A Classroom Transformed by Sensory Joy
In a special education classroom at Leila P. Cowart Elementary, magic is happening. The kind of magic that comes when students with complex needs are seen, supported, and given space to grow. Katybeth Hagler is the core of it all. She has spent 13 years as a special education teacher in the ADL (Activities of Daily Living) classroom.
For many years, resources in her ADL classroom were scarce. Through a Heart of Teaching Special Education Grant from the Dallas Education Foundation, Katybeth transformed her classroom into a rich, sensory-based learning environment tailored to her students’ needs.
The impact was immediate. Students became more engaged, calmer, and better able to regulate their emotions.
“My students learn through their senses and exploration,” Katybeth explains. “Now, each student is able to access new materials on their own. The sensory items are very calming, and my students are able to self-regulate better since having access to the items funded by this grant.”
But the transformation wasn’t just for the students. For Katybeth, the grant sparked a renewal of energy and purpose.
“I love what I do and love working with students like mine, and this grant has sparked a new excitement for me,” she shared. “This was the first grant that I ever applied for, and I am beyond proud of myself that I did. Without this grant, there is no way I would be able to provide these types of learning/sensory items for my students.”
Katybeth’s ADL classroom is one of the few in Dallas ISD, serving a small but profoundly important population of students who require extensive daily living support. These students often receive total care, making even small moments of independence and engagement deeply meaningful.
“Now I have the coolest classroom with some really cool items for them to enjoy,” she says proudly.
The Heart of Teaching grant didn’t just fund supplies. It validated Katybeth’s vision and honored her students’ dignity.
