Special Services - Members and Roles
Roles of the Team Members
Ms. Kellie Frost is the school's Learning Disability Teacher-Consultant (LDT-C)/Special Services Supervisor. Her primary role is to determine the learning strengths and weaknesses of students, to determine specific achievement levels in a variety of content areas, and to recommend specific teaching methods and strategies that may benefit a student. The LDTC works in collaboration with other members of a child study team to determine eligibility for special services. LDT-C’s also consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to provide research-based instructional strategies to assist pupils struggling academically. Ms. Frost also services as the case manager of the students in Wenonah to oversee the implementation of the student’s IEP. The case manager coordinates the development, monitoring, and evaluation of the effectiveness of the IEP. The case manager also facilitates communication between home and school and shall coordinate the annual review and reevaluation process.
Mrs. Tara Timms is the school speech/language therapist. A school-based speech/language specialist will address students’ needs in the areas of language (e.g. expressive, receptive, or pragmatic language), voice, fluency (stuttering), articulation, or swallowing and determines the impact on the student in the classroom. School based therapy is not the same as medical-model (private) speech/language therapy.
Ms. Kailyn Sooy is the school's occupational therapist. A school-based occupational therapist focuses primarily on the following skills: fine motor, sensory, visual-motor, activities of daily living, life, and perceptual, that a student requires to benefit from his/her educational program: the occupational therapist will assist students to become more functional in meeting their school-based needs. School based therapy is contingent upon educational impact and is not the same as medical-model (private) occupational therapy.
Mrs. Patty Larsen-Christine is the school counselor. A school counselor is available to all students. A school counselor provides counseling services such as student and assessment of individual pupils with respect to their status, abilities, interests and needs; counseling with administrators, teachers, students, and parents regarding personal, social, educational, and vocational plans and programs; and developing cooperative relationships with community agencies in assisting children and families.
Gloucester County Special Services will assist with initial evaluations utilizing the School Psychologist and School Social Worker. The school psychologist has expertise in determining a child’s level of cognitive and conceptual development. In addition, the psychologist is concerned with the emotional status of the student, and how both internal and external factors may affect behavior and performance in school. A school psychologist administers and evaluates standard psychological tests for the purpose of assessing the intellectual, educational, emotional, social, and behavioral characteristics of those students referred. They collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals, to create a safe and supportive learning environment that strengthens connections for all students; they provide counseling, crisis intervention, planning and developing school-based interventions with educators, and assessing the need for special services.
School social workers provide a variety of professional services which foster students’ behavioral, social, emotional, and academic growth. They promote and support the educational process by meeting the individual needs of students and families within the community. These services include providing crisis intervention and counseling, strengthening and supporting parent and family involvement, planning and developing school-based interventions with educators, engaging community resources, and assessing the need for special services. School social workers are often involved in helping students and their families with learning, behavior, and/or attendance concerns while strengthening home, school, and community partnerships. A school social worker will evaluate a student in terms of personal and family history, socio-economic and cultural differences; evaluates the configuration of factors within the home, community, and school as related to a student’s current social and academic adjustment.
Contact Information
Kellie Frost
LDT/C & Supervisor of Special Services
(856) 468-6000 ext. 137
[email protected]
Tara Timms
Speech/Language Therapist
(856) 468-6000
[email protected]
Gloucester County Special Services
School Psychologist/School Social Worker
Patty Larsen-Christine
Guidance Counselor
(856) 468-6000
[email protected]