"My faith is not something I like to tell people about," Vera Peck says, and then clarifies her statement. "It’s very personal.

I see my faith affecting who I am and what I do."

With other words, rather than tell others, she shows them by her way of life.

Vera Peck has been working for the Austin Public Schools since 1979, initially as case facilitator, and then as lead teacher in the special education department.

She claims the Bible as her guidebook, and as a Christian she makes it her duty to be as much like Jesus as she can be.

Without a doubt, that's why she takes time for listening to parents and speaking words of reassurance and advice.

"I don't ever do that perfectly, but one of the things I'm aware of when I deal with handicapped kids and their families is that I have a responsibility to be respectful to everybody that I deal with, no matter what their status in life is.

They were created by God, and He loves them as much as He loves me," she says. "That's kind of the basic premise of the way I operate at work."

Vera sees her faith very much affecting the need to control the outcome of what happens. "I know who ultimately is in control of my life, and because 'The Higher Power' is, I don't need to fret about it," she says, smiling confidently.

"The other thing is, that I know ultimately where my life is going -- how it will all end."

When she gets bogged down by what's taking place around her, she tells herself not to worry about the journey unnecessarily, since life is not all here and now, but there is a future – "and I think that's what carries me through difficulties and stressful situations," she admits.

Much of Vera's work is done behind the scenes, not face to face with the students.

Once in a while, through teachers or parents, she gets some follow-up regarding their progress, and occasionally former students have approached her with questions such as, "Do you remember when … ?"

A teacher always likes to be remembered by students from long ago, especially former special education kids who have made it all the way to graduation.

"I worked with early childhood years ago, and a lot of those kids are now in high school -- and not special ed." Vera says, beaming as she adds "but they really have made it, they really have done fine!"

Another concern of the lead teacher's is being able to get the students' diagnosis right and then provide the appropriate services for them.

Sometimes it's hard to sort out the findings then figure out what to do and when to do it.

"A lot of times I just have to pray that we make the right decision, but we seem to get them (the kids) in the right program ultimately," she confesses.

Vera Peck stresses to parents, that their children's impairments do not have to keep them from becoming successful people.

She claims to keep in mind, that the child is more normal than not; he is not a learning disability, she is not a cognitive delay – they are persons with impairments, just like all of us.

Their differences in the way they learn shows up early, educationally.

Vera Peck is referring to her belief in the Bible when she says, "Instead of getting worried or upset about something, I often think we just don't know the answer yet.

It's hard to live in a fog sometimes, but we know how it's going to turn out."

In the meantime, she carries on the best she can by using her God-given talents to serve in her job, community, church and -- of course -- at home.