Special Education

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Special Education Directory

High School Staff

TBD, 7th Grade Itinerant Learning Support

Kelsey Schleicher, 8th Grade Itinerant Learning Support, KSchleicher@battlinminers.com

Albert Matakonis, 9th Grade Itinerant Learning Support, AMatakonis@battlinminers.com

Brandon Oakill, 10th Grade Itinerant Learning Support, BOakill@battlinminers.com

Jessica Brown, 11th Grade Itinerant Learning Support, JBrown@battlinminers.com

Emily Williams, 12th Grade Learning Support & Transition Coordinator, EWilliams@battlinminers.com

Megan Siminitus, Supplemental Life Skills Support, MSiminitus@battlinminers.com

Jared Homa, Supplemental Learning Support, JHoma@battlinminers.com

Elementary Staff

Robyn Chadwick, Elementary Autistic Support, RChadwick@battlinminers.com

Allie Huff, 1st - 4th Grade Supplemental Learning Support, AHuff@battlinminers.com

Danielle Wank, 5th - 6th Grade Supplemental Learning Support, DWank@battlinminers.com

Melissa Pytak, 1st - 2nd Grade Itinerant Learning Support, MPytak@battlinminers.com

Sarah Strause, 3rd Grade Itinerant Learning Support, SStrause@battlinminers.com

Ashley Thompson, 4^th Grade Itinerant Learning Support, AThompson@battlinminers.com

Jenette Stapert, 5th - 6th Grade Itinerant Learning Support, JStapert@battlinminers.com

Related Service Personnel

Sarah Quinn, MS, CCC-SLP - Speech & Language Therapist, SQuinn@battlinminers.com

Johnna Spotts, MS, CCC-SLP - Speech & Language Therapist, JSpotts@battlinminers.com

Jessica Jansson, MSOTR/L - Occupational Therapist, JJansson@battlinminers.com

Amanda Moore - Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, AMoore@battlinminers.com

Lillie Ney, LSW - School Social Worker, LNey@battlinminers.com

Preparing For Life After High School (Transition)

Transition planning is an essential part of the Individualized Education Planning (IEP) process. Transition planning includes the members of the IEP team and community service providers in an effort to successfully prepare students for life after high school. For high school students with disabilities, transition planning is a focus on the future that brings about successful post-secondary experiences, employment, and independent living within the community after high school. Simply put, transition refers to the passage from secondary education to adult life.

Transition planning begins at age 14, or younger if determined appropriate by the IEP team, as students consider their goals for the time after graduation through career awareness exploration activities. The transition process continues through high school as academic instruction and community experiences help clarify and support students’ goals. The entire process is based on individual student need, considering the strengths, preferences, and interests of each student.

Transition can be thought of as a bridge between school programs and the opportunities of adult life, including higher education or training, employment, independent living, and community participation.

Community Service Providers

The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation: The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) is a direct service program provided through 21 district offices located throughout Pennsylvania. OVR provides vocational rehabilitation services to assist individuals with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and maintain employment. Services are provided on an individual basis. Counselors meet with individuals for face-to-face interviews and assist them in selecting their choice of vocational goals, services, and service providers. Other services that are provided at no cost to the individual include counseling and guidance, diagnostic services, assessments, information and referrals, job development and placement, and personal services such as readers or sign language interpreters.

Individuals are eligible for services based upon two important factors. These include: a physical or mental impairment that causes an impediment to employment; there exists an ability to benefit from services; and the need for services to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain gainful employment.

Pre-ETS Release Form for students 14+

Vocational Rehabilitation Services
3602 Kutztown Road, Suite 200
Reading, PA 19605
(610) 621-5800
Toll-Free (800) 442-0949

Service Access Management

Service Access Management (SAM) is a base service unit that determines eligibility for services in Schuylkill County. In order to receive services through SAM, individuals must have a mental health diagnosis. SAM offers case management services, mobility training, employment training and opportunities, adult day care, and help finding employment or housing. Two housing programs that SAM offers are the PATH program and Supported Living program. In the PATH program, individuals qualify if they do not make an income and are homeless or at risk for homelessness. These individuals are provided with financial assistance and support services. There is also a Supported Living program, in which individuals must have an income. Workers will help these individuals do things such as find apartments and teach them to pay their bills.

