Overview

Our Vision

We are united in a commitment to having high standards while creating an inclusive and joyful learning community.

Our students will develop the character, skills and attitudes for understanding themselves, living in balance, and serving all our relations.

Exceptional Student Services includes the following:

• Special Education

• Occupational and Physical Therapy

• Counseling

• Speech Therapy

Our Staff

It takes multiple dedicated staff members to ensure that our department maintains quality services for students.

Our staff works hard to ensure that our students get all of the necessary support needed to achieve their full potential.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Charly Witmer- Special Education Coordinator

charly.witmer@starschool.org

(928) 415-4157 ext. 8025

Pamela Haffner- K-4 Enrichment Specialist

pamela.haffner@starschool.org

Sara Fisher- 5-8 Enrichment Specialist

sara.fisher@starschool.org

Shelby Roy- Speech Therapist - shelbysedonaroy@gmail.com

Karina Olson- Occupational Therapist - karina.j.olson@gmail.com

Alaitia Fox- Physical Therapist - aredpt18@gmail.com

Carol Placer- K-4 Counselor

carol.placer@starschool.org

Dani Hall- 5-8 Counselor

dani.hall@starschool.org

Child Find

The Exceptional Student Services Department (ESS) of Painted Desert Demonstrations Inc. provides a full range of services for students who have learning needs that lie outside the usual range of instructional differentiation provided in general education classrooms.

Do you know a child who you suspect may have a disability or has trouble with any of the following?

• Seeing people or objects

• Hearing voices or other sounds

• Talking, or is hard to understand when they do talk

• Moving, especially when crawling, walking, or running

• Playing or getting along with children or adults

• Interacting appropriately with others

If you answered yes to one or more of these statements, Painted Desert Demonstrations Inc. can provide screenings for special services for all qualified children, ages 3 to 21, who attend our school, in the following ways:

• For school-age children, ages 3-21, who currently attend Painted Desert Demonstrations Inc. school, contact the child’s school administrator or teacher.

• For children younger than 3 years, services are available through the Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) at 928.779.1679 (Northland Rural Therapy Associates).

Additional Resources:

• Arizona Department of Education – Child Find

• Arizona Department of Economic Security, Early Intervention Program – AzEIP

Parent Resources

Special Education Resources for Parents

• Social Emotional Supports During School Closures <New>

• Parent Resource Guide

• Independent Educational Evaluation Guidelines = for requesting an Independent Educational Evaluation for your student

Procedural Safeguards Notice

Parents' rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004

• Procedural Safeguards - Arabic

• Procedural Safeguards - English

• Procedural Safeguards - Spanish

• Procedural Safeguards - Vietnamese

• Procedural Safeguards- Spoken Navajo

Student Education Records (Special Education)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level.

Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, sports participation (including height and weight of athletes) and dates of attendance unless notified by the parents or eligible student that the school is not to disclose the information without consent.

Procedures for Releasing Student Records (Special Education)

Painted Desert Demonstrations Inc. has procedures in place for the acquisition, transfer and retrieval of student record information and maintaining confidentiality of student records. All student records are stored in a locked cabinet to adequately safeguard personally identifiable information. (D.E., 9/88).

School districts requesting records can fax a records request on district/school letterhead to (928) 225-2179. To receive record information in the timeliest fashion, include an email address to which the records can be sent. All requests are filled based upon the order received.

Parents or guardians must sign a release and present a photo ID before records can be released from Painted Desert Demonstrations Inc. In compliance with FERPA, the following people have access to special education student records:

• • Exceptional Student Services Director and Coordinators

  • Exceptional Student Services Administrative Support Staff

  • Principals/School-Site Designees

  • Teachers, as appropriate

  • Related Services Staff

  • School Psychologists

  • Nurses/Health Assistants

  • District Administrators

  • Members of the Governing Board, when functioning in a judicial capacity

  • Due Process Hearing Officer

  • District Teacher Specialists and Coaches

  • Special Education Paraprofessionals, under the direction of an immediate supervisor

Questions concerning student records should be directed to the ESS staff listed below:
Beverly Paddock- beverly.paddock@starschool.org

Additional Resources

• Arizona Department of Education - FERPA/Student Records