Welcome to SPED 3600 by Melissa

Melissa Scire: Instructor

mscire — 2023-11-21 14:03:14 UTC

My name is Melissa Scire and I will be your instructor this semester for Issues, Trends, and Laws in Disability. I have been an Exceptional Children's teacher for 28 years working at all levels: elementary, middle, high school, and community college. I graduated from UNC-Charlotte with a bachelor's degree in K-12 Mild to Moderate Mental Handicaps in Special Education. Soon after graduation, I earned my National Board for Professional Teachers, and later I added Specific Learning Disabilities and Secondary English to my teaching license. I completed my graduate studies here at East Carolina University with a concentration in Learning Disabilities.

I am excited to share my knowledge with you and help you on your journey. I am a passionate teacher who advocates for change daily in my school and community. I am married and have two daughters, Lucia and Lila, who recently earned their degrees; Lucia in Occupational Therapy, and Lila in Exercise Science. Lucia just had twin boys, Luke and Noah, so I am a grandma now and loving it! I have three dogs, who are just like three additional children, ages 6 (Mack), 7 (Luna), and 8 (Buddy). In my free time, I enjoy hiking, reading, and exercising with my family.

I am really looking forward to connecting with you this semester. Please feel free to reach out at any time.

Kayla Ruffin

2026-01-14 02:57:48 UTC

Hello yall

My name is Kayla Ruffin I am in school for Adapted Education. I am in this class to help learn more about how to advocate for my students. I love to read and I am currently working my way through the Witcher Series.

adairs24 — 2026-06-22 18:04:28 UTC

Hi! My name is Sara Adair. My husband Jay is an IT guy for Duke University. We have a daughter who is a sophomore at the local Early College High School. I am majoring in Special Education- General Curriculum. My first day as a substitute in 2020, right before the Covid shutdown, was for an inclusion teacher. I immediately fell in love with the work. I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to earn a high school diploma, and I want to be there to support students along the way to reach their goal. The assistant principal at the elementary school where I subbed told me about ECU's Partnership Teach program, and I knew that was where I was meant to go. I'm glad to be part of this group of students who have worked so well together the last 2 years!

I love watching the Harry Potter films with a live orchestra performing the score. Last weekend my husband and I saw Order of the Phoenix, which is my favorite film of the series. From our seats we could see the violins, cellos, french horns, harp, and pianos. Watching the musicians bring the movie to life was genuinely moving. I teared up a few times while they were playing. I'm grateful to my middle and high school band teachers for giving me a deep appreciation for music.

Heather Cumbo

heathergray716 — 2026-06-22 20:02:10 UTC

Hello! My name is Heather Cumbo. I am a single mom of a 3-year-old, sassy-sweet, red-headed daughter! I am majoring in special education – general curriculum. My mother has been and still is a special education teacher for just a year shy of 50 years!! She truly is my hero and inspiration in so many ways but one being her passion and dedication to the special needs community. Playing “teacher” was always one of my favorites growing up and as I got older, I loved being able to go into my mom’s classroom on workdays and really get to see how things were as a teacher inside the classroom. I began babysitting at the age of 14 for a couple of her students and that’s when my interest grew more for individuals with disabilities. The more involved I got in my mom’s classroom and with her students, the more I knew I wanted to follow in my mom’s footsteps and become a special education teacher. A few years later while I was working as a community worker with special needs individuals, I was offered the opportunity to apply for an exceptional children’s teacher assistant position at an elementary school and was lucky enough to get the job! I have been an EC TA for almost 10 years now and can’t wait to one day have a classroom of my very own where I am the lead teacher!

One amazing thing I like to share with people is that my Nannie lived to be 103 years old. She was the rock of my family and even up until her final moments she was still just as sharp and quick-witted. She past away peacefully in her sleep this last September, just a month after her 103 birthday!

Introduction <3

2026-06-23 06:10:14 UTC

Hi everyone! My name is Samya Cooper, and I am a senior at East Carolina University majoring in Psychology. I decided to pursue the Disability Studies minor because I want to work with children on the autism spectrum, and I believe it will help me better understand how to support and advocate for individuals with disabilities. I am especially interested in ABA therapy and hope to build a career working with children and their families. Something about me that is not related to school is that I love traveling. Every December, my family and I take a trip out of the country as a reward for finishing the first semester of college and it’s also like a Christmas gift from my mom since we’re all grown. It’s something I look forward to each year because it gives me a chance to relax and wind down.

