Definition of roles

School Psychologist – Psychologists conduct psycho-educational evaluations for students who are experiencing difficulties in school.  These evaluations include assessment of students’ cognitive abilities, academic skills, and/or social-emotional status.  In addition to evaluations, psychologists may consult with teachers and parents regarding a variety of issues, counsel students individually or in groups, and deliver classroom lessons.  The combination of activities in which a psychologist engages varies from building to building.

School Counselor – Elementary school counseling is a developmental and preventive program, which supports positive personal, social, and emotional growth for all students.  Counselors help students reach their academic goals through counseling (individually and in small groups), large group guidance (i.e., whole class lessons), and consultation with teachers and parents, and collaboration with school and community agency staff members.

Speech Therapist – Speech therapists address students’ speech and language needs (i.e., fluency, articulation, receptive/expressive language and pragmatic language) through individual or small pullout group sessions.  They may also provide services within the context of the classroom to facilitate generalization of skills.  The manner in which services are provided may vary from building to building.

Special Education Teachers – Special education teachers are divided into two groups:  those who are responsible for a 12:1:1 self-contained program and those who address students’ needs through less restrictive services on the continuum (i.e., consultant teacher, resource, 15:1 special class).  Teachers who oversee a self-contained program generally do not provide any other services along the continuum.  The degree to which other special education teachers provide consultant teacher, resource, and/or 15:1 services will vary from year to year depending on the needs of the students.  Service delivery models also vary across buildings.

Academic Intervention Service (AIS) Teachers – These teachers provide academic support to students who are at risk for failing the New York State ELA, math, and social studies tests.  A two-tier system of criteria exists to determine which students qualify for AIS services.  Students receiving special education services may also qualify for AIS services.  A wide range of services falls under the umbrella of academic intervention.  These services replace services formerly known as remedial reading and math.  In addition to AIS teachers, classroom teachers may also provide AIS services.  The type of service provided is determined according to students’ needs.  Service delivery models vary across buildings.

Chairperson – Committee on Special Education (CSE) or Preschool Special Education (CPSE) – The chairperson is a specially trained district administrator who will facilitate all district level CSE and CPSE meetings.  This person’s role is to help the committee come to consensus on decisions regarding your child.  A CSE chairperson will work particularly hard to ensure that a parent’s voice is heard.  This person is also knowledgeable about the programs and services available to students with disabilities.

ARONGEN ELEMENTARY          881-0510

• Principal:  Dr. Richard McDonald

• 12:1:1:  Mary Kay Komarinski, Robert Holmes, Danielle West

• Behavior Specialist:  Kevin Kralovic

• Academic Intervention/ISS:  Marian Zdeb, Joe Skumurski

• CSE Chairperson:  Debbie Rous

• Counselor:  Tracy Rodriguez

• Extended Day Kindergarten:  Kathy Schwarz

• Nurse:  Heidi Schoenthaler

• Psychologist:  Sarah Tucci

• Resource/Consultant/15:1:  Nancy Costello, Jill Stiles, Colleen Kinley, Suzanne McQuade, Sue Kumar

• Speech Therapist:  Debbie Leto, Judi Weatherhead

CHANGO ELEMENTARY          881-0520

• Principal:  Karin Skarka

• 12:1:1:  Jeanne Marie Wendth, Jenny Elliot

• Academic Intervention/ISS:  Kathy Casazza, Neil Kelsey

• CSE Chairperson:  Debbie Rous

• Counselor:  Kristine Huntsman

• Extended Day Kindergarten:  Julie Burnetter

• Nurse:  Vera Legnard

• Psychologist:  Erin Serritella

• Resource/Consultant/15:1:  Eileen Chera,  Deb Rossi,  Jason O'Connell, Linda Weiss

