Citrus County, FL: Volunteer creates "sensory room" for kids to 'calm down/ self-regulate'

May 17, 2019, Crystal River, FL, Citrus County Chronicle: Lecanto Primary School's Heather Renfroe up for state's top education-support award https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/education/lecanto-primary-school-s-heather-renfroe-up-for-state-s/article_eee7b576-77ea-11e9-b53a-f770b13fff73.html Five years ago, Heather Renfroe was a mother taking a volunteer position at her daughter's school to spend more time with her child. On Tuesday, she learned she was a top contender for one of the state's biggest educational honors…. Renfroe, a curriculum and technological paraprofessional at Lecanto Primary School, will find out at the state education board’s May 22 meeting in Tampa whether she’ll bring back the coveted award. … Renfroe began volunteering at LPS five years ago to be closer to her daughter when she was a student there. She soon became a substitute teacher and later a full-time school related employee….. Four years ago, Renfroe created a sensory room at LPS, giving kids a chance before and during school to rid themselves of stress with breathing and relaxation exercises led by Renfroe. “It’s a place for them to calm down and self-regulate, keeping themselves calm so they can learn,” she said. “We found a lot of kids come and their brains aren’t ready to learn yet.” Renfroe said the district is looking at starting something similar at other schools….