Gaskin-Smith received the surprise recognition while camping with family and said the moment left her emotional and in shock. “It still hasn’t fully sunk in,” Gaskin-Smith said.
Gaskin-Smith, who serves students at Foster Elementary School, was presented with the award on May 9,2025 by Baldwin Park Unified Director of Special Education Sarah Ammon and Foster Principal Carmen Caballero, surrounded by staff and fellow special education professionals.
“She is a gem,” Principal Caballero said. “We have a lot of great educators, but she is unique in what she brings.”
The “Making a Difference” Award is issued by the East San Gabriel Valley Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPAs), which supports collaboration across school districts to provide quality special education services.
Gaskin-Smith’s journey into special education was inspired early. Her mother, one of the first special education teachers in the San Gabriel Valley and a key figure in launching local Special Olympics programming, instilled in her the value of inclusive education.
“I was born to work with children with special needs,” Gaskin-Smith said. “Every summer I would go to work with my mom and sit at her desk. I remember watching the SLP work with students and thinking, ‘This is so cool.’ I knew in 11th grade this is what I wanted to do.”
Gaskin-Smith received her education at Humboldt State University and has served Baldwin Park Unified for 11 years. She began her career at Pleasant View and Foster Elementary schools and now works exclusively at Foster, providing services to students with moderate to severe needs. “Our work is collaborative—we’re pulling from all areas because speech-language support touches medical, mental health, and social work,” Gaskin-Smith said.
Over the years, Gaskin-Smith has worked with students ranging from preschool to adulthood. She said one of the most remarkable parts of her job is witnessing non-verbal students find their voice. “I remember one student just suddenly said, ‘I have to go to the bathroom,’ and I was in shock—it was something so necessary that he had learned to say on his own,” she recalled. “I had the honor of telling his parents who were worried their child would never speak. Those are the moments that remind me why we’re here.”
In addition to her work in speech therapy, Gaskin-Smith is also a coach for the Special Olympics, continuing her mother’s legacy of advocacy. At Foster,she works closely with school teams to promote empathy and understanding across campus, often visiting classrooms with colleagues to encourage students to be kind and inclusive.
“One day, a student was crying in frustration because he couldn’t express himself, and another student stepped in and spoke to him in Mandarin to help him calm down,” she said. “I was so moved, I asked Principal Caballero to recognize that student with a PBIS SOAR Ticket. That moment showed the kind of compassion our kids are capable of.”
Gaskin-Smith also credits Caballero’s leadership for fostering a campus culture rooted in connection and care.
“Principal Caballero knows every student’s name. She wears her heart on her sleeve and truly cares,” Gaskin-Smith said. “Even as our campus grows, especially in SPED, we’re maintaining a positive attitude and leaning into coping strategies that help students thrive.”
As she looks to the future, Gaskin-Smith hopes to support even more parent engagement opportunities—such as in-service workshops, device information sessions, and peer support groups—and eventually transition into mentoring other SLPs in the district when she retires.
Her advice to parents of children with disabilities: “Don’t be afraid to ask or express anything. No one is born knowing how to be a parent, especially one of a child with special needs. Have expectations, but also support them as they reach those goals—and lean on each other.”
Baldwin Park Unified School District is proud to dedicate this spotlight to Gigi Gaskin-Smith in honor of her compassion and impact, and extends heartfelt appreciation to all of our incredible SLPs—Happy Speech Language Pathologist Day!
Photos
Foster Elementary SLP Gigi Gaskin-Smith poses with her SELPA Award
Gaskin-Smith reads with student from Foster Elementary
Gaskin-Smith is celebrated by Special Education Director Sarah Ammon (to her right), Principal Carmen Caballero (to her left), and colleagues.
Gaskin-Smith poses for a photo with Foster Elementary Principal Carmen Caballero.
Gaskin-Smith reads with student from Foster Elementary