Special Education

• School Psychological services
• Extended School Year (ESY) Services — Students between the ages of three and 21 with disability-based IEPs may be eligible for Extended School Year (ESY) services through the Special Education Department. This decision is made by the IEP team.
• Special Education specialized instruction through the service model of Co-Teaching
• Special Education resources services
• Related Services — Related services are considered by IEP teams and added if the related service is necessary to access specially designed instruction. Can include counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy, transportation, orientation & mobility, physical therapy, and speech/language therapy, adaptive physical education, and assistive technology services.

Students meet specific criteria and have been recommended by an IEP team:

• Classrooms Specifically Designed for Students with Autism (K-21)
  • Staff trained and classroom setup designed specifically for students with behavioral, language, and or sensory needs
• Essential Skills Classrooms (K-21) located at John T. Hartman Elementary, Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary, J.A. Rogers, East High and Northeast Middle
  • Staff trained and classroom setup designed specifically for students with significant cognitive and adaptive behavior deficits
• Intensive Instruction (K-5) located at James Elementary
  • Staff trained and classroom setup designed specifically for students with emotional/behavioral needs
• STRONG (7-12) (Students Transitioning Receiving Opportunities Nurturing Growth)
  • Program Service-Provides a safe, welcoming, and supportive learning environment for students with IEPs who have been placed in the most restrictive settings and are transitioning back into the public-school environment.
  • Through the STRONG program, students will continue their growth and progress made on IEPs goals and objectives for academic, behavior, and emotional needs, by empowering them to make good choices, trust adults and peers, and to take responsibility and engage in their own learning.
• Deaf/Hard of Hearing (K-6) located at Gladstone Elementary and (7-21) Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts
  • Staff trained and classroom setup designed specifically for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, with interpreting services as needed and according to the IEP.
• KCPS K-2 Inclusion program located at James Elementary, George Melcher Elementary, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary
  • This program is designed to close the learning gaps between students receiving special education services and students not receiving special education services. Specialized instruction is provided through the service delivery model of Co-Teaching.
  • The four highly effective co-teaching models used are: Parallel Teaching, Station Teaching, Alternative Teaching and Team Teaching.
  • Students receiving special education services, are able to receive their instructional services as well as related services, inside the general education classroom and not pulled from the general education curriculum during the day.

Homebound Services are provided on a referral basis for students with medical concerns, students on long-term suspensions and for students who are awaiting a change in placement. Documentation must be provided prior to the initiation of services.

Section 504 requires that school districts provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to qualified students in their jurisdictions who have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability. Under Section 504, FAPE means providing regular or special education and related aids and services designed to meet the student’s individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of nondisabled students are met.

The Office of Compliance is part of the Department of Special Education, and is responsible for protecting the rights of students with disabilities by ensuring that KCPS practices are consistent with State and Federal laws.

Additionally, the Office of Compliance,

• Provides services to District staff and parents that ensure children have access to a free appropriate public education
• Monitors schools and programs for IDEA and Section 504 compliance
• Provides technical assistance to achieve compliance with state and federal laws

Staff Members and Contact Info:

Waukita Williams, Special Education Compliance Officer
Phone: 816-418-5219
Email: wwilliam@kcpublicschools.org

Process Coordinators
Jason Ayres
Brigetta Buck
Ronelle Dowell
Tracy Fairley
Shelly Filka (Transfers)
Nicole Harder
Charlotte Johnson
Jeannine Rohr
Debbie Thogmartin
Shelly Filka (Transfers)

Program Coordinators
Dr. Elahea Afzali—Cross Categorical Program
Deaf/Hard of Hearing Stacey Archer- Approved Private Agency Coordinator
Rebecca Booms-Overman—Essential Skills Program
Leigh Anne Guminger-Autism Program
Betty Hartwig- MAP-A Coordinator
Pamela House- 504 Coordinator
Susan Reed—Essential Skills Program
Cheryl Snorgrass—Direct Services, Assistive Technology & Parentally Placed Private School Program

The Office of Early Childhood Special Education, is part of the Department of Special Education, and is responsible for serving students ages 3-5 (not Kindergarten eligible) who meet the eligibility criteria to be identified with a disability under the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) and Missouri State Plan.

Additionally, the Office of Early Childhood Special Education

• Services Provided:
  • Specialized Instruction
  • Speech/Language Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
• Training:
  • For staff on current and changing federal and state laws and guidance
• Parents/Guardians:
  • Support parents/guardians with understanding the special education process

Contact Info:

Please contact the Early Childhood Special Education office at 816-418-5292.

The Office of Special Education Instruction is part of the Department of Special Education, and is responsible for ensuring a system of support for teachers to develop educational capacity that directly impacts student achievement and well-being.

Additionally, the Office of Special Education Instruction:

• Provides teachers with Instructional SPED Coordinators to assist in improving student achievement by building teacher capacity and understanding of co-teaching and best instructional practices.
• Collaborates with Curriculum and Instruction Professional Development department, building leaders, special education teachers and general education teachers, to increase student achievement through the emphasis of co-teaching and scope and sequence within the direct instruction special education classrooms.
• Assist teachers in creating lesson plans that highlight various co-teaching models and differentiate instruction to meet individual student needs through compliance of accommodations and modifications.
• Provides training for co-teaching pairs and special education teachers on how to efficiently collect and use data to drive instruction and decision making both in the general and special education setting.

Staff Members and Contact Info:

Special Education Instruction Support Hotline: (816) 406-2959
Special Education Instruction Support Email: spedhotline@kcpublicschools.org

Dr. JaKyta Lawrie-Assistant Director of Special Education
Phone: 816-418-5252 (office)
816-343-4041 (cell)
Email: jlawrie@kcpublicschools.org

Jason McBride- Elementary Instructional SPED Coordinator
Phone: 816-406-3308
Email: jmcbride@kcpublicschools.org

Patricia Summers- Elementary Instructional SPED Coordinator
Phone: 816-482-9408
Email: psummers@kcpublicschools.org

T’erra Chatmon- Secondary Social Studies Instructional SPED Coordinator
Phone: 816-866-9040
Email: tchatmon@kcpublicschools.org

Rocenetta Jacobs- Secondary Math Instructional SPED Coordinator
Phone: 816-482-9170
Email: rjacobs@kcpublicschools.org

Dana Nelson- Secondary English Instructional SPED Coordinator
Phone: 816-343-9782
Email: dnelson@kcpublicschools.org

Jailyn Williams- Secondary Science Instructional SPED Coordinator
Phone: 816-343-9312
Email: jwilliams@kcpublicschools.org