Welcome:

We would like to welcome you to Westlake Middle Schools special education team. As a team we meet on a regular basis to discus student concerns and achievements. We also meet on a regular basis for professional development that increases our ability to educate your student.

RTI

RTI information from National Research Center on Learning Disabilities  www.nrcld.org

Core Concepts of RTI

• Student receive high quality instruction in their general education setting
  General education instruction is research-based
  General education instructors and staff assume an active role in students’ assessment in that curriculum
  School staff conducts universal screening of academics and behavior
  Continuous progress monitor8ing of student performance occurs
  Continuous progress monitoring pinpoints students’ specific difficulties
  School staff implement specific, research-based interventions to address the students’ difficulties
  School staff use progress-monitoring data to determine interventions’ effectiveness and to make any modifications as needed
  Systematic assessment is completed of the fidelity or integrity with which instruction and interventions are implemented
  Can have the concept of multiple tiers of increasingly intense student interventions
  Implementation of a differentiated curriculum
  Instruction delivered by staff other than the classroom teacher
  Varied duration, frequency and time of interventions
  Use a problem solving model protocol for addressing students’ difficulties.

RTI and IEP –

Student who are currently on an IEP or being evaluated for an IEP will go through the RTI process.  The team will look at the interventions that have been made and the students’ response to those interventions.  This data will help drive discussion about further interventions and if an IEP is needed and/or if it needs to be continued.

IEP:

IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and staffings

What is an I.E.P?     An I.E.P is an Individualized Education Plan.

How does an IEP work?  The IEP creates opportunity for staff, parents and students to work together to improve your students education.  The IEP gives individualized information on your student (strengths, needs, goals, strategies that work for them) to create a program to meet their unique needs.

What is in an IEP?   Current performance supported by data, annual measurable goals, special education and related services, participation in state and district testing, dates and locations of services, transition services needed (age 14 or after unless needed prior to that).

What happens in a staffing?  An initial is when a student is first evaluated to see if special education services are needed.  If services are needed your student will be place on an IEP, if you agree.  If they are not found to be in need of special education services and can have their educational needs meet in another way then recommendations will be shared at that time.  An annual is a yearly evaluation of progress.  A triennial (tri) is a reevaluation held every three years to find out if special education services are still needed.  (A tri and an annual happen only if a student has been place on an IEP.)

Contact Information

Teacher Introductions

Kristy Klein

Hi!  My name is Kristy Klein and I teach the Language! program.  I have been at Westlake Middle School for 9 years, three as a student and six as a teacher.  It was a great experience to teach with teachers who provided me with a love of learning as a child.  I hope to provide the same for each child who comes to my classroom. 

Nancy Blanford

This will be my 20th year in District 12 as a teacher for deaf and hard of hearing students.  I moved from Illinois to Colorado in 1875.  Colorado is a great state adn District 12 is a great district.

Ilyne Engle

Donna Goertz

This is my third year at Westlake as a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing.  Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher, but circumstances sidetracked that dream.  I graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI with an Art Degree in 1980.  However, it is interesting how dreams have a way of never dying.  I returned to school in 2000 and received my Masters degree and teaching license in Special Ed: Hearing, from the University of Northern Colorado, in 2003.

Stacy Harris

Hi, My name's Stacy Harris and I'm the Affective Needs teacher here at Westlake. This is my 4th year teaching Affective Needs, finishing up my 1st year at Westlake. I love working with middle school students and look forward to many success stories of watching students grow and continue to make progress throughout there middle school years.

Tammy Piz

I have been a social worker for ten years and working as a school social worker for the past two years. I am a licensed clinical social worker with a certification in school social work. I am interested in having a strong parent contact and working with the family to help their child in school. I also strongly believe in a strengths base approach.

Lisa Tisher

Jessica Walker

My name is Jessica Walker and I teach Everyday Math program.  This is my third year teaching at Westlake and my fourth year overall.  I enjoy teaching math and challenging the kids to connect it to their everyday lives.  My goal as a teacher is to see each child grow into a responsible and outstanding individual.

Tiffany Wheeler

My name is Tiffany Wheeler. I am the new School Psychologist here at Westlake. I have been working in the schools for about five years and have worked in two other districts (Adams 14 and Pasco County in Florida). I am a Colorado native and still reside in Thornton, where I was born and raised. I attended the University of Colorado at Denver for my graduate studies. I am married and have a young son who keeps me on the go. I have enjoyed getting to know this district and the families we serve.

Teresa Zebrowski

HI.  My name is Teresa Zebrowski and I am the Speech Pathologist for Westlake Middle School.  I have been working in Adams 12 for 12 years (10 of them at Northeast Middle School and 2 at Westlake Middle School).  I have been working in the schools for 16 years with students with learning disabilities, emotional difficulties, significant needs, speech articulation errors and Deaf and hard of hearing