leadership in high schools

On Feb. 8, 2008 the Transition Coordinator for our BOCES will be visiting the Hewes Center to first meet with teachers and then have a face to face meeting with all Special Needs students Age 14+.  This meeting with the teachers and students is a monumental achievement for the Work Experience Program because it expands the opportunities available to students and allows them to make the direct connection between school and the world of work.  This meeting will also inform teachers and students of the opportunities available to students within the community to practice knowledge taught in school and inform the IEP process. 

We at the Hewes Center are getting rather good at this.   Our 1:6:1 middle school classroom is now fully staffed.  The beginning of this program owes its roots to the OSS program at Hewes.  Two students were referred here awaiting testing after a referral was made to the Committee on Special Education.  Then came the solicitation to school districts asking for students who met the criteria for out of district placement and special education classification.  It was not long before the classroom was filled.  Now we have a waiting list for students at the middle school level at the Hewes Center.  This means that if one student moves his/her residency, a space will open up and the waiting list will be called up for student registration and in-take. 

The 1:6:1 programs in Special Education are the most restrictive and by design are intended for students with the most maladaptive behaviors who cannot participate in speciliazed programs within the school district or within general education. 

Last week a component school district inquired into the possibility of us opening an elementary classroom.  After speaking to the Director of Special Education, Danielle OConnor, this is now a go.  We have three IEPs to consider, permission to hire staff and do the student intakes.  This classroom will complete our continuum of Special educational services at Hewes Center - Kindergarten to Age 21.  Major considerations will be the qualifications and experience of the teacher and staff.  In order for this class to continue, sustain and  survive past June 08 much team work and building wide support will have to be garnered.  I look forward to the Faculty Meeting to be held this week which will provide us the opportunity to discuss this idea in greater detail.  I have learned personally from this experience - opening a classroom requires total commitment, professional expertise, energy, emotion and positive thinking.  I know that the teachers at the Hewes Center will be delighted with this news - our challenge is to collectively sell our success as a team and in turn buy success for this elementary class, just like we did for the middle school classroom.