SPECIAL EDUCATION

What is Special Education?

Special education is instruction that is specially designed to meet the unique needs of children who have identified disabilities.  Certain children with disabilities are eligible for special education and related services in their schools.  According to federal and MN state law, these disabilities must affect the child’s educational performance.  Some categories of disability include:  Autism Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Deaf-Blindness, Developmental Cognitive Disability, Other Health Disability, Physical Impairment, Emotional Behavioral Disorder, Specific Learning Disability, Speech or Language Impairment, Visual Impairment, and Traumatic Brain Injury.  Every public school district is required to identify students with disabilities and then to provide them with the specific services needed to ensure that these children have the opportunity to learn the skills and information that other children learn.

How are student identified as needing special education services at New Visions Academy?

If a parent believes that his/her child is a child with a disability, the parent needs to tell someone at New Visions Academy about the parent’s concerns.  New Visions Academy will immediately convene a meeting to discuss the parent’s concerns.

New Visions may also believe a child may be a child with a disability.  If that is thee case, New Visions will contact that parent to share these concerns.  New Visions may propose implementing some special interventions to increase a child’s school performance.  If these interventions prove to be ineffective, a meeting will be scheduled with parents to discuss a special education evaluation.  After completion of a comprehensive special education evaluation, the school may propose special education services.  If the parent(s) agree to accept these special education services, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will be developed.  This plan has two purposes:  to set reasonable learning goals for the student, and to state the services that New Visions Academy proposes to provide to the student.  Special education services will only begin with parent approval.

New Visions Academy has four special education teachers who case manage services for our students on Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).  Each special education teacher will introduce herself below:

Susan Zondlo

I have been teaching at New Visions Academy since 1998.  My license in special education is in the area of Specific Learning Disabilities and I also have my Master’s Degree in Education.  I have been lucky to have watched students come in as little, sometimes shy, Kindergarteners and graduate as tall, proud 8th graders.  I delight in watching students grow both academically and socially and marvel at all their new ideas each day. I value time with my students and cherish the connections I make with families. I feel lucky to work with such a gifted and talented staff as well.  The level of commitment we all share is unlike any other. There is not a job in the world I’d rather have and not a place I would rather be a part of than NVA.

Kathy LaRose

Hello.  My name is Kathy LaRose.  I have been a teacher at New Visions Academy since the fall of 1998.  I am a special education teacher working with a range of disability levels, from autism spectrum disorders to specific learning disabilities.  I really enjoy working at New Visions Academy as every day offers something new for both students and myself.  New Visions Academy is a great place to work due to the wonderful staff and fantastic students.  In addition to working at New Visions, I am also attending graduate school to continue my education.  I live in Monticello MN with my husband and two children.

Virginia Anderson

Hi.  My name is Virginia Anderson.  I am a special education teacher at New Visions Academy.  This is my nineteenth year with New Visions.  For the first fifteen years, I taught sixth grade and have since switched to the special education department.  I love having been able to work in both areas.  I graduated from Bemidji State University and began my career in a small town in southern Minnesota.  When I moved to Minneapolis, I ran a home daycare business for a time.  Once my children started school, I worked for Pillsbury United Neighborhood Services as a special needs coordinator and eventually daycare director.  When New Visions was founded in 1992, I was offered a job and have been here ever since.  I love working with our New Visions Academy students and families!

Joan Maday

My name is Joan Maday.  I have been teaching at New Visions Academy since March 2008.  I received an Elementary Education degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.  After teaching in a suburban district I decided to go back to school at the University of Minnesota.  While attending the U of M I received two additional teaching licenses in Special Education (Specific Learning Disabilities and Emotional Behavioral Disorders).  I am currently completing my Master’s in Education degree.   I love to learn!  I also love teaching.  I look forward to each and everyday at New Visions Academy.