SPED STAFF NEWSLETTER
April/May 2023
Dear Staff,
As we approach the end of the school year, we want to take a moment to express our gratitude for all that you do and celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week (May 8-May 12).
You have spent countless hours supporting and cultivating the growth of our students. We are truly grateful for your hard work and commitment.
We are honored to work alongside an amazing team of educators.
Then the week of May 21-27 is Classified School Employees Week. From our Instructional Assistants to the bus drivers, data technicians, community liaisons, and our district interpreters, these employees are the dedicated workers who play key roles in creating a school environment that contributes to the whole child by promoting student achievement. The Special Education Department proudly recognizes our classified staff.
With gratitude,
Nereida Gutierrez
Director, Special Education
"Autism is not a disability. It's a different ability."
To learn more about Autism and the unique strengths and challenges of individuals on the autism spectrum please review the website above.
An inspiring story about Zander Coloma, a VUSD student, participating in Vista Softball.
Teacher Appreciation Week May 8-12, 2023
VUSD Proclamation
Classified School Employees Week May 21-27
National Nurses Week May 6 - May12
National Speech Language Pathologist Day May 18th
We appreciate all of what our Speech Language Pathologists do to support our students & families.
Josh Nelson
Education Specialist
Vista Visions and Alta Vista High
Jason Locco
Instructional Assistant
Vista Adult Transition Center
School Psychologist Recognition
Dr. Michael Goodman was a school psychologist, UC Berkeley adjunct professor,
and served as CASP President in 1997 – 1998. His diagnostic skills were legendary.
Throughout his career, he encouraged research by students, trainers, and school
psychologists alike. This $500 cash award was created in his memory upon his passing. Each year, it is given to one original study which answers a new, unique research question and focuses on a problem or question related to school psychology. The winner of this year’s Michael Goodman award is Dr. Brianna Meshke McLay.
Extended School Year (ESY)
ESY will be from June 20, 2023 - July 14, 2023
- Cal Ave (Preschool)
- Empresa Elementary (K-8)
- Vista Adult Transition Center (VATC) (9-12, Adult Transition)
End of Year Dates
IEPs due by June 30, 2023 need to be held by May 26, 2023
IEPs due by September 30, 2023 need to be held in the Spring by May 26, 2023. The sending school must complete all tris and initials due by Sept 30
Please adhere to the 60 day timeline. The timeline stops from 6/8/23 - 8/16/23
All ESY services should be on the IEP by the end of April.
SpEd Staff Links
Yvonne's Friday Tips:
Previously on…
05/12/23 - Late Parent Consent Signatures
04/28/23 - Changing Signature Status from Unsigned to Signed
04/21/23 - Teacher Files
04/14/23 - Initials and Re-Evaluations
04/07/23 - Documenting Special Assessments
03/17/23 - Vanishing SEIS Data and How to Clear your Cache
03/10/23 - Its all in the Transportation Details
02/10/23 - Data Monitoring/Service Tracker
01/27/23 - Parent Involvement
01/20/23 - Services that end in June
01/13/22 - ESY reminder and Matriculation reminder
12/16/22 - Progress Reports - a walkthrough WITH EXAMPLES
12/09/22 - Drag and Drop Attachments
12/02/22 - Updated Procedural Safeguards and Friday Tips LIVE! (?)
11/18/22 - Happy Thanksgiving!
11/15/22 - a Special Tuesday TIP! Do not pre-date IEPs in SEIS
11/04/22 - Numbering IEPs and Adding new students to caseload
10/28/22 - Printing Greyed-Out Forms and Previous DNQ's
10/21/22 - Electronic Signatures (E sign package), Parent Walkthrough, Parent Walkthrough Spanish Version, Participant walkthrough, Official SEISSign walkthrough
10/14/22 - Mail Etiquette
10/07/22 - My IEP is NOT overdue!
09/30/22 - IEP document management
09/23/22 - Delay Codes
09/16/22 - Social Services Questionnaires
09/09/22 - the Difference between a DNQ and Exit IEP
09/02/22 - Documenting a Late IEP
08/26/22 - Annual and TRI due in the same school year and How to request an Interpreter
08/19/22 - 60 day Timeline!
