Inclusive Education Program

October 15, 2018

Dear parents and guardians:

You may have heard about a provincial $15 million investment to fund more inclusive education staff and other priorities to better support students in the classroom. This letter is to share with you that all the 190 new staff who were committed have now been hired, and to introduce to you a new resource for families – parent navigators.  

These supports will support teaching and learning so more students reach higher levels of achievement, well-being and success.  They will support our teachers so that all their students have the resources they need to succeed. These on-the-ground resources are in addition to the current complement of inclusive education specialists and supports in our schools, including the expanding SchoolsPlus Program.

First, let me highlight the new resources hired this year to support students. The Tri-County Regional Centre for Education has welcomed 18 of the additional inclusive education specialists, as follows:

·         3 Connect Centre Teachers                                        

·         6 Teacher Assistants

·         4 Child and Youth Care Practitioners

·         1 Parent Navigator

·         1 Autism Specialist Teacher

·         1 Speech Language Pathologist

I also want to introduce our new parent navigator, Madisen Goodwin, who can be contacted through the SchoolsPlus Office at Digby Regional High School.  As part of the SchoolsPlus teams, our parent navigator works closely with other school and community-based agencies to ensure that students and families are aware of the services available to them and know how to access them.  This includes services beyond education, such as health, justice and other community services.   

We will also be opening a new Alternative Education Program in partnership with NSCC Burridge, starting in February 2019.  This program will engage and teach students in ways that meet their unique needs.  Information regarding the new Alternative Education Program for Yarmouth County will be distributed through high schools in the region.

In addition to these inclusive education supports by government, there was also a commitment from the Council to Improve Classroom Conditions, to invest $5.2 million this year for 57 new high school teachers. I am pleased to advise you that schools in our Regional Centre for Education have received 8 additional teachers of the 57 new high school teachers provincially.

Beyond the additional staff and programs, we are collectively focused on ways to support the success of all students through inclusive practices and support.  Please visit ednet.ns.ca/inclusiveeducation to learn more

If you have any questions, you can reach out by emailing or calling me at paul.ash@tcrce.ca or 902-749-5682.

 Paul Ash

Regional Executive Director