The Special Services Department is responsible for the evaluation and instruction of students with disabilities. When a parent or teacher identifies a student as having educational difficulties, and the interventions recommended by the Response To Intervention Team have not been successful, the student may be referred to the Child Study Team for an evaluation. The Child Study Team, which consists of a school psychologist, Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant, school social worker, and when necessary a speech and language specialist, will discuss with the parent whether an evaluation is warranted, and if so, they will develop a plan to determine the nature and scope of the evaluations.
If, after the evaluations are completed, a student is determined to have a disability, and that disability makes it necessary for the student to receive special education and/or related services in order to be successful in school, an individual educational program (IEP) will be developed for the student, and this program will be reviewed annually. In order to meet the educational needs of these students, the Rutherford School District offers a range of specialized programs including special classes for mild/moderate learning or language disabilities, pull-out resource replacement, in-class resource replacement, in-class resource support and pull-out resource support. Related services, including speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and counseling, are provided when a student’s disability requires them in order for the student to benefit from the educational program. All special education classes/programs are taught by certified teachers and are offered in the least restrictive environment.
DEPARTMENT CONTACTS
Supervisor of Student Services:
Michelle M. Perez Hoen x7107 mhoen@rutherfordschools.org
Child Study Team Members:
Peter Grompone x4600 pgrompone@rutherfordschools.org
Kelly Talty x4601 ktalty@rutherfordschools.org
Angeline Graff x7274 agraff@rutherfordschools.org
Peter Grompone x4600 pgrompone@rutherfordschools.org
Kelly Talty x4601 ktalty@rutherfordschools.org
Angeline Graff x7274 agraff@rutherfordschools.org
Adriane Freudenberg x6600 afreudenberg@rutherfordschools.org
Doreen Solter x6601 dsolter@rutherfordschools.org
Paulina Stefanelli x3600 pstefanelli@rutherfordschools.org
Maureen Trepicchio x2283 mtrepicchio@rutherfordschools.org
Darlene Hauptman x2279 dhauptman@rutherfordschools.org
Speech and Language Pathologists
Lynn Rosenzweig – x 3603 lrosenzweig@rutherfordschools.org
Maria DeTrizio – x 4603 mdetrizio@rutherfordschools.org
Ellen Gittleson – x 6218 egittleson@rutherfordschools.org
Janine Smith – x 6218 jsmith1@rutherfordschools.org
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Bridget Lowe – x 6602 blowe@rutherfordschools.org
Student Assistance Counselors
Kim Huzzy – x 4375 khuzzy@rutherfordschools.org
Jeff Doorn – x 2312 jdoorn@rutherfordschools.org
Emily Bregman – x 3353 ebregman@rutherfordschools.org
Keri-Ann Romano x 3354 kromano@rutherfordschools.org
Secretary
Kathie Cockcroft x7272 kcockcroft@rutherfordschools.org
Rutherford Special Education Advisory Group (SEPAG)
Each board of education shall ensure that a special education parent advisory group is in place in the district to provide input to the district regarding issues concerning students with disabilities.
The public schools of Rutherford are working together with the Rutherford Special Education Advisory Group (SEPAG) to empower Rutherford’s special education parents and school district to work together to implement special education systemic change for the benefit of all special education students.
The participation of all parents (in-district and out-of-district) are welcomed!
Join the Rutherford SEPAG today!
The group provides a platform to exchange resources and information, and work together with us to ensure that all children with special needs receive the support and services they require to thrive.
Joining the SEPAG can not only help you, but also make a positive impact in the lives of children with special needs in the community.