Previous Newsletters
Professional Development
Please note: you must get approval from your site administrator to attend any out of district trainings using the following form
Certificated: If you require a sub, please contact your site office manager for a school business sub. (Due to the shortage of subs, there is no guarantee that a sub will be available. Also, no school business subs are approved on Mondays and Fridays)
If you’d like to attend a webinar, please submit a Webinar Approval Form
Please fill out a form for any travel outside of the District: Out of District Travel Form
SDCOE’s Wellness and School Culture team has curated a variety of resources that you could find helpful.
Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM), founded in 1927 by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Each May, this annual event raise awareness about hearing & speech problems, & encourages people to get their hearing checked.
Community Resources
California Autism Professional Training and Information Network, (CAPTAIN )
CAPTAIN is a multiagency network developed to support the understanding and use of evidence based practices for individuals on the autism spectrum across California.
Exceptional Family Resource Center EFRC
May Events for family, friends, staff, and teachers.
Topics Include: IEP Support, Book Circle, and Parents Day Conference.
NCCSE Family Workshops
The North Coastal Consortium for Special Education (NCCSE) is a Special Education Local Planning Area (SELPA) that is composed of 14 school districts in North San Diego County. For additional workshops please review the website.
May 19, 2023
Vista Unified School District. Students are eligible to attend VATC if they meet the criteria.
VUSD IS HIRING - SPREAD THE WORD!
- Education Specialist-Mild/Moderate Teacher ($2,000 incentive) (2023/2024 school year)
- Education Specialist-Moderate/Severe Teacher ($2,000 incentive) (2023/2024 School Year)
- Learning Support: Early Childhood Education Specialist (Mild/Moderate) - Human
- School Psychologist - Special Education
- Speech Language Pathologist - Special Education
- Early Childhood Education Specialist - California Avenue School (Repost)
- Education Specialist-Moderate/Severe Teacher ($2,000 incentive) (2022/2023
- Education Specialist-Mild/Moderate Teacher ($2,000 incentive) (2022/2023 school year)
Classified Staff:
- INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT-BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION, Permanent & Substitutes (OPEN and CONTINUOUS Application) - 6 Hours Per Day! SIGN-ON BONUS OF $500
- SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANT IV-SH/PH - OPEN and CONTINUOUS application SIGN-ON BONUS OF $500
- INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT II-LH/CH/RSP - Permanent - 5 to 6 hours per day! SIGN-ON BONUS OF $500
SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMUNITY LIAISON
Please don't hesitate to communicate with our Community Liaison. We are here to facilitate communication between VUSD and families. If you need assistance please reach out to Doris Cruz.
Phone number: (760) 726-2170 ext. 92914
Email: doriscruz@vistausd.org
Link to Additional Resources
- Autism Society San Diego
- CA Special Education Data Resources
- Exceptional Family Resource Center
- Findhelp.org
- Inclusive Schools
- Mental Health Resources for Teens
- North County Resource Guide
- NCCSE- Mental Health Presentation from Nov. 9th
- Online Tutoring
- San Diego County Office of Education
- San Diego Regional Center
- Special Olympics
- Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego
- VUSD Calming Corner
Special Education Department Contacts
Nereida Gutierrez, Director, Special Education, specialeducationdept@vistausd.org
Steffanie Rupp, Coordinator, Special Education, steffanierupp@vistausd.org
Rachel Schmidt, Principal, California Avenue School, rachelschmidt@vistausd.org
Katherine Abraham, Principal, Vista Adult Transition Program, katherineabraham@vistausd.org
Jennifer Gruman, Program Supervisor, jennifergruman@vistausd.org
William Foley, Program Supervisor, williamfoley@vistausd.org
Kinga Nagorny, Program Supervisor, kinganagorny@vistausd.org
Dr. Charyn Socket Berg, Program Supervisor charynberg@vistausd.org
Dafnee Ramirez, Administrative Secretary, Special Education, dafneeramirez@vistausd.org
Debra Harris, Data Tech, debraharris@vistausd.org
Yvonne Fortin, Data Tech, yvonnefortin@vistausd.org
Doris Cruz, Community Liaison, Special Education, doriscruz@vistausd.org
Special Education Department: specialeducationdept@vistausd.org
Special Education Department
Email: Specialeducationdept@vistausd.org
Website: https://www.vistausd.org/departments/special_education
Location: Vista Unified School District, 1234 Arcadia Avenue, Vista, CA 92084, USA
Phone: (760) 726-2170
Twitter: @VUSDSpEd