Cerebral Palsy

... CONSTANCE (CONNIE) DeFRANCESCO: She uses the world as her classroom Subscribe To Staten Island Advance CONSTANCE (CONNIE) DeFRANCESCO: She uses the world as her classroom Teacher of special-needs children imparts can-do know-how that will last her students a lifetime Sunday, April 29, 2007 By DIANE C.

LORE STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.

- It takes a special person to teach children with special needs, and Constance (Connie) DeFrancesco rates as one of those special people.

An educator with more than 30 years of experience, since 1981 Mrs.

DeFrancesco has been a faculty member of the Hungerford School in Clifton, which offers vocational and academic training to developmentally disabled students from 12 to 21 years old.

Her profound impact on students, both in and out of the classroom, is what earned her a spot as one of five 2007 Excellence in Education Award-winners.

The awards program is presented by Staten Island Academy in cooperation with the Staten Island Advance and the borough's business community.

"While most teachers at this outstanding school would be eligible and deserving of this award, Connie stands out, far and above, in my mind," said Jennifer Holder, a Rosebank mother whose daughter, Lindsey, benefited from being placed in Mrs.

DeFrancesco's class for her first years at Hungerford.

"While Lindsey and her classmates share different abilities, Connie challenges each child with individualized lesso...

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