• Speech Therapist:  Joan Frolish, Maura Cautela

KARIGON ELEMENTARY          881-0530

• Principal:  Gregory Wing

• 12:1:3:  Chiquitta Alexander, Diane Kunz

• 12:1:3:  Bryan Sawyer

• Academic Intervention/ISS:  Suzanne Ellis, Mary Murphy

• CSE Chairperson:  Debbie Rous

• Counselor:  Deb Reinisch

• Extended Day Kindergarten:  Connie Astmann

• Nurse:  Mary Niles 

• Psychologist:   Brigid Jeffers

• Resource/Consultant/15:1:  Lynn Avis, Tammy Hensen, Jillian Ranous

• Speech Therapist:  Kathy Abreu, Laurie Halbohm

OKTE ELEMENTARY          881-0540

• Principal:  Deborah Price

• 12:1:1:  Linda Barkevich

• Academic Intervention/ISS:  Pat Miller, Nancy Jeffers

• CSE Chairperson:  Debbie Rous

• Counselor:  Erica Rock

• Extended Day Kindergarten:  Nancy Jeffers

• Nurse:  Andrea Morehouse

• Psychologist:  Nedra Reed

• Resource/Consultant/15:1:  Caroline Latimer, Joli McKay, Karen Smith

• Speech Therapist:  Lisa Nieradka, Shannon Shaw

ORENDA ELEMENTARY          881-0550

• Principal:  Dr. Ann Frantti

• 12:1:1:  Anita Daly, Brian Latimer

• Academic Intervention/ISS:  Andrea Gallant, Judy Neitzel, Kristin Healy

• CSE Chairperson:  Debbie Rous

• Counselor:  Patricia Montgomery

• Extended Day Kindergarten:  Connie Astmann

• Nurse:  Catherine Dempsey

• Psychologist:  Kristen Faile, Claire McGovern

• Resource/Consultant/15:1:  Barb Barnhart, Ryann Farnan, Lisa Mickle, Kristin Tucker

• Speech Therapist:  Margaret Smerkers, Shannon Shaw

SHATEKON ELEMENTARY          881-0580

• Principal: Elizabeth Wood

• 6:1:3 ISP: Alison Leclerc

• Academic Intervention/ISS: Suzanne Ellis, Wayne Grignon, Chris Anderton, Jaime Semerad, Jennifer Robertaccio

• CSE Chairperson: Debbie Rous

• Counselor: Mary Quinn

• Extended Day Kindergarten: Suzanne Ellis

• Nurse: Deidre Hughes

• Psychologist: Nicole Smith

• Resource/Consultant: Sue Carmondy, Nancy Place, Sue Ullmann

• Speech Therapists: Erika Ryan, Julie Sawyer

SKANO ELEMENTARY          881-0560

• Principal:  Ms. Mary Fitzgerald

• 12:1:3 Cathy Powzak

• Academic Intervention/ISS: Liz Marcinko, Megan Bologna

• CSE Chairperson:  Debbie Rous

• Counselor:  Jaclyn Franchini

• Extended Day Kindergarten:  Janice Lutt

• Nurse:  Gale Elfner

• Psychologist:  Michele Boretti

• Resource/Consultant/15:1:  Jan Kelly, Marlene Filsinger, Michele Decker, Samantha Krueger

• Speech Therapist:  Mary DeSantis, Kristen Hodovanec

TESAGO ELEMENTARY          881-0570

• Principal:  Ms. Kathleen Powers

• 12:1:3: Jaime Michelucci

• Academic Intervention/ISS:  Barbara Collins,  Mark Wright, Kathleen Chudzinski

• CSE Chairperson:  Debbie Rous

• Counselor:  Amy Russell

• Nurse:  Mary Jo Murphy

• Psychologist:  Debi Reynolds

• Resource/Consultant/15:1:  Pamela Barbeau, Tracy Morrell, Rebecca Grabicki

• Speech Therapist:  Michele Boxbaum, Kristen Hodovanec

ACADIA MIDDLE SCHOOL          881-0450

• Principal:  Jonathan Burns

• Assistant Principal:  Chris Bergere

• 12:1:1:  Casey Lake, Jennifer DeCerbo, Kristin Castle

• Behavior Specialist:  Jennifer Zalucky

• Academic Intervention/ISS:  Al Green, Stacie Williams

• CSE Chairperson:  Michelle Mylod

• Counselor:  Gail Bates, Ellen Mainwaring, Lizabeth Reif

• Nurse:  Aline Flaherty

• Psychologist:  Gwen Williams

• Resource/Consultant/15:1:  Joanne Bresler, Martha Brock, Aimee Burlingame, Cathy Jones, Carol Marotta, Jody Orlando, Christine Quatraro

