Columbia recognizes Annabel Richter as ‘Staff Member of the Year’

MADISON – Annabel Richter’s work can confirm that a student has a solid path to a well-rounded education. Columbia Elementary School’s faculty and staff have selected Richter as “Staff Member of the Year.”

“I’m currently a one-on-one support for a student in a general education classroom,” Richter said.

“I started working for Madison City Schools in 2005 at Columbia in the Special Education Department. I work as part of a team including educators, specialists and therapists to provide the best possible environment for the student to grow and be successful,” Richter said.

Her work philosophy contends every child, regardless of abilities, has the right to a meaningful and inclusive education. “By providing a safe and supportive environment, I strive to honor the unique ways in which each student learns,” Richter said.

All students with whom she has worked have required a combination of individualized approaches. “Success looks different for every student,” Richter said. “The most important aspect of my work is understanding the student’s needs, structure . . . and lots of patience.”

This year, Richter brainstormed and collaborated with educators and therapists to provide visual, communication and behavioral charts and incentives to help students succeed in the classroom. “This school year, we have seen marked improvements in the students,” she said.

Richter was born and raised in England. She grew up in St. Albans in the South of England and moved to London when she was 18 years old. She earned a bachelor’s degree in humanities from the University of North London and is certified for Teaching English as a Foreign Language or TEFL.

“I’ve had various jobs, including working as a judge’s clerk at the Royal Courts Of Justice in London (which is similar to the Supreme Court here in America),” she said.

After moving to the United States, Richter worked at the University of Miami for several years and then returned to Europe and lived in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

When she returned to America, the family moved to Madison, and she started working at Columbia. “Apart from a year at Rainbow Elementary School, I have remained at Columbia,” Richter said.

Her husband Drew works as a Senior Data Analyst for SAIC. Their son Jack graduated from Bob Jones High School and is studying international relations and politics at the University of Sheffield in England.

“I enjoy weight training and the gym,” she said. “I love cats, and my passion is traveling. I spend my summers in Mallorca, Spain and use that island as my base for trips around Europe.”