The special education program at Whittier consists of two teachers, Shari Southard and Debra Livingston, and three para professionals, as well as Colleen Jiron, Denise Bell, Bev Buck, and Naomi Modell.

The program support students in grade Kindergarten through fifth in the areas of reading, math and written language. Students are seen in the classroom or in small group settings. Children have individualized educational plans (IEP’s) with specific goals and objectives. Students qualify for services through a series of assessments and are re-evaluated every three years or staffed out when goals are reached.

Additional support personnel may include Bev Buck, speech/language therapist, Colleen Jiron, our school psychologist, and Naomi Modell, school social worker.

Special education at Whittier currently services 30 to 40 students. Our hope of the 2004-2005 school year is to start a Kindergarten Intervention program. This a model program to help struggling readers be identified and receive support early in their school career.