SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. — This week's A+ Teacher is an advocate for students with disabilities. From the classroom, to home, she takes her students' success personally.

Safety Harbor Middle School Teacher McKayla Crayton spends the last few days before the first day of school getting her classroom ready.

"I’m really excited to just get to know them and for us to just have fun in school together," said the Exceptional Education Teacher.

Crayton was inspired by her brother to become an educator.

"My brother Tyler, he was diagnosed with autism and that was when I was younger,” said Crayton.

"He struggled with teachers and people not understanding who he was and what he needed.”

McKayla didn't want her brother or his classmates to continue with such struggles, so she became an ESE teacher.

“So I could be that person for students just like him that need the support and need the help and need someone that understands and will advocate for them,” said Crayton.

"I think it definitely puts them at ease," said Crayton. "So they know that as a teacher I am on their side and we are a team and we are both working to make sure that their child is successful."

One way Crayton says she does that is by building relationships with her students.

"On paper it can say that a student needs a list of things, but really you have to get to know them so you know exactly what they do need," said Crayton, who will also teach Language Arts and Science.

"My students will be with their same-age peers in their classroom, I will be supporting them and giving them the resources they need so that they can be in that classroom and they can be successful,” said Crayton.

"I hope they know that throughout the year that I cared so much for them and that I always will and that regardless of their disability and the challenges that they go through, that they can really do anything.”