Rolland Tizuela: Five days a week I drive to a place where the money is tight but love is in abundance. This building is breathing, heavily. My 5 senses are overwhelmed with gasping expressions of neurological brilliance. Language is spoken through buttons, hands, voices and movements and each passing day, we see miraculous improvements. I walk through halls where eyes are constantly shifting but smiles stay fixed on the wellness of your heart. All of us here are masters of human interaction, but not all of us know it. We are cooks, athletes, artists and poets. We are modern day…

Jenell Tiffany: It is said that GOD grants an uncommon life to the degree we surrender our common one.  The instrument of my surrender, over 16 years ago, was an amazing non-profit in northern San Diego County called the Training, Education and Research Institute, or simply TERI.  TERI is one of the largest providers of innovative & model programs for persons with developmental and learning disabilities. With an enumerable array of exceptional services such as Residential, Respite, Transportation, Adult & Vocational services, two Non-public schools, Health and Fitness, to Research and Life planning, I have had the distinct pleasure to…

Heather Dickinson: I believe that I have the best job in the world, not for what I put into it, but for what it gives back to me. I work at a non public school called the TERI Learning Academy. I have spent almost 9 years in this school serving children with Autism and other developmental disabilities. The students we serve have “failed” in other programs, yet we allow their potential to be endless, never giving up or losing hope in them. My job allows me to teach my students the tools necessary to live quality lives. From functional skills…