Walla Walla Public Schools
District A - Z For Parents For Staff

Special Education Department

Marcia WaltersMarcia Walters - Director, Special Education
WWPS District Office
364 S. Park St.
Walla Walla, WA 99362
509.526.6724 (Office)
509.526.4344 (Fax)
mwalters@wwps.org

Cindy Nass - Special Education Coordinator
526-6723, cnass@wwps.org

Program Overview

Special education services are offered to students ages birth through 21 with documented disabilities. The Individualized Educational Program team determines what services and supports are needed to provide an appropriate educational program for your child. We currently serve approximately 765 special needs students throughout the district. We look forward to serving your family and ensuring your child has every opportunity to be a successful learner. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Special Programs office if you need more information.

Federal fund applications and all related documents are available to parents and the general public for comment and inspection at the Special Programs Department located at 364 South Park, Walla Walla, WA.

Programs Available

Preshool Elementary Middle School High School Resources

 

 

 

 

Preschool:

Preschool Play group-Blue Ridge: Students attend a play group 1-2 days per week to address cognitive delays. (Students age birth to 3). Teacher: Kathy Bense

Home bound: Students are provided special education support by a special education preschool teacher. (Students age birth to 3.) Teacher: Kathy Bense

Special Education Preschool Classroom: Blue Ridge Elementary: Students attend 4- 1/2 days per week for communication, fine motor, cognitive and other delays. (Students age 3-5)
Teacher: Kristina Corbin-self contained, Tami Plucker-resource.

Blue Ridge and Green Park Preschool: An integrated Preschool setting for children age 3-5. Blended programming of Title I, Migrant, Head Start and Special Education.
Teacher: Kathy Bense

Community Based Special Education Support: Students attend community based preschools and are provided special education support by a special education Preschool teacher, Speech Therapist, Occupational or Physical Therapist. (Students age 3-5)

Contacts:

Preschool 527-3066
• Disability Coordinator: Maggie Miranda
• Preschool Coordinator: Kathy Bense
• School Psychologist: Emma Northrup
• Speech Therapist: Audrey Black and Missy Newcom

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Elementary:

Kdg.-5 Inclusionary self-contained- Green Park Elementary
Provides self-help, pre academic and behavioral support in a partial self-contained setting with supported inclusion. Teacher: Kathy Smith, Barbara Casey

Autism classroom- Edison Elementary
Provides communication, self help, academic and behavioral support in a TEACH model classroom with supported inclusion. For students with a diagnosis of autism or autism spectrum disorders. Modified day program. Teacher: Kathleen Gilmore

Resource Room: Provides reading, written language, math, behavioral and social skills support to special education students primarily through an intensive pull out model.
Berney: Justine Taylor
Blue Ridge: Meg Cochran
Edison: Dave Larson and Steve Droke
Green Park: Diana McNamara
Sharpstein: Ashley Goss
Prospect Point: Cindy Daves

Multiage Behavior Intervention Program, Prospect Point
Academic environment utilizing individual and small group instruction in conjunction with a level system to address behavior concerns. Mental health components include individual therapy, group social skills, self esteem building and child and family therapy.
Teachers: Carrie Chase

Home bound: Students are provided academic, behavioral, communication, fine motor, gross motor and self help skills through a special education teacher, speech therapist, occupational or physical therapist in the home setting.

Contacts:

Blue Ridge Elementary 527-3066
• Learning Specialist: Tina Holbrook
• Intervention Specialist: Alice Dankel
• School Psychologist: Peggy Tierney and Emma Northrup
• Speech Therapist: Audrey Black

Berney Elementary 527-3060
• Learning Specialist: Angie Gardea
• Intervention Specialist: Kristen Duede
• School Psychologist: Heather Strader
• Speech Therapist: Debbie Rowland-Smith

Edison Elementary 527-3072
• Learning Specialist: Nancy Anhorn
• Intervention Specialist: Jackie Richerzhagen
• School Psychologist: Annie Boyd
• Speech Therapist: Mary Lynn Thompson

