LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Anastasia Alley was nominated anonymously.

As a Life Skills Special Education teacher, Ms. Alley fosters a positive classroom environment by creating a space that is inclusive, student-centered, and grounded in respect and dignity for all learners. Her classroom is designed to support a wide range of academic, social, emotional, and functional needs, utilizing individualized supports, clear routines, and consistent expectations to foster trust and predictability. 

Relationships are at the heart of Ms. Alley's approach. She prioritizes building authentic connections with students and their families, honoring each student's strengths, voice, and identity. She cultivates a community where differences are celebrated and where every student feels safe, valued, and capable of growth.

Instructionally, Ms. Alley uses multisensory, hands-on, and real-world learning experiences that promote engagement and skill development. Peer collaboration, visual supports, and choice-based activities are integrated daily to encourage independence and meaningful inclusion across settings. She also works closely with general education staff to create flexible, innovative models of inclusion that benefit both students with disabilities and their typically developing peers.

By combining high expectations with compassion, structure with creativity, and advocacy with collaboration, Ms. Alley strives to create a positive, empowering environment where all students can thrive. She establishes a long-term vision focused on mainstream course inclusion, physical well-being, academic achievement, and life readiness, ensuring students are equipped for success in post-secondary education, employment, and independent living.

Ms. Alley champions student inclusion in general education through co-teaching models, peer mentorships, and differentiated instruction, raising expectations for student learning and fostering a culture of equity. She developed a curriculum that integrates academic standards with functional life skills, including literacy, numeracy, social studies, science, and community-based instruction, aligning with IEP goals and state benchmarks.

Ms. Alley advocated for and implemented adaptive physical education and wellness programming tailored to students' sensory and motor development needs, in close collaboration with PT, OT, and related service providers. She serves as a leader in building a culture of dignity and empowerment, where all students are seen as capable, valued, and integral members of the school community.

As a Life Skills Special Education teacher working with a diverse group of learners, she relies on a variety of adaptable and engaging resources to meet the academic, functional, and sensory needs of her students. Ms. Alley is always seeking out high-quality tools in reading, math, social studies, and science that are accessible, leveled, and aligned with real-life applications. Resources that offer visual supports, interactive components, and multisensory learning are especially valuable in helping students make meaningful connections across subjects. In addition to academic materials, she also prioritizes creative resources that support self-expression and communication, such as art, music, storytelling, and movement-based activities. These tools not only foster emotional growth but also serve as bridges to social connection and inclusion.

Given the wide range of physical and sensory needs in her classroom, she works closely with physical/occupational therapy providers and values resources that incorporate fine and gross motor skill development, from adaptive seating and sensory bins to hands-on life skills tasks and movement-based learning strategies. The most helpful resources are those that support the whole child, allowing her to blend academics, therapy goals, communication, and creativity in one inclusive and student-centered environment.

Additionally, Ms. Alley boasts numerous professional accomplishments. She founded the Life Skills Program at CHRHS, which was developed collaboratively with the administration 16 years ago, to support students with diverse abilities through a comprehensive, inclusive, and strength-based model. Ms. Alley also created and sustained a thriving Special Olympics program, including unified teams in bowling, cross-country skiing, and basketball—promoting athleticism, teamwork, and inclusive community participation. She organized and led an annual Special Olympics Track & Field Meet, serving students across three Maine counties and impacting over 20 schools and 200+ athletes through adaptive sports leadership.