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Special Education

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Role
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Special Education is committed to providing young children and eligible students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education consistent with federal and state laws. Individual special education programs are cooperatively developed by an individual education planning (IEP) team which includes parents, teachers, administrators, and, when appropriate, other specialists. These teams make every effort to provide the appropriate special education program to children in a setting as close to the regular classroom as possible.

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Director

Rochelle Williams

Phone: (318) 388-3747, x4676 

Fax: (318) 387-2090

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Services
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  • Adaptive Physical Education Services - Delivers an effective, well rounded program based on the individual needs of the student. The program combines the most practical and successful methods that the Louisiana education system as a whole has to offer, while at the same time, keeping these services within the framework of the least restrictive environment. The instructional activities can be taught in the adapted physical education class, regular or inclusive physical education class or community based setting.

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  • Early Childhood Special Education Services - Provides services to over 100 children with special needs between the ages of three and five years old. If your child has difficulty doing what other children his/her age do, such as talking, moving about, following simple directions and/or playing with and responding to others, you might be interested in an evaluation for your child. The evaluation will reveal whether or not your child is eligible to receive special services such as special instruction, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy or adapted physical education. If you would like to speak with our evaluation coordinator, please call Robin Cohenour at 318-388-3747, ext. 5210.

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  • Gifted and Talented - Provides gifted and talented students with an array of opportunities to meet a variety of needs. Gifted and talented education is an opportunity for students to discover themselves and the world around them. These classes offer exciting and challenging experiences that enhance creativity and complex thinking abilities. Teachers expose students to accelerated and enriching topics, intrinsically motivating children to grow in their academic and artistic knowledge. Although many students are screened and tested through teacher recommendations and scores on standardized tests, any parent wishing to have his or her child screened for one or both of these programs may contact the Office of Student Support Services. 

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  • Hearing Impaired Services - Provides services for students with hearing impairments at all grade levels. The program is based at Madison James Foster Elementary, Neville Junior High, and Neville High School. Certified teachers, with the assistance of interpreters, offer academic assistance to students who have been diagnosed deaf or hard of hearing, enhancing the students’ classroom experiences and educational progress.

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  • Pupil Appraisal Services - Assists students who have academic, behavioral, and/or communication challenges, adjustment difficulties, or other special needs which are adversely impacting the student’s education.

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  • Supplemental Services - Provides speech therapy for students with communication disorders. These disorders include: articulation (sound production), language (sentence structure, understanding and responding to questions, etc.), fluency (repetition of sounds, words or phrases) and voice (i.e. chronic hoarseness). A speech language evaluation is provided through the Office of Student Support Services in accordance with state and federal guidelines. Students with motor deficits have the benefit of Occupational and Physical Therapies. Screening and evaluation are provided through the Office of Student Support Services in accordance with state and federal guidelines. For more information contact Anne Marie Johnson, Program Facilitator at 318-388-3747 ext. 5233.

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  • Transition Services - Provided for IDEA students age fifteen and older. It is a coordinated set of activities involving students, schools, parents, outside agencies, and the community. The purpose of transition is to encourage students and parents to think about the future. Individual Education Plans (IEP) include a Transition page that addresses instruction, related services, community experiences, employment, post-school adult living objectives, and when appropriate, daily living skills and functional vocation evaluation provided by the school and local agencies. The Louisiana Department of Education (LDE) requires that students sixteen and older complete the Transition Post School Data Collection Form when exiting the school system with teacher assistance. The LDE also requires that students be surveyed one year after exiting the school system and again three years after exiting. The Region Eight Transition Core Team meets monthly with local school districts and agencies. Secondary students are provided with a directory of public agencies. A service provider seminar is conducted annually for students, parents, and guardians in which each agency reviews the services that are available locally.

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  • Visually Impaired Services - Participating students are provided support services with parental permission. Our program provides materials, direct teaching, and consultative services to visually impaired students and their teachers. The goal is to assist in developing a realistic program that will serve the totally blind, legally blind, and partially sighted students so that they may actively participate in the general curriculum with non-disabled students. If a student has a disability which meets the definition of one of the Visually Impaired enumerated in the statute, and as a result needs special education and related services, that student is eligible to have those services provided at no cost to the parents.

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IEP Facilitators
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  • Kim Foster, x2127

  • Sharon Frith, x5217

  • Carolyn Long, x5224

  • Cindy Pucheu, x4849

  • Jamekia Dial-Hunter, x5212

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Occupational Therapist
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  • Amanda Tull, x5228

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Speech Language Pathologists
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  • Kimberly Barr, Pupil Appraisal, x4312

  • Christy Garrett, Speech Therapy/Assistive Technology Coordinator, x5241

  • Anne Marie Johnson, x5233

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Transition Coordinator
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  • Jamekia Dial-Hunter, x5212

  • Debra Wesley, Pupil Appraisal Coordinator, x5236

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Educational Diagnosticians
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  • Stacy Spires, x5213

  • Jan Bower, x5219

  • Judy Bell, x5240

  • Julie Fontana, x5211

  • Jayme Smith, x5225

  • Celeste Drost, x5223

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School Psychologists
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  • Rayne Adams, x5207

  • Robin Cohenour, x5210

  • Pamela Smith, x5230

  • Laura Maciaszek, x5216

  • Carey Day, x5214

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School Social Workers
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  • Brenda Williams, x5232

  • Clarence Williams, x5235

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