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With the help of a hardworking instructor, 7-year-old Kayla Harris is excelling at Lake Arbor Elementary School in Mitchellville, along with the rest of the first-graders in her class — even though she can't see them.

Kayla's parents, Sharonda Baker, 31, and Kevin Harris, 32, of Lanham nominated their daughter's vision teacher, Lydia Grier of Lanham, for the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland's Distinguished Educator of Blind Children award. Grier received the award Nov. 14 at the federation's conference in Ocean City.

"[Grier] has just been a great key to Kayla's success for her to be as far as she is," Baker said. "[She] knows exactly how to get Kayla motivated to get her to do what she needs to do."

The award recognizes Grier's skill for teaching Braille and other related subjects and her dedication to her students.

"She always puts in the time and the extra time with Kayla," Harris said. "She has always gone above and beyond, always had a plan for where she wanted Kayla to be, always keeps her one step ahead — she's a key component of Kayla's success."

Grier has been a Prince George's County Public Schools teacher since 1986, teaching special education in the county since 1998 and a county teacher of the visually impaired and blind since 2000. Grier isn't blind, but has an aunt who is.

"[When I] told her I was going to be a vision teacher, she was proud," said Grier, who says her job is rewarding.

"I was surprised because I felt there were people in the field much more qualified," she said. "I am [thankful] to the kindness of Kayla's parents for thinking I was worthy of being nominated for the award. Kayla's success is because we work together as a team, along with the other school professionals, and the support of [the federation]."

Melissa Riccobono, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, said Grier was chosen in part because Kayla's parents recommended her so highly.

"They were very insistent that Lydia has gone above and beyond their expectations as a teacher," she said.

Grier was selected for the annual award out of a pool of about six nominees from across the state, Riccobono said. The award has been given for at least 10 years.

Grier, whose office is in Oxon Hill, travels around to county elementary, middle and high schools to work with students in one-on-one and small group settings at upwards of 15 schools at any given time.

Grier teaches students Braille; assisted technology skills, which includes keyboard use and audible computer programming; independent living skills such as tying shoes and using scissors; and reading, science and math. She also uses light boxes with low vision students, textured materials and audible dictionaries.

Nancy Patton, a PGCPS vision instructional specialist and Grier's supervisor, said Grier's dedication to her students and their families sets her apart.

"She is a very, very dedicated educator, making sure the instruction carries into the home, that there's follow-through and collaboration between parents and children," she said. "She's highly knowledgeable in the field of special education and early childhood education."

E-mail Liz Skalski at eskalski@gazette.net.