Special Education

Derby Public Schools

            Derby, Connecticut 06418

Pre K-Elementary Supervisor: Stacey McCoart

Secondary Supervisor: Brigitta Abakumova

Update to Board of Education - October 2, 2024

Our Shared Focus and Priorities:

• Supporting and growing teacher practice
• Collaboration with and support of families
• Continuing educational opportunities for inclusion and individualized growth
• Develop and grow Special Education programs within the district

Current Happenings

Academics

• Renewal of Lexia CORE 5 and Power Up Programs
• Everyday Speech and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum initiative
• Renewal of Goalbook to support IEP development and progress monitoring
• Reviewing incoming Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and services
• Planning and Delivering Scientific Research Based Interventions
• Evaluating caseloads for Special Education Teachers and Related Service Providers
• Start Fall Benchmark Assessments
• Establishing Academic Student Support Teams (ASST)
• Fostering and exploring inclusive practices through co-teaching and push in models of instruction and service delivery                                                                                   

Human Capital

• Coordinating staffing and support for all special education programming
• Held in house Physical Management Training

• initial course at Irving on 9/12/2024
• Initial PMT training at secondary level scheduled for 10/2/24

• Goalbook Training Held Virtually on 9/25/24
• Onboarding new special education teacher at the DMS BLC
• Onboarding of new paraeducators at Irving
• Ongoing Special Education Department Meetings for all schools

Operations

• Reviewing new registrations and placements of programming
• Troubleshooting CTSEDS IEP and 504 programming
• Started bi-weekly finance meetings
• Started monthly meeting with Superintendent
• Case management of Out of District contracts and services
• Ordering of supplies and resources for teachers/staff
• Ongoing weekly check in meeting with BHCare for School Based Services
• Reviewing Early Childhood Outcomes (ECO) pre/post assessments
• Connecting DDS eligible students with DDS, coordinating application process
• Provided professional development at DHS regarding Child Find and PPT process
• Conducted home visit to further support student in need
• Provided transition assessments and curriculum to DMS and DHS staff to support student goal and skill development
• Held RAISE Academy meeting to solidify programming and planning for all enrolled students

Culture/Climate

• Attended CSDE Back to School Meeting in Hartford
• Provide positive feedback to all staff
• Team meetings with department and new staff/team building
• Coaching and support of new staff in support of students with disabilities
• Attended Open House events, DHS pep rally

RAISE Academy - 10/2/24 Board Report

24-25 Focus and Priorities:

● Establishing and Implementing program expectations

 ● Prioritize SEL support through twice weekly Everyday Speech group counseling lessons

New/Current Happenings

Academics

Academic Skills:

IEP Goals and Objectives

RAISE Civics:

Describing and identifying forms of government

RAISE Chemistry:

Using knowledge of measurements and conversions to measure and weigh objects in the classroom

RAISE Anatomy:

Identifying basic body structures, dissecting an owl pellet and identifying animals based on the characteristic of bones

RAISE Geometry:

Describing and identifying 2 dimensional planes

RAISE Skills Transition:

Identifying and describing the difference between necessity and luxury expenses, Using knowledge of necessity and luxury expenses to find an apartment and develop a liveable budget based on the average income of a CT resident

RAISE English:

Using context clues to answer inferential comprehension questions and develop vocabulary in the novel "The Most Dangerous Game"

Human Capital

● 10 students currently enrolled

• 1 special education teacher, 1 RBT

Operations

● new: co teaching model for academic instruction

● Push in SEL sessions during advisory with school social workers, twice weekly Everyday Speech

Culture/Climate

Strong focus and improvements in participation, academic stamina, and positive classroom behavioral habits to develop the skill set necessary to transition into the general education setting