Noelle Walker Recognized with Making a Difference Award

Noelle Walker, Speech Language Pathologist for Belmont Elementary, has been honored with the Making a Difference Award for August 2025. This award, sponsored by the USD 232 Education Foundation in partnership with Great American Bank, celebrates educators and staff who go above and beyond to make a meaningful impact on students’ lives.

Noelle was nominated by a grateful parent who shared the profound effect she has had on their non-verbal, autistic child. For over a year, Noelle worked closely with the family to prepare a contingency plan for when the student’s communication device was needing to be replaced. At the start of the school year, Noelle quickly put the plan into motion, securing a replacement device and having it in the student’s hands just three days later. She ensured the new device was programmed exactly like the old one — placing every word in the same spot — allowing the child to continue communicating without disruption.

The parent wrote in their nomination:

“Noelle has taken on the task to do the speech evaluations and documentation required to acquire the device to ensure my child's needs are met before he has lost all ability to communicate. She found a provider to efficiently navigate the insurance debacle and met my requirements of having an unlimited no questions asked warranty. This is all to ensure his needs are met, but the most impressive thing Noelle has done is to ensure my child has a voice and knows how to use it.”

The parent shared that under Noelle’s guidance, their child has progressed from using only a few words to now using hundreds and even forming short phrases. They credited this growth to Noelle’s patience, perseverance, and commitment to working with their child through challenging moments in pursuit of developing his communication skills.

In recognition of her dedication, Noelle received a $300 check from the USD 232 Education Foundation through its partnership with Great American Bank, along with a handcrafted award created by students in the CTEC CAPS program.

Noelle’s commitment to empowering every student to find their voice represents the heart of the Making a Difference Award. Her impact reaches far beyond the classroom, creating lasting change for her students and their families.