Dunaway-Haney’s life and 32-year teaching career included a longtime connection with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and multiple awards, including from the MDA.
Others included being a 2006 Disney Teaching Award honoree, which celebrates teaching creatively, and the Freida J. Riley National Teaching Award in 2002. Riley was a science and math teacher from Coalwood, W. Va, who, for most of her career, taught while suffering from Hodgkin’s Disease.
“Amy’s passion for teaching students the Spanish language and culture was unrivaled,” according to Kettering Assistant Superintendent Dan Von Handorf, who was Fairmont High School’s principal when she taught there.
“She had high expectations for students and was able to help students meet her expectations by working extremely hard herself. We will miss the Spanish dancing, songs, movie nights, and all of the other activities Amy would do to get and keep kids engaged in the learning.”
In the MDA’s “A Teacher’s Guide to Neuromuscular Disease,” Dunaway-Haney was among a handful of educators acknowledged for their “invaluable help” in aiding the national group to “more fully understand the needs and perspective of teachers.”
In the publication, Dunaway-Haney said she had limb-girdle muscular dystrophy before turning 10 years old.
“I had difficulty getting up from the floor, and I fell frequently,” she wrote. “In fact, my second-grade teacher is the one who finally convinced my parents to seek medical attention, which led to my diagnosis.”
Dunaway-Haney attended Kettering schools, then graduated from Vandalia Butler High School and Bowling Green State University. She was “an incredible teacher who has overcome many obstacles in her life,” according to the National Museum of Education website.
In a nomination for Disney Award, she drew this tribute from then-building Principal Jim Schoenlein: “I am certain that Amy’s ability, drive, and persistence will bring her tremendous success in any endeavor she chooses to pursue. In my twenty-five years in education, I have never seen a better teacher.”
Visitation is set from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 14 at Tobias Funeral Home, 5471 Far Hills Ave. A Memorial Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 15 at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 6245 Wilmington Pike.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to the MDA, SICSA, Circle Tail or any animal rescue organization. Condolences may be sent to www.tobiasfuneralhome.com.
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