PUEBLO, CO — Whether she's bowling with her Special Olympics team members, she calls her "MVP's" or singing songs in her special needs classroom at Minnequa Elementary school in Pueblo, Shari Houser seems like an energizer bunny.

"I've got a secret, and it's called 'napetizers,'" jokes Houser as she explains how she keeps up with her busy schedule. "My kids will vouch for m,e I take 'napetizers on the weekends.

Houser's contagious laugh and sense of humor help break down any barriers in the classroom between her, the students, and her team of paraprofessionals.

"They love, and they connect," said Houser about the paraprofessionals. "They know part of our kids are going to come in, and it's a tough morning, or it's this or that, and it doesn't matter. They don't take anything personal."

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