Rooms 4, 7, and 8: Riverbend ASD Pre-School/Kindergarten Classrooms
“What most people don’t know is that most Special Education teachers are really angels disguised as extraordinary humans.”
Joe Martin
SCSOS has nine amazing special education educators in three classrooms at Riverbend Elementary. These educators serve our 41 ASD preschool/kindergarten students.
Teacher Katie Davis and Para-educators Jose Gaxiola and Melissa Poland serve 15 students on an AM/PM in person schedule. Two of those students remain on distance learning. The educators use Touch Math, STAR Curriculum and Handwriting without Tears with their students. All one has to do is talk to these educators to know that they are dedicated to their students.
“I have had a passion for working with children and their families since I was a young child,” Teacher Katie Davis said. After earning her BA in Child Development at CSU, Chico, she substituted in a Special Day Class and knew that she had found her niche.
Teacher Gretchen Littler and Para-educators Lisa Jimenez and Larissa Relski serve 13 students on an AM/PM in person schedule. They currently still have one student on distance learning.
When asked about the impacts of distance learning, Teacher Gretchen Littler said that it was a difficult time, but they made it work for their students. “I wanted my parents and students to have flexibility in scheduling so we scheduled 4 zoom meetings per day and parents could choose the one that best fit their schedule. We also scheduled one zoom meeting per week for each individual student.” She stated that when her students returned to the classroom in person, most had grown academically as well as behaviorally.
Teacher Amanda Cearley and Para-educators Megan McCarthy and Sydney Craft serve 12 students on an AM/PM in person schedule with one student remaining on distance learning.
“I love being the first teacher a child has,” Teacher Amanda Cearley said. “I get to see early growth in students that have sometimes never even been away from a parent. I get to be part of building a parent's trust in the school system, and have had the pleasure of building long lasting relationships with my students and their families.”
Students who attend the AM session in this classroom are mostly non-verbal. They use PECS books which have visuals that the students use to communicate. When students were on distance learning, these books were sent home for parents to use. The parents had a choice of two times for a zoom meeting: 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Individual student zoom meetings were also scheduled with parents to discuss student goals and answer any questions the parents had.
These devoted educators agree that they are delighted to have their students back in the classroom. Although all of them excelled at making distance learning work for their students, nothing can replace the personal interaction that in person learning provides.
“In what could be considered the most trying time in education, the ASD preschool team has been unwavering in their genuine commitment to providing evidence based early intervention to the pre-school/kinder age student with autism in our community,” Colleen Davenport, Special Education Principal, said. “The love and care they extend to the students and families they serve is exactly what is needed at this tender age when a student is just beginning their educational experience. I am beyond honored and blessed to get to be a small part of the magic they create every day for their students.”
If you would like to know more about our SCSOS ASD programs, please contact Janine Hughes, Director of Special Education at (530) 822- 2911 or email janineh@sutter.k12.ca.us.
