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Making Progress in Connecticut

Making Progress in Connecticut

For those unable to attend Expanding Horizons in 2005, the District Teams who presented at the annual conference are listed below, along with their topic, to help facilitate networking across Connecticut school districts on best practices in inclusive education. Contact information for each team’s contact person is noted.

Make a Call. Share Information. Develop Partnerships.
Keep progress toward inclusive practices in Connecticut ongoing!

Art to Develop Fine Motor Skills
Manchester Public Schools (Elementary)
Contact: Cathleen Peck, K-8 Art Coordinator, (860) 647-3313

Assistive Technology
Coventry Public Schools (All Levels)
Contact: Judith Richard, Director of Pupil and Staff Support Services, (860) 742-7317

Assistive Technology
West Hartford Public Schools (All Levels)
Contact: Lauren Skau, AT Coordinator, (860) 233-1455, ext. 2453

Assistive Technology
Manchester Public Schools (Secondary)
Contact: Shelly Matfess, Special Education Supervisor, (860) 647-5019

Best Buddies Program
Shelton High School, Shelton Public Schools
Contact: Allegra Fitzgerald, Special Education Department Head, (203) 924-8739

Community-Based Programming
New Haven Public Schools (Secondary)
Contact: Mark Caruso, School to Work Coordinator, (203) 946-8570

Co-Teaching – Building Partnerships
King Philip Middle School, West Hartford Public Schools
Contact: Anna Forlenza-Bailey, Department Supervisor, (860) 561-6696

Co-Teaching – Scheduling/Placement of Students
Bennett Middle School, Manchester Public Schools
Contact: Matthew Daly, Vice Principal, (860) 647-3571

Co-Teaching Techniques and Strategies in the Classroom
Whisconier Middle School, Brookfield Public Schools
Contact: Lisa Porwitzki, Special Education Teacher, (203) 775-7710

Curriculum Based Assessments in Math, Reading, Spelling, and Written Expression
Granby Public Schools (All Levels)
Contact: Heidi H. MacDonald, School Psychologist, (860) 844-3029, ext. 6231

Home/School Communication
Horace W. Porter School, Columbia Public Schools (PreK-8)
Contact: Edward Lazaroff, Principal, (860) 228-9493

Inclusive Programming for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Preschool
Naylor Preschool Inclusion Program, Hartford Public Schools
Contact: Nancy Hines, Teacher, (860) 695-4645

Inclusive Programming to Address Goals of P.J. ET AL v. State of Connecticut, Board of Education, ET AL Settlement Agreement
Waterbury Public Schools (All Levels)
Contact: Ann Marie Cullinan, Assistant Superintendent of Special Education, (203) 574-8017

Inclusive Programming for Students with Intellectual Disabilities in Kindergarten
Newtown Public Schools
Contact: Sheila Blachman, Inclusion Facilitator, (203) 426-7631

Inclusive Programming – Implementing a Pilot Program
SAND Elementary School, Hartford Public Schools
Contact: Tiffany Violette, Assistant Principal, (860) 695-5042

Inclusive Programming – Long-term Planning and Structuring
Moran Middle School, Wallingford Public Schools
Contact: Robert P. Cyr, Principal, (203) 741-2900

Inclusive Programming – Supports for Students with Down syndrome
Rockville High School, Vernon Public Schools
Contact: Lisa Fiano, Special Education Teacher, (860) 870-6050

Inclusive Programming – Supports for Students with Down syndrome who Display Challenging Behavior
Noank Elementary School, Groton Public Schools
Contact: Fran Poris, Special Education Teacher, (860) 572-5872

Inclusive Programming – Supports for Students with Intellectual Disabilities who Display Challenging Behaviors
Prudence Crandall Elementary School, Enfield Public Schools
Contact: Richard Askin, Principal, (860) 253-6464

Literacy Instruction in the Inclusive Classroom
Killingworth Elementary School, Killingworth Public Schools
Contact: Lynn Pace, Teacher, ( 860) 663-1121

Math Instruction in the Inclusive Classroom
Saxe Middle School, New Canaan Public Schools
Contact: Vivian Birdsall, Math Teacher, (203) 594-4500

Paraprofessional Use
Fairfield Public Schools (All Levels)
Contact: Ann Leffert, Inclusive Education Facilitator, (203) 255-8304

School-to-Work Transition
Platt High School, Meriden Public Schools
Contact: Deborah Kohan, Transition Coordinator, (203) 235-7962, ext.154

Social Relationships at the PreK-8 Levels
Plainfield Central School (Grades 6-8), Plainfield Public Schools
Contact: Sandy Collins, Paraprofessional, (860) 564-6437

Socialization – “Circle of Friends” Program
Hall High School, West Hartford Public Schools
Contact: Tracy Pulver, Special Needs Teacher
(860) 232-4561, ext. 1023

Transition – The MiddlesexTransitionAcademy at WesleyanUniversity
Coginchaug Regional High School, Regional District 13 Public Schools
Contact: Ann Mallin, Transition Coordinator, Capitol Region Education Council (CREC), and Program Director, Middlesex Transition Academy, (860) 524-4037

Transitioning Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders to Inclusive School Settings
Booth Hill Elementary School, Shelton Public Schools
Contact: Cheryl Morrill, Inclusion Facilitator, (203) 924-1023, ext. 318

SERC will be looking for presentation proposals for the 2006 conference in the areas of collaboration, planning and service delivery; instructional strategies and early intervention; and social opportunities and family involvement as they relate to inclusive practices. Please contact Catherine Wagner at SERC at (860) 632-1485, extension 346, or email wagner@ctserc.org, for more information.