Hi! My name is Mary West. I joined DSAW Family Services in 2015 and currently serve as a daily life skills specialist, IEP/Behavior specialist, and a job developer/coach. There are few things that I enjoy more than helping my clients succeed and watching their joy when they do. This truly is my dream job!
My background is as an elementary special education teacher. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Educational Studies and Youth Leadership and a masters degree in Exceptional Education, both from UW-Milwaukee. I come to DSAW Family Services after just over a decade of working in elementary schools, first as a paraprofessional in the Whitefish Bay School District, and then as a teacher in the West Bend School District.
I’ve been married to my amazing husband since August of 2014. We are hoping to start a family soon. We enjoy spending time with our family and friends, as well as travelling. In the past few years I’ve been to such far off places as Thailand and Cambodia. However, I’m just as happy traveling within the U.S. to spend as much time as possible with my awesome nieces and nephews, or following the Wisconsin Badgers basketball team, of which I am a huge fan. Go Badgers!
Taking on my position with DSAW Family Services is one of the greatest decisions that I’ve ever made. I love spending time with my clients and enjoy that every day is a new adventure. In particular, I love helping clients find jobs. Sharing in the joy of watching a young person with a disability succeed in his or her first job is something that never ceases to bring me happiness.
I cannot imagine working with better colleagues and clients on an everyday basis. I look forward to meeting more of you as my journey with DSAW Family Services continues!