Terry Pryce has been a special education teacher at Heartspring since 2002. In his time with the organization, he’s been dedicated to the students and families at Heartspring, making connections with the students and the families that trust Heartspring with their children.

Terry originally went to school to be a physical education teacher, but while he was in college, he worked as a para-educator at Prairie View in Newton, Kan. He worked with students with behavioral issues. This job would change his life. He had a good rapport with the students and began studying special education. Once he graduated, he returned back to Prairie View as a teacher.

After 12 years, Terry was ready for a new challenge and decided to take a teaching job at Heartspring. It was the first time he worked with children impacted by autism. It wasn’t easy at first, but he saw it as a way for him to give children a future. He finds his work at Heartspring very rewarding. He says that a day doesn’t go by without a student saying or doing something that makes him smile. He enjoys the team he works with and understands the importance of letting his paraeducators do their jobs without micromanaging.

Terry enjoys expanding his knowledge as a teacher. Recently he attended the Global Leadership Summit Conference, went to the KDSE Impact Institute at Wichita State University where he learned about new technology he can use to enhance instruction, student assessments, using data and differentiation instruction. He’s also gone to the Kansas Excellence in Math and Science Teaching Conference in Hutchinson and the Eudora Greenbush Technology Conference. Terry is an integral part of making changes at Heartspring. As the Needs Assessment Member Chair, he finds out what sort of training and in-services teachers need to best serve their students. He is also a member of the Curriculum and Academic Instructional Teams.

Terry has a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Special Education with an emphasis in Behavior Disorders from Bethel College. He also has a specialist certification in functional special education from Wichita State University. In his free time he enjoys cheering on KU Basketball the Royals and the Chiefs, going fishing and spending time with his family.