Southeastern's Beckers honored with award
Monday, December 4, 2023 
by: Tonya Lowentritt
BECKERS RECEIVES EDUCATOR OF YEAR AWARD - Southeastern Louisiana University Associate Professor of Education Gerlinde Beckers, center, was nominated and selected by the Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs for the 2023 Educator of the Year Award. With her, from left, are Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs Bambi Polotzola and past Executive Director of the State Interagency Coordinating Council for EarlySteps Alishia Vallien.
HAMMOND - Southeastern Louisiana University Professor of Education Gerlinde Beckers
was nominated and selected by the Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs for the
2023 Educator of the Year Award.
The Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs recently hosted the 2023 Governor’s
Outstanding Leadership in Disabilities Awards in the Old State Capitol, where Beckers
was honored. The GOLD Awards is an opportunity for Louisiana to pay tribute to the
achievements and dedication of individuals in the disability community.
A resident of Loranger, Beckers has been recognized for her work with Southeastern’s
Lions Connected Program. The program provides personalized, post-secondary educational
experiences for individuals with intellectual disabilities and recently received national
recognition as the Exemplary Program for Vocational Training and Transition from the
American Council on Rural Special Education.
