Special Services

Supervisor (K-12): Margaret Damiano

CST 2020.mp4

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).

Seabrook- Sage Thrive

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.