She may be a physical therapist … but Yvonne Fachner is pretty good at building bridges, too.

The longtime local resident has the proof of that; presented with a “Bridge Builder” award through the Stanislaus County Office of Education, SCOE. She was recently recognized for her work as a physical therapist with special education students for SELPA, the Special Education Local Plan Area.

What makes the honor even more unique, Fachner isn’t an employee of SCOE; she works for a firm the county Office of Education contracts with for her services.

That’s why it was such a shock – although a good one – when she was selected for the award.

She explained that a co-worker told her about the awards ceremony and indicated another co-worker of theirs had asked if she could attend. Fachner said she agreed, thinking that her co-worker would be receiving some type of honor. But that turned out to be a cover story to get her to the ceremony.

“I wasn’t expecting to get an award,” she admitted, adding that she was very appreciative of the honor. “I was stunned.”

Fachner has served as a physical therapist for school districts through SCOE for the past several years, working with a number of special education students. She also said it feels like the Bridge Builder recognition should be a team award, as many people figure in to the success of the students.

“Without everybody, we don’t move forward,” Fachner said.

Through her contractual work with SCOE, she meets with students in every school district in Stanislaus County except Modesto City Schools, which is a separate entity.

“I go from Oakdale to Newman, Salida to Turlock,” Fachner explained. “I have 60 kids on my case list.”

She currently works three days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and has a rotating schedule, able to meet with her students for physical therapy sessions on a regular basis.

She also has to do the “administrative” items such as meetings with district officials and IEP – Individualized Education Program – sessions to determine the best course of action for each student.

“What I like most is those days I work with the kids,” she said.

A physical therapist for 42 years, Fachner has also worked in skilled nursing, acute care and outpatient settings, and previously worked in the River Delta Unified School District in the Sacramento area and in Calaveras County.

Working now with the special education students, she said each has different needs and “what works for one” won’t necessarily be helpful for another.

However, the team approach is effective in making sure the students get the tools they need to succeed.

“The teachers I work with are fantastic,” Fachner said.

She is eyeing retirement, but hasn’t quite reached that point yet. Still, with her husband of 23 years – former Escalon High School teacher and coach Rusty Fachner – already retired, she would like to get there sooner rather than later.

And she does have some thoughts on what she might like to do once that happens.

“My dog is 13 years old and is a therapy dog,” Fachner noted. “We do a lot of memory care visits and that is very rewarding … I want to still kind of stay in the therapy world.”

And whether it’s in a school setting or an assisted living facility, Fachner will likely continue fostering connections with others.

The inscription on her Bridge Builder award reads: “Without bridges, the best-built roads lead nowhere, the most impressive visions remain invisible, and the best-laid plans fail. In life and in work, connection is everything. You built the bridges. Made the connections. Brought us on to success. Thanks to you, we’re going places.”