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Ruth Garvin
dedicated her professional life to helping autistic students
identify their gifts and share them with the world. In memory of
her work, Florence Elementary School hostecd An Evening to Honor
Ruth Garvin from 6 – 8 p.m. on November 2.
Artwork created by Keller ISD students with autism were on
display. The art show also featured works by internationally
acclaimed autistic artists Christophe Pillaut and Richard Wawro.
Dr. Laurence Becker, a nationally recognized author, speaker and
proponent of artists with disabilities, provided the works for
display. Selected pieces were available for purchase.
Garvin, who was a special education teacher specializing in
working with autistic students, passed away earlier this year.
“Ruth’s goal was to help autistic students open doors and
share with others their abilities and the messages inside
themselves,” said Mahala Gardner, Keller ISD Director of
Elementary Curriculum and a long-time friend of Garvin’s.
“‘Never’ was not in her vocabulary, and she would not give
up on those students. She knew they all had beautiful things to
share.”
Florence Elementary School Principal Suzanne Pettit sought out
Garvin when the autistic program began at the school in 1996.
“Our parents were thrilled,” Pettit said. “They saw that
their children were getting the attention and caring that they
needed.”
Pettit said Garvin even traveled to Colorado at her own expense
to meet with the teachers of one of her students who relocated
to the state.
“She would go the extra mile for any of her students,”
Pettit said. “Ruth was a wonderful person. She represented
goodness in both her professional and personal life.”
Florence Elementary School is located at 3095 Johnson Road in
Southlake. For more information, contact Principal Suzanne
Pettit, 817-337-3600.
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