Guest Profile

Susan Petrok

Susan works as an educator at the FOCUS Center for Autism Fresh Start School in Canton, CT where she fills the role of the Supervisor of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, as well as the High School Special Education Teacher. She is currently working on her doctoral studies in Educational Leadership with the focus of her research being on the development of Self-Determination Skills in individuals with autism. Susan's journey to becoming an educator began with the diagnosis of her son William, who has autism and is now 29 years old. Living in one of the lower socioeconomic cities in the state, she knew, "I needed to learn what the district was supposed to be doing so I could make them do it." After self-studying for a year and a half, she returned to college to finish her bachelor's degree and then continued with her studies. Before becoming an educator, Susan worked for more than 20 years in the floral industry as a floral designer. In her free time, Susan spends her time expressing herself through one of the many creative gifts that she has; writing, painting, drawing, crafting, singing, and performing in children's theater.