March 15, 2020
Dear Teaneck Parents and Guardians,
The Department of Special Services is committed to ensuring our students with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities, including the provision for a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). The recent developments of the novel Coronavirus/COVID-19 health situation necessitated the Special Education Department to develop remote extended learning instructional plans for special education students to complete during the health related school closure. These plans will be accessible on the district website, www.teaneckschools.org (click STUDENT tab) for all students and parents/guardians.
Yesterday, families were provided with information on how to access the instructional plans. Parents/guardians have the choice of selecting activities following grade level instructional plans (modifications provided) or accessing the special education lesson plans (modifications provided) in the four core subject areas: Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Additionally, a related services folder with the following activities has been created:
- Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
- Executive Functioning/Study Skills
- Life Skills
- Mindfulness
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Speech Therapy
- Teacher of the Deaf (TOD)
Many of our students may have questions and require support throughout this time. Case managers, teachers, and related service providers will work and “meet virtually” with parents/guardians to discuss lessons that are being provided via email, videoconferencing, educational websites and/or distance learning as well as monitoring the students. Parents/guardians are encouraged to email their child’s case manager, teacher(s), related service provider(s) and/or principal within the normal school hours with any questions. You will receive a response within 24 hours. For a listing of each staff member within each building, please visit the Staff Directory page of the Specialized Education Google Site or see below.
Additional information will be provided Monday, March 16 regarding IEP Meetings, Referrals/Requests for Evaluations, and Pending Evaluations. For the most up to date information pertaining to special education and related services, please visit the Specialized Education Google Site. As a reminder, while our schools are closed, no evening programs will be hosted by the Special Education Department, transportation will be suspended to out of district schools, and students receiving home instruction services will transition to remote learning.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the Department of Special Services. We appreciate your patience during this challenging time.
Wishing you all the best,
Erica Cerilli-Levine
Special Services Department
Angela R. Davis
Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services
(201) 833-5090
Erica Cerilli-Levine
Director Special Education and Nursing Services
ecerilli-levine@teaneckschools.org
(201) 833-5490
Shellian Mirander
Assistant Director Special Education
(201) 833-5490
Emilio Jennette
Federal & State Grants Coordinator Compliance & Parent Outreach Coordinator
(201) 834-7016
Dr. Maura Tuite
Child Study Team Coordinator
(201) 833-5434
Danny Gareri
Transition Coordinator
(201) 862-5437
Candice Brown
Executive Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services
(201) 833-5090
Delia Pomales
Secretary - Out of District (OOD)
(201) 833-5490 or (201) 833-5482
Alia Sterns
Secretary - Elementary & Secondary
(201) 833-5490 or (201) 833-5133
Bryant School
Psychologist -
Shysell Boneta
LDT-C -
Nicole Hampton
Social Worker -
Jan Girgan
Speech Therapists -
Shamara Walker
Felicia Vinpa
Region V - Pnina Fessel
Region V - Lori Rosner
Behaviorist -
Iris Hernandez
Occupational Therapists -School Based Therapy Services
Yafit Finkelstein
Elina Isaacson
Alyssa Hertzberg
Nicole Voight Thawley
Robert McMahon
Physical Therapists - Thera-Pede
Bridgette Maniaci
Christina DeGennaro
Hawthorne School
Psychologist -
Tracy Nagengast
LDT-C -
Claudia Belotti
Social Worker -
Joe Panepinto
Speech Therapists -
Ivy Stern
Region V - Marcy Hiller
Behaviorist -
Region V - Kim Gluckler
Occupational Therapist -School Based Therapy Services
Paulette Goldman Green
Physical Therapist - Thera-Pede
Bridgette Maniaci
Lowell School
Psychologist -
Kristine Thielman
LDT-C -
Rhoda Irodia
Social Worker -
Joe Panepinto
Speech Therapists -
Danielle Cardona dcardona@teaneckschools.org
Region V - Claudia Fermano shiningspeech@gmail.com
Behaviorist -
Iris Hernandez
Occupational Therapist - School Based Therapy Services
Michelle Meaney
Physical Therapist - Thera-Pede
Bridgette Maniaci
Whittier School
Psychologist -
Amanda Pollifrone
apollifrone@teaneckschools.org
LDT-C -
Claudia Belotti
Social Worker -
Region V - Amy Morik
Speech Therapists -
Breda Dade
Felicia Vinpa
Behaviorists -
Iris Hernandez
Region V - Luis Penalillo
Care Plus - Social Worker -
Sofia De Jesus
Occupational Therapist -
School Based Therapy Services
Sara Krinitz
Physical Therapist - Thera-Pede
Christina DeGennaro
Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Psychologist -
Elizabeth Bauer
LDT-C -
Vanessa Lospalluto
vlospalluto@teaneckschools.org
Social Worker -
Megan Gallow
Speech Therapist -
Leana Barbosa
Behaviorist -
Region V - Dawn Decker
Occupational Therapists- School Based Therapy Services
Sara Krinitz
Robert McMahon
Paulette Goldman Green
Physical Therapist -Thera-Pede
Christina DeGennaro
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Psychologist -
Dr. Paul Ferbank
Psychologist - Region V -
Dr. Alexandrina Cristian
LDT-C - Rhoda Irodia
Social Worker -
Evan Morrison
Speech Therapist - Ivy Stern
Behaviorist -Region V -
Dawn Decker
Care Plus - Social Worker -
Sofia De Jesus
Occupational Therapists - School Based Therapy Services
Robert McMahon
Alyssa Hertzberg
Physical Therapist - Thera-Pede
Christina DeGennaro
Teaneck High School
Psychologist -
Dr. Maura Tuite
Psychologist -
Dr. Lisa Barrows
Psychologist -
Region V - Maria Manning
LDT-C -
Teri Avella
LDT-C - Region V -
Karen Rizio
Social Worker -
Sandra Beckford
Speech Therapist -
Leana Barbosa
Behaviorist -
Region V - Kim Gluckler
Occupational Therapist - School Based Therapy Services
Nicole Voight Thawley
Physical Therapist - Thera-Pede
Jennifer Englese
Out of District Team
Psychologist -
Region V -
Michal Strauss
LDT-C -
Region V -
Shannon StClair
Social Worker -
Yonit Malina
Special Education and Related Services
Audiology/Speech-Language Region V -
Laura Sylvia, Ph.D., CCC-A/SLP
Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Orientation & Mobility -
Cherry Zhu (COMS @NJCBVI)
862-373-5019
Teacher of the Visually Impaired -
Bobbie Gackowski
609-331-5345
Teacher of the Deaf (TOD) -Region V -
Kerry Shelby, Educational Consultant for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Auditory Assistance, LLC
kerry.auditoryassistance@gmail.com