Special Education Department

Director of Special Education – Laura Droke
526-6727, ldroke@wwps.org

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

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.

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 and Edison Elementary: Students attend 4- 1/2 days per week for communication, fine motor, cognitive and other delays. (Students age 3-5)
Teacher: Celia Boyd-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: Heather Strader
• Speech Therapist: Audrey Black and Patty Weeks

Back to Top

Elementary:

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

• Autism classroom-Berney 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
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. Kdg.-2nd grade students do not need to qualify for special education to attend this program.
Teachers: Steve Droke

• 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: Kim Butenhoff
• Speech Therapist: Audrey Black

Berney Elementary 527-3060
• Learning Specialist: Laurie Hersey
• Intervention Specialist: Christine Forsyth
• School Psychologist: Maria Garcia, Tracy Kahn (psych intern)
• Speech Therapist: Mary Lynn Thompson

Edison Elementary 527-3072
• Learning Specialist: Nancy Anhorn
• Intervention Specialist: Jackie Richerzhagen
• School Psychologist: Peggy Tierney, Emma Northrup (psych intern)
• Speech Therapist: Debbie Rowland Smith

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

Prospect Point Elementary 527-3088
• Learning Specialist: Becky Rausch
• Intervention Specialist: Christine Ludwig
• School Psychologist: Kim Butenhoff
• Speech Therapist K - 2: Mary Lynn Thompson
• Speech Therapist 3 – 5: Debbie Rowland-Smith

Sharpstein Elementary 527-3098
• Learning Specialist: Kerri Coffman
• Intervention Specialist: Luciana Pooler
• Speech Therapist: Patty Weeks
• School Psychologist: Annie Boyd

Back to Top

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 three period Reading and Language Arts block. Content area support is also available.
Pioneer: Gina Stahlheber, Lani Kiefel, Karie Hickerson, Chris Blackman
Garrison: Barb Doherty, Jackie Lewis, Marilyn R. Brown, Chris Blackman

• 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, Kristin Gehrett

Contacts:

Garrison Middle School 527-3040
• Counselors: Bunny Baker, Steve Pitzer
• Speech Therapist: Gayla Eckis
• School Psychologist: Peggy Tierney, Emma Northrup (psych intern)

Pioneer Middle School 527-3050
• Counselors: Judy Anderson, David Tegtmeier
• Speech Therapist: Gayla Eckis
• School Psychologist: Alicia Quackenbush

Back to Top

High School:

• Quality of Life Program: Provides self care, self help, socialization, communication, fine and gross motor, community access and daily living skills for moderate to severely involved students.
Teacher: Karen Scott

• Autism classroom: 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: Cindy Rosselle

• STEP Program: Provides daily living in a natural home setting. Teaches social skills, community access, vocational exploration, vocational training, on-campus and integrated community work site components with job coaches for moderately involved students.
Teacher: Cheryl Peters

• Work Program: Provides functional “Real Life” Reading, Written Language and Math instruction. Includes prevocational, job exploration and work component with job coaches.
Teacher: Don McCoy, Gretchen Baker

• Four Year College Prep. Program: Students are provided a one period reading and written language class that focuses on supporting the general education English class they are taking. General Education core classes are provided in-class support from a paraprofessional as needed. Students have access to a Learning Center (study skills/study hall class) where students are given additional support with general education classes. Teachers: Laura Bertinelli, Lyn Lindell

• Two Year Technical College Program: Students are provided an intensive reading, written language and math program that focuses on quickly remediating skill deficits or providing students training on compensatory strategies. Students attend general education or community college vocational classes rather than content area course work.
Teachers: Lyn Lindell, Chad Kopf, Laura Bertinelli, Jeanne Lothspeich, Ryan Carter

• Vocational/Technical Program: Students are provided vocationally based reading, written language and math instruction. Includes career awareness, career exploration, job shadowing, job placement and job coaching. Students access general education and Community College vocational training instead of general education content area classes.
Teachers: Gretchen Baker, Lori Finn

• 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

• Opportunity Program: Contract based alternative program. Students are provided reading, written language, study skills, math, social behavior and other skills as indicated on their IEP in a small group or individual setting.
Teacher: Brian Taylor

Contacts:

Walla Walla High School 527-3020
• Counselors: Carol Franklin, Eva Hanson, Jeanne Ruecker, Harvey Wellington
• Speech Therapist: Gayla Eckis
• School Psychologist: Pam Amo, Annie Boyd, Maria Garcia

Lincoln Alternative High School 527-3083
• Counselors: To be determined
• Speech Therapist: Gayla Eckis
• School Psychologist: Maria Garcia

Opportunity Program 527-3052
• School Psychologist: Maria Garcia
• Speech Therapist: Gayla Eckis

Back to Top

• Nancy Kessler, Occupational Therapist
• 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

• Special Education Strategic Plan
• Procedural Safeguards
• Parents Guide to the IEP
• Special Education Program Effectiveness Data 2006-2007
• Connecting Ideas/PBS Year-End Report 2006-2007
• House Bill 20-12 Year-End Report
• LIPS Lab Data
• Special Education Curriculum Overview

Back to Top