SEMINOLE, Fla. — This week’s A+ Teacher went back to her roots this summer at Osceola Middle School.

Dorene McNulty is now a case manager there. She has been a teacher at the school for more than 20 years and spent 12 years as a reading teacher.

“Reading is in everything, which I tell them all the time. Every single subject, you have to be able to read,” said McNulty.

She helped kids practice their reading skills over the summer through Pinellas County’s Summer Bridge program. During the school year, McNulty is a case manager at the school. She helps students with special needs create plans for the future.

“I like that I’m able to write a plan and try to help those students that have those needs. Try to help them meet those needs, setting goals, working with them. These are your goals. Talking to them about how they’re progressing,” said McNulty.

Her goal is to help her students pursue a path forward toward something they’re passionate about.

“You try to find that interest, something that will bring them back to school. Something they want to come to school for and then remind them [that] in high school these are the things you get to do also so then they’ll have those skills when they get older and they can apply that in their real life,” said McNulty.

McNulty says she’s looking forward to continuing that mission and watching the progress the students make from the beginning of the year to the end.

“It’s amazing. It just fills your heart. You get to see that their light comes on, they get bright, they’re proud of themselves. I’m proud of them. It’s a really sweet moment,” said McNulty.