NEW ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

NOMINEE #1 Josette Trantham

The first nominee for New Advocate of the Year is Josette Trantham. Josette (known as JoJo by her grandchildren) is a full-time special education teacher whose skills and experience, along with her huge heart, make her an exceptional advocate.

She regularly uses her knowledge of children and the special education process to make appropriate and necessary recommendations that help the boys in her case find success academically as well as socially. Josette takes time from her busy workday to attend ARD meetings at the boys’ school and permanency conferences led by CPS.

She has even used her own precious work holidays to visit her kids at their school, to eat lunch with them, and to let them give her a tour of campus. When the boys and their grandmother moved out of an apartment and into a home with a large yard, Josette spent an entire Saturday helping put together a swing set. She later said that the pure joy on the children’s faces was worth every minute. Josette selflessly shares her time, love, and talents with the boys in her case, and is even “JoJo” to them! For these reasons, and many more, Josette is nominated for New Advocate of the Year.