- November 28, 2024
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Lori Koplin is known for all she does for those who take part in activities at the Nova Community Center, but talking to her reveals that she gets as much back as she puts in, especially with her work with the special needs population, those with mental, physical, developmental or emotional challenges.
“They have innocence and a love of life,” she said. “You just want to pick up on their energy.”
“Sometimes I think to get to heaven you have to be like them.”
Lori Koplin, on the special needs population
Koplin, coordinator at the center, was named employee of the year by the city of Ormond Beach for the 2014-2015 year and received the award at the Jan. 4 City Commission meeting. She was presented with a check and a gift by Mayor Ed Kelley as her family looked on.
“It’s a beautiful clock,” she said later, showing off her gift in her office at the center, located at 440 N. Nova Road.
Koplin enjoys the family atmosphere at the community center and getting to know the people who use the facility
The gym stays busy with pickle ball, a growing sport popular with adults, as well as basketball, games rooms, exercise rooms and classes including yoga, dance, etc.
But Koplin’s passion is working with the special needs kids and sharing their joy as they grow and learn new skills.
“I absolutely love Camp T. Rec,” she said.
Camp T-Rec, which stands for therapeutic recreation, is an annual day camp that lasts three to six weeks for special needs children age 7 through 18.
Other activities throughout the year include “challenger” sports such as soccer, volleyball, basketball and baseball. Coming up in February will be the annual Shining Stars Pageant, where the kids showcase their fashion sense and talent.
Koplin said she watched as one child went from being shy to becoming a leader and helping others over the years, and a young girl, who only started to walk at the age of five, develop her muscles.
“It’s great to watch them grow,” she said. “I like to think I had a little part in that,”
Koplin helps the children learn, and she learns from them. Last year, a 9-year-old girl had a death in the family. Koplin said she also had a death in the family, and watching the girl cope and deal with the loss helped her.
“It helped me see that if she can make it, I can make it,” she said.
Koplin said when a child is having a bad day, she knows that they are not trying to make anybody mad, they are just having a rough time, and it’s likely related to their disability.
“She has had so much impact on the community and her coworkers”
City Manager Joyce Shanahan, on Lori Koplin
Koplin, who has a degree in early childhood education from Milligan College in Tennessee, has been coordinator at the center since 2007 after working as therapeutic assistant and counselor. Prior to that, she was a teaching assistant in Volusia County Schools and DeLand Middle School.
Koplin said she always wanted to work with special needs and really made the decision when she worked at the Duval Home in DeLand while a senior in high school.
She said a 12-year-old girl at the home showed her that even if a person is in a wheelchair, they still want to have fun and do things that others do.
“I worked with her so well, I decided I wanted to keep working with children,” she said.
Joyce Shanahan, city manager, said she knows firsthand that Koplin is extremely dedicated to her job.
“She works to secure funding from the county for Camp T. Rec,” Shanahan said. “She has developed an after-school program. She has had so much impact on the community and her coworkers.”
Shanahan said Koplin’s passion is the special needs community, and Koplin agrees, again mentioning their innocence.
“Sometimes I think to get to heaven you have to be like them,” she said.