Green Park Elementary 527-3077
• Learning Specialist: Linda Lohrmann
• Intervention Specialist: Barbara Thatcher
• Speech Therapist: Sandra Bushnell
• School Psychologist: Kim Butenhoff

Prospect Point Elementary 527-3088
• Learning Specialist: Diana Evanson
• Intervention Specialist: Christine Ludwig
• School Psychologist: Kim Butenhoff
• Speech Therapist: Patty Weeks

Sharpstein Elementary 527-3098
• Learning Specialist: Estaban Florian / Kate Venneri
• Intervention Specialist: Luciana Pooler
• Speech Therapist: Patty Weeks
• School Psychologist: Annie Boyd

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Middle School:

Pre-Vocational Self-contained: Provides self help, academic and behavioral support. Includes prevocational component, community experience and building based work sites. Students are included in general education as deemed appropriate.
Teacher: Debbie Bailey, Pioneer

Language Arts/Reading Blocks: Special Education Staff teach an intensive two period Reading and Language Arts block.
Pioneer: Gina Stahlheber, TBD, Charlene Maib, Donna Morris
Garrison: Barb Doherty, Marilyn R. Brown, Kristen Gehrett

Special Education Math Class: Students are provided special education math according to needs addressed on their IEP.
Pioneer: (See above staff)
Garrison: (See above staff)

Behavior Classroom: Academic environment utilizing individual, small group and supported inclusion in conjunction with a level system to address behavior concerns. Mental health components include individual therapy, group social skills and self esteem building with wrap around family support.
Garrison: Nate Carrara

Contacts:

Garrison Middle School 527-3040
• Counselors: Bunny Baker, Steve Pitzer
• Speech Therapist: Missy Newcom
• School Psychologist: Peggy Tierney

Pioneer Middle School 527-3050
• Counselors: Judy Anderson, David Tegtmeier
• Speech Therapist: Debbie Rowland-Smith
• School Psychologist: Julie White

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High School:

The high school years become the time to focus on post high school outcomes for students. There are several "Pathways" that students can work through to make sure they are ready to enter the world of work upon graduation or continue their chosen career through more training. The Pathways are:

  • 4 year college
  • 2 year college/technical college
  • Competitive employment
  • Supported Work
  • Daily Living

Contact the High School Special Education Department for more information.

Teachers: Laura Bertinelli, Chris Blackman, Karan Jamieson, Jeanne Lothspeich, Don McCoy, Cheryl Peters, Margo Piver, Karen Scott, Jennifer Wylie


Behavior Program: Academic and behavioral support utilizing individual, small group and supported inclusion in conjunction with a level system to address behavior concerns. Also includes community access and recreation components. Mental health components include individual therapy, group social skills and self esteem building with wrap around family support.
Teachers: Marci Knauft, Brandi McIntire (Lincoln Alternative High School)

Lincoln Alternative High School: Provides small class size in an alternative school setting. Special Education support provided through pull out and co-teaching models.
Teacher: Brian Taylor

Contacts:

Walla Walla High School 527-3020
• Counselors: Carol Franklin, Eva Hanson, Jeanne Ruecker, Harvey Wellington
• Speech Therapist: Eileen Greenwalt
• School Psychologist: Heather Strader, Alicia Quackenbush

Lincoln Alternative High School 527-3083
• Counselors: TBD
• Speech Therapist: Eileen Greenwalt
• School Psychologist: Maria Garcia

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Related Service Staff

• Nancy Kessler, Occupational Therapist
• Nichole Miller, COTA
• Marcia Clausen, Assistive Technology
• Pam Studer, Julie McEnderfer, Vision Specialist, Orientation and Mobility Specialists
• Carol Caruthers, Deaf Educator
• Joanne Price, Audiologist
• Adrianne Cole, Physical Therapist

Resources

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