590 Terry Reiley Way
Pottsville, PA
(570) 621-2700
Toll-Free (877) 216-5035

Schuylkill CareerLink®

Schuylkill CareerLink® provides assistance with job training and placement. This includes: finding a job, looking for a better job, or improving job skills. This can be done through the Commonwealth Workforce Development System, which can help individuals to search for job openings, create a résumé, apply for jobs online, research career information, or request vocational rehabilitation services. Job seekers can search for events, training programs or providers, and create a profile to keep events and information up-to-date. There is also the PA Career Coach, which is a free online tool to help individuals find local job opportunities that match each individual’s skills and experience.

203 Arch Street
Pottsville, PA 17901
(570) 622-5253

Anthracite Region Center for Independent Living

Anthracite Region Center for Independent Living (ARCIL) provides a wide variety of services for individuals with disabilities. ARCIL serves individuals in Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties. ARCIL can help answer questions about support services, government benefits, adaptive equipment, accessibility, and other topics related to disabilities. They will assist as an advocate to help individuals with disabilities resolve issues such as inaccessibility or discrimination that are due to a disability. ARCIL can provide assistance in an individual’s home to help him/her acquire skills to become more independent, such as budgeting, preparing meals, shopping, using public transportation, or finding employment.

ARCIL also offers peer support. An ARCIL peer helper is a person with a disability who is living independently and is able to share their experiences and offer support to others. Peer helpers work one-on-one with individuals and help them to make adjustments to live with their disability, learn problem-solving skills, explore options, and use community services more effectively.

Markle Building
8 West Broad Street, Suite 228
Hazleton, PA 18201
(570) 455-9800
Toll-Free (800) 777-9906

Goodwill Employment Services

Goodwill Employment Services works to support individuals with disabilities and other barriers, such as those at an economic disadvantage or lacking education or work experience, to find independence in achieving their fullest potential as workers and members of the community. They do this by providing job skill training to youth and seniors. They introduce individuals to the “power of earning a paycheck” in order to help them overcome barriers such as welfare dependency, illiteracy, and disabilities.

Located at the Cressona Mall:
1544 Route 61 Hwy South, Suite 6133
Pottsville, PA 17901
(570) 628-9090

Avenues

Avenues provides services for individuals of all ages who have disabilities.

Services for children include: Early Intervention, Summer Camp, First Friends (childcare facility), Elks Nursing (provides nursing care to an individual of any age who has a developmental disability or physical or mental delays or a combination of both), and a Neurological Clinic.

Adult services include: an Adult Training Facility, Vocational Programs, Adventures with Avenues, and a Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program.

In the Vocational Programs, individuals learn skills such as large and small assembly, packaging, bulk mailings, tooling, document shredding, janitorial services, kitchen skills, retail skills, horticulture, crafting, and sales.

There is also a School to Work Transition Program, which works with High School seniors who have a current IEP. These students are able to attend a sheltered workshop or supported employment opportunity. Adventures with Avenues includes monthly outings, including activities such as: bowling, movies, local fairs, dining out, and mini golf.

2 Park Street
Pottsville, PA 17901
(570) 622-7991

AHEDD:

AHEDD provides employment and training services for individuals with disabilities. AHEDD can help youth in transition or adults with disabilities that are looking to enter or improve their status in the work force learn or develop pre-employment skills, job seeking skills, on-site job coaching support, arrange transportation, provide follow-along services throughout the first year of employment, Community Based Work Assessments, Transition services, benefits counseling, self-employment, assist in reporting earnings to the Social Security Administration, and ensure that healthcare services are in place.

AHEDD Northeastern Region:

Phone (570) 622-9711
Fax (570) 227-0295
Toll Free (866) 902-4333

Abilities in Motion:

Since 1989, Abilities in Motion has been offering services, education, and advocacy for individuals with disabilities in Berks County and throughout Pennsylvania. AIM’s purpose is reflected in the Rehabilitation Act, which states that “disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to live independently, enjoy self-determination, make choices, contribute to society, pursue meaningful careers, and enjoy full inclusion and integration in the economic, political, social, cultural, and educational mainstream of American society.”

