Since 2005, Sherry P. Young has excelled as an educator at the Alief Independent School District in southwest Houston, Texas. An accomplished autism coach, she wields expertise in special education, with a focus on students who are learning-disabled and hearing- and vision-impaired. She began there as a math interventionist before teaching pre-K general education and as a teacher of in-class support and physical education. She has been active as an autism in-class support coach since 2022. In education, she has been most proud of successfully implementing an appropriate intervention program for a child who exhibited aggressive behavior toward peers and staff, as well as engaged in destructive actions. Prior to working at Alief, Ms. Young found success for 12 years in Corporate America, serving as a personnel recruiter, a receptionist, an accounting auditor, and a chemotherapy and radiation technician, among several roles. Outside of her primary endeavors, she has shined bright in her local community, volunteering with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo since 2005 and serving as a coach for the Alief Special Olympics since 2006. She has been a team leader with Petrosky Elementary School, a committee member for Holmquist Elementary School, and a longtime affiliate of Autism Speaks, Inc. Growing up, Ms. Young always gravitated toward her eventual professional path. While in high school, she strongly believed that disabilities did not define a person; one day, while walking to a class, she saw some students teasing a kid with Down syndrome in the hallway, which left her outraged. She took the bullied student by the hand, walked with him to the front office, and reported the incident, demanding action against those who tormented him. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in agriculture education from Tarleton State University in 1994 and later a Master of Science in education curriculum and instruction from the University of Phoenix in 2008; she also holds certifications as a Second Language Generalist EC-4, in physical education, and in special education. A dedicated member of the Association of Texas Professional Educators, Ms. Young has been recognized as Teacher of the Year at Petrosky Elementary School for the 2014-2015 calendar year and also received numerous educational grants over the years. Looking toward the future, she hopes to retire in the next six years and ultimately transition into a position in the school’s administration building—such as an instructional coordinator or a reading facilitator.