PANAMA CITY BEACH — An autism teacher known for creating a comfortable, innovative classroom setting for autistic students has died.
Breakfast Point Academy school staff and parents of autistic students counted 42-year-old Jason Mann as a valuable asset to the autism teaching profession. He died Monday of pneumonia, according to the medical examiner’s office.
He was a paraprofessional at the school for two years.
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“He was patient with her, loving, funny and flexible,” Allison Albano said of Mann’s relationship with her daughter, Bijou Albano. “He allowed her to participate in things that would allow her to stay motivated through the school day.”
Her 6-year-old daughter called him “My Mr. Mann.” Bijou is autistic and can only say four to six word phrases, according to her mother.
Every school morning Albano could motivate Bijou to go to school without much struggle by telling her that she would get to “go and see Mr. Mann.”
“My daughter is very limited,” Albano said, noting prior to being a student in Mr. Mann’s kindergarten class, Bijou had behavior problems, but with him, she had “truly awesome days.”
Mr. Mann “improved the quality of her life,” she added.
Principal Denise Kelley one day observed Mann’s teaching style in an autism class.
“As he taught, he took every child’s needs and learning ability” into consideration, Kelley said.
For example, she said, Mann was open to the learning style of one little girl who wanted to play with a feather during instruction time.
He’d tell her when it’s “his turn,” she had to answer the question, Kelley said. And when it’s “her turn,” she could play with the feather.
“It is a huge loss for the teaching profession,” Kelley said of his death. He was “caring, loving, engaging, student-centered, patient, fun” and “had a great sense of humor with kids.”
Mann’s wife, Jennifer Mann, teaches sixth grade reading at Breakfast Point.
Jason Mann is a Florida State University graduate and has two children, Caitlyn and Joshua.
A funeral for Jason Mann will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday. Visitation starts at 4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at any Hancock Bank location to the Memorial Fund for Jason Mann. The money will be used to support his wife and children.