Windy Love

2026-06-24 14:50:00 UTC

Hello everyone. My name is Windy Love. My husband's name is Ron. I have two children. Grace is my oldest. She lives in Washington, D.C., and works for the State Department. She received her bachelor's degree in International Studies from Gardner-Webb University, with minors in French and African Studies. Her master's is from American University. Then her doctorate will be from Georgetown. Her passion is to save the world. My son Jesse has recently gotten married. He and his new wife will be expecting my first grandchild in November. He works for one of the golf courses where he manages the pro shop and gives lessons. My husband and I are very proud of both of our children.

I work for the Cleveland County School System. I have been an ABA tech for 15 years. I work in a self-contained classroom with children with Autism and Down Syndrome. Inclusion is a huge part of our day. The program I work in is called SAIL (self-advocating instruction for life), where we teach our students life skills that help them function in everyday life. I am also part of a program in the school system called GET (Growing Excellent Teachers). They help pay for my classes and supplies on the condition that I will teach in the EC program for 5 years after I get my degree. I have given 20 years to Cleveland County Schools, so I thought, why not keep going with them? I am grateful to Dr. Nellie Aspel and the school's EC department for that opportunity.

I love traveling and try to do it often with my daughter. I visit with her a few times a year, then we start planning where we will travel next. I'm always looking forward to traveling. Public transportation is always fun. I also love gardening and watching things grow. I live in the rural area of western N.C., so we farm. I am located between Charlotte and Asheville. We are one of the areas that were hit hard by Hurricane Helena.

I am excited about this class and all the information I will gain from it. One of my most important roles at work is to fight for my students. I know this class will be a great resource for that.

2026-06-25 04:07:23 UTC

My name is Heather, and I am currently majoring in Special Education.

My interest in the Disability Studies Minor is both personal and professional. My oldest daughter is dyslexic, and watching her journey has given me a deeper appreciation for the importance of understanding disabilities and advocating for students. I also spent nearly 20 years as a dental hygienist, but after a shoulder injury ended my career, I decided to pursue a new path in special education. What began as an unexpected career change has become a passion, and I’m excited to continue learning how to better support individuals with disabilities.

Outside of school, I’m a wife and mom to three daughters. I enjoy reading, spending time outdoors, and taking care of my aquariums. I’m looking forward to learning alongside all of you this semester!

Michelle Krebs(Howell)

2026-06-25 14:05:37 UTC

Hello, My name is Michelle Krebs(Howell). I am in the Special Education, general education. I chose this because I have worked in the field of special education for over 20 years. It holds a special place in my heart. Helping students with disabilities be the best the can be. I am excited for this class and see a lot of familiar faces! Interesting fact about me, I just got married on June 13! We love sports and traveling. This is a picture of us back in March when the Carolina Hurricanes played the New Jersey Devils. We also love going to the beach and we go 4 or 5 times a week. It helps that we live 10 minutes from it.

Amorie Walker

2026-06-25 22:21:30 UTC

Hi, my name is Amorie Walker. I am studying Special Education- General Curriculum. I chose this major because I have worked in the Special Education classroom for the last 8 years. I also have an adult son with Autism. I love helping students with disabilities! I am married with 6 children, though most are adults now. I also have an English Mastiff named Steve. I look forward to learning more about my all of you.

Christian Love

2026-06-25 23:34:05 UTC

My name is Christian, and I am majoring in Special Education (General Curriculum). I am also completing the Disability Studies Minor because I want to better understand disability from multiple perspectives not just through education, but also through advocacy, inclusion, accessibility, and the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities. Working with students with disabilities every day has shown me how important it is to create environments where every student feels valued and supported.

My interest in the Disability Studies Minor is also personal. I have a son with autism, and being his mom has given me a deeper appreciation for the importance of inclusion, acceptance, and advocating for individuals with disabilities. He inspires me every day, and I hope to use both my personal experiences and my education to make a positive difference for other students and families.

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my husband, our two children, and our golden retriever. We love fishing, taking road trips, and spending time at the beach. I also enjoy coaching youth softball pitching and watching young athletes grow in both confidence and skill.

I'm excited to get to know everyone and learn together this semester!

Destiny Mims

2026-06-26 00:30:31 UTC

Hi everyone! My name is Destiny, and I am a senior at ECU majoring in Psychology with a minor in Disability Studies. I became interested in disability studies because I want to better understand individuals with disabilities and learn to advocate for and support them in educational and community settings. A little bit about me is that I am a mom to a one-year-old who keeps me busy! I am also a Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT), so I work closely with children and families and have developed an even greater appreciation for the importance of inclusion and individualized support. I look forward to learning with everyone this semester!