Welcome to the Special Education Department
Special Education
California provides specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities. This instruction is provided in a variety of settings that allow infants and families, preschoolers, students, and young adults to be educated with their peers as much as possible; that is, in the least restrictive environment (LRE). Special education services are available in a variety of settings, including day-care settings, preschool, regular classrooms, classrooms that emphasize specially designed instruction, in the community, and the work environment (California Department of Education website).
The disability categories include the following: intellectual disabilities, speech or language impairment, visual impairment, emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, deafness, hard of hearing, deaf-blindness, multiple disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury.
Striving for excellence in education
What is an Individualized Education Plan?
An Individualized Education Plan (or Program) is also known as an IEP. This is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child with an identified disability who is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services. The IEP is developed by a team of individuals from various educational disciplines, the child with a disability, family members, and/or designated advocates.
An IEP typically includes the following:
- The involvement and progress of the child with a disability in the general curriculum.
- All related services for which the child qualifies.
- Appropriate educational accommodations necessary for the child to be successful.
- The child's present levels of educational performance.
- Measurable annual goals and objectives for the child's education.
Middletown Special Education Team
Here are your dedicated team of educators
Tamara Slaight, Director of Special Education: tamara.slaight@middletownusd.org
Sonja Jensen, Special Education Program Manager: sonja.jensen@middletownusd.org
MHS – Allison Smith, Special Education Teacher: allison.smith@middletownusd.org
MHS – Mark Hillman, Special Education Teacher: mark.hillman@middletownusd.org
MCE & Cobb – Ana Llamas, Special Education Teacher: ana.llamas@middletownusd.org
CVE – Jules Stout, Special Education Teacher: jules.stout@middletownusd.org
CVE – Julia Franklin, Special Education Teacher: julia.franklin@middletownusd.org
CVE – Jennifer Santiago, Special Education Teacher: jennifer.santiago@middletownusd.org
District – Jessica Pickens, School Psychologist: jessica.pickens@middletownusd.org
District – Breanne Tacy, School Psychologist: breanne.tacy@middletownusd.org
District – Rona Isherwood, Speech Therapist: rona.isherwood@middletownusd.org
CVE – Stephanie Garris, Speech Therapist: stephanie.garris@middletownusd.org
District – Brianna Baisch, Occupational Therapist: brianna.baisch@middletownusd.org
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