education and Human Services for enriching her academic journey with its supportive faculty and collaborative learning environment.

“The relationships I’ve made with my professors, and others in the education department, have contributed to my success,” she says.

One of the most important lessons Diffenderfer learned from her professors is the importance of building positive relationships with students. She applied this principle during her time at Millstone River School, where she completed her student teaching.

Working with general education third-grade and special education fifth-grade students, she formed close bonds with them by listening to their challenges, encouraging their strengths and offering personalized support. This approach mirrored the nurturing support she observed her brother receive from his teacher, which inspired her career path.

“Seeing that I was able to get the students excited about learning and to be proud of their work, when they often perceive their work as being less than, has been special to me,” she says.

She also collaborated with a mentor teacher to develop the Recess Buddies program, designed to foster inclusion and support for students with autism by helping them engage with peers and teaching others how to interact with them.

“Stepping up to be the person who believes in them and pushes them to succeed is why I chose special education and why I'm so passionate about it,” she says.

Long-term, Diffenderfer hopes to continue supporting students with autism and plans to pursue advanced education to enhance her ability to help them thrive.