Specialized Student Services

A Standard of Excellence
Sherrie L. Daniels, Director
Stephanie L. Richardson, Coordinatorr
Vision Statement
Oak Park School District is committed to providing all students the opportunity to learn regardless of abilities or disabilities. Our students will receive a quality rigorous curriculum in the least restrictive environment. We hold high expectations, and we value diverse learners. We will ensure that students are presented with quality differentiated instruction and the appropriate support needed for their success.

Project Find looks for Oak Park Children and youth from birth to 26 years of age who have physical, speech/language, social emotion or cognitive issues that affect their educational performance. These conditions may make them eligible for educational services provided by the Oak Park School District. Project Find provides information about special education programs and services and helps to arrange free educational evaluations through the Oak Park School District to assist in determining needs, special education eligibility and appropriate programming. Project Find exists to make sure children and youth with special needs receive the best possible education.

If you have concerns about your child contact:
Lucille Evans, Project Find Coordinator at 248-336-7640 ext. 2180

Important Links

Special Education Resources for General Education Teachers

RTI Manuel

Co-Teaching Resources

Michigan Administrative Rules

Compliance

Procedural Safeguards Notice English

Procedural Safeguards Notice Arabic

Procedural Safeguards Notice Spanish

RCT RTI Process

Homebound Guide

Early On Oakland

Oakland Parent Handbook

Transition Guide

Early On Developmental Stages

Frequently Asked Questions

Specialized Student Services Teaching Staff

Einstein Elementary
Cheri Berlin Topper - ASD Teacher
Sharon Donati - ECSE Teacher
Lucille Evans - Early Childhood Services/Child Find Coordinator
Siasia Jackson – Resource Teacher
Jennifer Nothstine – Resource Teacher
Briggitte White – CI Teacher

Key Elementary
Alojzija Horvat - ASD Teacher
Janice Banka - ECSE Teacher
Patricia Jenkins - Resource Teacher
Michelle Katz – ASD Teacher

Pepper Elementary
Keyva Bridges - ASD Teacher
Stephanie Harris - Resource Teacher
Geneva McCullough - Resource Teacher
Nancy Stevens - ASD Teacher
Margaret Wittick - CI Teacher

Oak Park Preparatory Academy
Dorothy Freeland - Resource Teacher
Nancy Theida – Resource Teacher
Jennifer Penman – CI Teacher
Lisa Rasansky – ASD Teacher
Rebecca Simon- Resource Teacher
Rhonda Rudolph - Resource Teacher
Lenora Hudson - ASD Teacher

Oak Park Freshman Institute
Sholanda Pope – Resource Teacher
Kenshasa Redman – Resource Teacher

Oak Park High School
Alisa Biederman - Resource Teacher
Mary Brombach - MOCI Teacher
Jacquelyn Cunningham – Resource Teacher
Susan Sabbath - Resource Teacher
Mary Western - ASD Teacher
TBD - Resource Teacher
TBD – MICI Teacher

Great Oaks Day Treatment
Erica Breshgold

NOVA Discipline Academy
TBD

Psychologist
Jennifer Barrett-Benson
Meghan Caswell-Pohl
Stephanie Cobb

School Social Workers
Judity Gamily - Elementary
Karen Matti - Elementary
Latonya Moseley – Elementary
Dal-Mar Roquemore - Elementary
Carl Dade - Nova/OPFI
Diane Headpohl – Secondary
Yeatonia Martin - OPHS
Jean Perry – Secondary
Aja Tice – Great Oaks DT Academy

Speech and Language Pathologist
Artan Harris - Elementary/Secondary
Sidney Millard - Elementary/Secondary
Cindy Slavik - Elementary
Yonina Tkatch - Preschool/Elementary/Secondary

Occupational Therapist
Diane Kreitler

Physical Therapist
TBD

OAK PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT

Process for Determining a Specific Learning Disability

What is an SLD?

A Specific Leaning Disability is “a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia that adversely affects a student’s educational performance. A SLD does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, mental retardation; emotional disturbance; or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.” (34CFR 300.8 (c )(10).

The model used by the Oak Park School District for the identification of Specific learning Disabilities (SLD) emphasizes the full and individual evaluation as a process of data collection that includes multiple methods of assessing student performance with input from parents, teachers, instructional specialists and staff such as school psychologists. The purpose of the evaluation is to surround the student of concern with the best and most comprehensive information possible to make valid and appropriate recommendations as to the student’s eligibility for special education and , more importantly, educationally relevant recommendations for instructional strategies, supports, and services.

The Oak Park School District will utilize an underachievement plus Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses model for the determination of a Specific Learning Disability for all buildings and all grades in the district and includes the following:

The student does not achieve adequately for the student’s age or to meet State-approved grade level standards in one or more of the areas identified at 34 CFR 300.309(a)(1)(i) when provided with learning experiences and instruction appropriate for the student’s age or State-approved grade level standards; and
The student exhibits a pattern of strengths and weaknesses in performance, achievement, or both, relative to age, State-approved grade level standards, or intellectual development, that is determined by the Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET) to be relevant to the identification of a SLD, using appropriate assessments, consistent with the IDEA Evaluation Procedures and Additional Requirements for Evaluations and Reevaluations.

In making a determination as to whether a student has or continues to have a specific learning disability, the Oak Park School District will also comply with all applicable federal regulations and State rules, including those addressing comprehensive evaluations, determination of the existence of a specific learning disability, observation of academic performance and behavior in the area(s) of difficulty, specific documentation of SLD eligibility determination, and reevaluation requirements.

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Buildings & Calendars

Specialized Student Services