Owatonna Public Schools
Special Services Family Newsletter Fall 2018
'Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or in the same way."
~ George Evans
Special Education Advisory Council Meeting
Any parents/guardians and families of children with disabilities are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Please see the OPS Special Services website for more information.
Tuesday, Nov 13, 2018, 05:30 PM
Owatonna Senior High School, East School Street, Owatonna, MN, USA
A Note from Wendy Cirksena, Director of Special Services
Inspiring Excellence: As the Director of Special Services, I know that excellence may not look the same for every person or every student. I also know that while excellence may appear different for each individual, it is attainable for everyone.
Every Learner: Superintendent Jeff Elstad has stated that we are all learners, not only the students we serve. I believe that while there may be defined roles of student/teacher/family/administrator, if we all work together, we can learn from each other and foster growth in relationships and understanding.
Every Day: To continue inspiring excellence, we must never become complacent in that endeavor. No matter what a student's achievements look like, our goal is to build on accomplishments and prepare critical thinkers who will become contributing members of their communities as adults.
Please let the Special Services Team here at Owatonna Public Schools know if there is any way we can assist you. We stand ready to serve the special services needs of Owatonna and surrounding communities.
Spotlight on: Evaluation Team
Part of the structure of the Special Services Department at Owatonna Public Schools consists of an Evaluation Team (E-Team). The Evaluation Team is responsible for initial and re-evaluations of students who may or do have special services needs. The E-Team is comprised of Licensed Special Education Teachers, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Health and Autism Consultants. Available to those on the E-Team are specialists in Speech and Developmental Adaptive Physical Education. By maintaining a structure that utilizes an Evaluation Team, the Special Services Department is streamlined in two ways:
1. E-Team professionals specialize in the evaluation process which can improve both efficiency and accuracy in evaluating students with potential and continuing special education needs.
2. By shifting the responsibility of evaluations from Case Managers to the E-Team, it allows Case Managers to devote more of their resources to the direct instruction of students with special education needs. Case Managers still contribute significantly to the re-evaluations of the students they work with, but E-Team is responsible for testing, paperwork, and eligibility determination.
If you have any questions regarding the Owatonna Public Schools Evaluation Team or Special Services Department, please contact Sandy Standke, Special Services Secretary,
at (507) 444-8046 or sstandke@isd761.org