• Speech Therapist:  Nancy Fuller

GOWANA MIDDLE SCHOOL          881-0460

• Principal:  Jill Bush

• Assistant Principal:  Thom VanGelder

• 12:1:1:  Stacey Cahill, Debbie Koppens

• Behavior Specialist:  Jennifer Zalucky

• Academic Intervention/ISS:  Deborah Friedman, Chris Koblensky

• CSE Chairperson:  Michelle Mylod

• Counselor:  Caryn Dominick, Linda Shady, Chuck Szablewski

• Nurse:  Karen DiPalma

• Psychologist:  Debra Wisner

• Resource/Consultant/15:1:  Jane Cutler, Rosemary Kukuk, Steve Massari, Christine Reynheer, Stephanie Bowen, Christopher Keegan, Joan Abrahamson

• Speech Therapist:  Nancy Fuller

KODA MIDDLE SCHOOL          881-0470

• Principal:  Bruce Ballan

• Assistant Principal:  Brian Whitley

• 12:1:1:  Kathy Durivage, Brian Engle

• Behavior Specialist:  Jennifer Zalucky

• Academic Intervention/ISS:  Michael Cronin

• CSE Chairperson:  Michelle Mylod

• Counselor:  Nancy Burke, Kathleen Steele, Donald Shea

• Nurse:  Ann Swota

• Psychologist:  Patricia Smith

• Resource/Consultant/15:1:  Jennifer Chetwynd, Kelly Dickinson, Dianna Henningson, Vicki Jesiolowski, Amy King, Brad Shaver, Brian Valente

• Speech Therapist:  Nancy Fuller

SHENENDEHOWA HIGH SCHOOL EAST   881-0310

• Principal:  Donald Flynt

• Associate Principals: Claire Brown, Philip Martin, Steve Smith

• 12:1:1:  Maryann Currier, Heather Green, Kathy McCartney, Kristi Drinkwater, Jessica Mann, Cindi Whitney

• Academic Intervention/ISS:  Danielle Sala, Casey Putnam, Derek Dayton, Jenna Kitchen

• CSE Chairperson:  Michelle Mylod

• Counselors:  John Puccia, Lead Counselor, Joan McGee, Steve Hart, Trish Lara, Katherine Sapienza, Jan Reilly, Courtney Swisher, Gretchen Lynch, Johnna Apple (Megan Beauchamp), Lauren DiGianni

• Intervention Counselor:  Larry Silverman

• Social Worker: Jeri Heller

• Nurse:  Cathi Barbaro, Catherine Brauer, Penny Thompson

• Psychologist:  Christopher Douglas, David Hart, Wendy O'Brien

• Resource/Consultant/15:1:  Nikki Cooke, Melissa Eckler, Barbara Kittelsen, Ellie Link, Trish Moore, Purti Patel, Gwen Somogie, Christine Scannell, Laura Tubbs, Maria Sanchez, Laura Lamberton

• Speech Therapist:  Michelle Landau

SHENENDEHOWA HIGH SCHOOL WEST 881-0330

• Principal:  Donald Flynt

• Associate Principal:  Dorothy Donlon

• 12:1:1: Michael Marino, Tina Twardzik

• Academic Intervention/ISS:  Peggy Hayes, Barbara Miller, Alicia Visser, Bev Karpiak, Charles Holohan

• CSE Chairperson:  Michelle Mylod

• Counselors:  Maria Payne, Tim Roberts, Robert Swider

• Intervention Counselor:  Deanna Grygiel-Thompson

• Nurse:  Megan Peterson

• Psychologist:  Deborah Ouckama

• Resource/Consultant/15:1:  Matt Heckman, Traci Marr, Linda Brennan-Pagano, Stephanie Vara (Joan Suda), Molly Towne

• Speech Therapist: Michelle Landau

DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF          881-0600

• Director of Student Services:  Michael J. Smith

• Coordinator for Student Placement (Elementary and Elementary Out of District): Debbie Rous

• Coordinator for Student Placement (Secondary and Secondary Out of District): Michelle Mylod

• Academic Administrator for Special Education (Elementary and CPSE): Jean Winkler

• Academic Administrator for Special Education (Secondary): Lynne Rutnik

• Secretary to Director:  Marie Caschera

• Secretary to Coordinators of Student Placement: Jean Greenspan (D. Rous), Anita Unser (M.Mylod), Barbara Reed (Out of District)

• Community Services Coordinator:  Ann Preston (CPSE)

• ESL Teachers:  Patrice Delehanty, Steven Farenell, Anna Russo, Adam Sweet

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