Special Services
Supervisor (K-12): Margaret Damiano
The Child Study Team
School Psychologists: Juliana Barbaro, Melissa Meyers, Amy Leiva
Learning Disability Teacher-Consultant: Gina Mariano
School Social Worker: Heather Russo
The child study team members provide a variety of services including specialized assistance to classroom teachers regarding techniques, materials, and programs, consultation with parents and teachers, counseling, and testing. In addition, Child Study Team specialists have the responsibility for the determination of special education eligibility and the development and monitoring of Individualized Education Programs (IEP).
Thrive Alliance Program
Clinicians: Krista Seabrook, LCSW & Allison Carluccio, LAC, ATR-P, NCC
This program provides supportive counseling services to students primarily as identified in their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). However, Thrive Alliance In-District services have the capacity to serve special education, as well as general education students through their Section 504 Plan.
Individual and group counseling sessions are provided to students during regular school hours and family counseling is provided after school hours.
Eligibility is determined by the Child Study Team, School Counselors and the Thrive Alliance Program Counselor.
CarePlus School-Based Program
Clinician: Diane Wirth, LCSW
This program provides individual, group and family counseling focused on supporting students’ academic success and mental health needs. Services also include:
Crisis intervention services
Skills-building workshops for students
Professional development workshops for staff/parents
Community outreach/in-home outreach to students/families to promote school attendance and participation in school-based services
Case management and collaboration to ensure communication regarding the student’s performance in school
Linkage for students and their family members to resources available through Care Plus NJ and other community providers
Related Service Providers
Speech-Language Specialists
Occupational Therapists
Physical Therapists
Board-Certified Behavior Analysts
Dyslexia Specialist
Teacher of the Deaf & Audiology Services | Paraprofessionals
Resource Room
Offered for all Core Subjects:
English 9 | Physics | Algebra 1 | Algebra 1A World Studies | Electives | Academic Support
In-Class Support (ICS)
Offered for all CP level core courses
In-Class Support is a collaborative teaching model with a Special Educator and General Educator sharing responsibility for ensuring that IEP accommodations and modifications are in place.
In some classes, highly trained and experienced paraprofessionals provide support with IEP-driven Services.
CASS
Counseling and Academic Support Services Program
The Counseling and Academic Support Services (CASS) program is a setting for students who are able to participate in school-based counseling and need therapeutic support to manage academic and emotional demands. In school-level counseling is provided by a Thrive Alliance Clinician, where students continue to work on understanding their emotions and behaviors, substituting appropriate behaviors while finding and strengthening alternative coping mechanisms.
The CASS classroom is available as a “safe space” for students to access therapeutic supports, participate in Academic Seminar classes, and check in when they need a break during the day. Staff works with parents/guardians to ensure students are successful academically and socially.
LEAP
Life Skills Education and Achievement Program
Embracing LEAP’s vision of providing young adults with various abilities at the high school level with ample opportunities to further develop and explore their strengths, interests, preferences, social relationships, and future career goals through Community Based Instruction, vocational training through the PAES lab, volunteer and mentorship work experience in the community.
LEAP’s staff includes special education teachers, life skills teachers, creative arts teachers, teaching assistants, job coaches, behaviorists, speech and language specialists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and a transitional coordinator all working inclusively to support students in the classroom, community, and career/vocational placements.