755 Hiesters Lane

Reading, PA 19605

PH: 610-376-0010

Toll Free: 1-888-376-0120 FAX: 610-376-0021

Helpful Transition Links

Gifted Education

What is Gifted Education?

According to the National Association for Gifted Children (2018), a student who is gifted is "one who performs or has the ability to perform at a higher level than their same age peers." Gifted education can be delivered through accommodations in the regular education classroom, part-time or full-time enrichment in a group of students with similar intellectual ability, or through acceleration/grade advancement. In the Minersville Area School District, we utilize all modes of gifted education instruction depending on the academic needs of each individual student.

For the Minersville Area Gifted Education Assurance Plan click here.

For frequently asked questions regarding Gifted Education click here.

District Gifted Identification and Evaluation Process

The Minersville Area School District, in accordance with Chapter 16 of the PA Code (22 Pa. Code §16.32), works to meet its obligation to identify gifted students who require gifted education to reach their potential. These methods include universal screening, analysis of state and local assessment data, teacher/parent input, and standardized screening.

The district evaluates data on an ongoing basis to identify gifted learners. The Minersville Area School District utilizes several universal screening measures, such as DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Literacy Skills), PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment), the Keystone Exam, and CDT (Classroom Diagnostic Tools) Testing. The results of these assessment measures are evaluated for consideration of students performing well above grade level to assess for possible giftedness. Additionally, in the spring of each school year, students in grade 2 are universally screened for giftedness using the Screening Assessment for Gifted Elementary and Middle School Students-Third Edition (SAGES-3). Parents who wish to opt their child out of the universal screening can do so by filling out the district's opt-out form.

Once a referral is received, if data analysis suggests possible giftedness, the district will request written permission from the parent to complete a gifted screening. The screening process involves the psychology department, principal, and teacher collaborating with parents to complete a variety of standardized screening measures and gather additional data. Although Chapter 16 Regulations do not mandate a timeline regarding the gifted referral process for a gifted evaluation, the Minersville Area School District will complete the screening within a reasonable timeline. Additional screening measures include but are not limited to the Chuska Acquisition and Retention Scales.

Additionally, input will be obtained from the parent/guardian and multi-disciplinary team members, including teacher(s), administration, special education administration, school psychologist, and other school personnel involved with the child's education. The team will evaluate the screening data and determine if sufficient evidence exists to conclude that the student needs specifically designed instruction in giftedness. If the conclusion is to move forward with a formal evaluation in Gifted, formal permission to evaluate will be issued to the parent. A certified school psychologist completes the gifted assessment. Under Chapter 16, Mental giftedness is defined in the Pennsylvania Gifted Education Guidelines (2014) as “outstanding intellectual and creative ability, the development of which requires specially designed programs or support services, or both, not ordinarily provided in the regular education program.”

The following eligibility criteria (per Chapter 16 regulations) are considered when determining a student’s gifted status:
- A student may be eligible for gifted education if they have an IQ of 130 or higher and other factors listed below that indicate gifted ability.
  - Standardized achievement test scores (1-2 years above grade level),
  - The Chuska Acquisition and Retention is indicative of mental giftedness.
  - Consideration of screening measures (i.e., universal screening, state and local assessment data, teacher/ parent input, and standardized screening assessments).
  - Achievement, performance, or expertise in one or more academic areas that demonstrate high accomplishment.
  - Higher level thinking skills, learning strengths, and educational needs.
  - Documented evidence that intervening factors are masking gifted ability.

The multidisciplinary team will recommend whether the student is gifted and needs specially designed instruction. The team will discuss educational placement decisions based on the gifted student's needs by Chapter 16 regulations.

Students can be screened at any grade level to consider eligibility for giftedness and can be referred for a comprehensive evaluation by referral from a teacher, parent, or guardian. You may contact the building principal for more information regarding the gifted screening process or to request a formal evaluation of giftedness.