Students from Mamie D. Lee work closely with their teachers and OFMR staff to acquire workforce skills. Learn More »
Dr. Nathaniel Beers is the new Chief of Special Education and he sat down with us to answer a few questions about his vision for special education at DCPS and what inspires him. Learn More »
I wanted to be a teacher but realized my true passion was in community outreach. I want people to know that we’re a community and we understand that in order to succeed as an education system, we need a collaborative effort between all parties involved. Learn More »
July 26, 2011 - Camp Let's Go! brings together children with and without language challenges to explore their world and enhance their communication skills through a variety of thematic hand-on activities that include music, arts & crafts, and field trips. Learn More »
June 9, 2011 - When Patricia Sanker entered her class’s submission in the United Black Fund’s annual “I love life and want to live!” campaign, she had no idea how successful it would be. Learn More »
June 3, 2011 -- More than 600 DCPS athletes participated in the DC Special Olympics this year, competing in track and field events, soccer, volleyball and bocce one the athletic fields at the Catholic University of America, That makes it one of the largest Special Olympics games in the country, according to Tom Kling, senior director of programs and sports at Special Olympics DC. Learn More »
May 31, 2011 -- At any age, finding employment can be a nerve-wracking experience. From writing a resume to interviewing – it takes preparation and dedication. And while graduation and finding employment can seem far away to high school students, it’s important that they start preparing for life after DCPS. That’s why the transition team at DCPS is focused on providing students with disabilities with an individualized transition process. Learn More »
May 26, 2011 -- For nearly 20 years, the Mamie D. Lee School has partnered with organizations such as the Navy Yard, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington Hospital Center and the National Museum of the American Indian to provide its students with hands-on job experience. Learn More »
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May 13, 2011 -- Donica Tate and Nickaya Foster, case managers for the non-public team at DCPS, don’t hesitate when asked what they think is the most important part of their job. They both agree that the answer is listening. For the past three years, the non-public team has used case managers to focus on bringing back to school the DCPS students at non-public schools who are truant. Learn More »
Ms. Pamela Hagans has been a support teacher at Beers Elementary School for the past 10 years. She talks about why she left a law office to pursue a career in the classroom. Learn More »
This occasional series highlights the special education staff who work within the schools and alongside teachers and central office staff to make sure students with disabilities are getting the most out of their education. Learn More »
Rahman Branch has been the principal of Ballou High School for the past three years. We asked him about his role as a leader and how he is working to create the best possible learning environment for all of his students. Learn More »
The purpose of these meetings is to inform Rock Creek Academy (RCA) families about DCPS’ response to the recent OSSE findings of the school’s noncompliance with the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as well as District of Columbia regulations. District of Columbia Public Schools staff will be available to answer your questions in general, as well as any questions specific to your child. Learn More »
April 28, 2011 -- A laptop isn’t just a fun piece of technology for Wallace Dews, a student at Woodrow Wilson High School. It’s the difference between being able to read his book for English class and not. Learn More »
Alexis McGee is a twelfth grade student at Woodrow Wilson High School. She is an honor roll student who likes her English and algebra classes, and who hopes to work in radio broadcasting. Alexis also is visually impaired. Learn More »
Ms. Karen Bell is a fourth, fifth and sixth grade special education teacher at Emery Education Campus. Ms. Bell has taught for DC Public Schools for 10 years. She recently was awarded a Rubenstein Award for Highly Effective Teaching, an honor given to 20 DCPS teachers for their extraordinary work as educators.
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April 12, 2011 -- Meet Shanna Hirsch and Megan Gregory-Morley, two members of the autism services team who work with parents and teachers to provide them with best practices for supporting students with autism. Learn More »
April 5, 2011 -- Dressed in a white cap and gown, Terry Ray Wilkes rang a hand bell proudly in front of his classmates. This bell is what all AdvancePath Academy students will ring when they graduate. Terry is the first. Learn More »
Ty’ease SetepenRa is a DCPS parent. Her son, Bakari, is in the second grade at Barnard Elementary School. We asked her about her experience with DCPS and its special education programs. Learn More »
March 31, 2011 -- For two of the special education staff members at Coolidge High School and Mamie D. Lee School, partnering to better serve the needs of their students with special needs was one of the best – and easiest – decisions they ever made. Learn More »
March 29, 2011 -- For the more than 2,000 District of Columbia Public Schools students attending Non-Public schools, the DCPS progress monitors play a major role in making sure that students are supported by DCPS, and in regularly engaging and interacting with their parents and families. Learn More »
Ms. Alisa Halliburton is an autism teacher at Shaw Middle School @ Garnet-Patterson. She teaches five students with autism between the ages of 11 and 13 years old. Ms. Haliburton has taught for DC Public Schools for 10 years. Learn More »
March 24, 2011 -- Earlier this month, DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson and Mayor Vincent C. Gray announced the 20 recipients of the Rubenstein Award for Highly Effective Teaching, an award that recognizes the outstanding work of DCPS educators. Of those selected, three were highly effective special education teachers. Learn More »
March 16, 2011 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Alexa Posny and representatives from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education met with Beers Elementary School staff and parents earlier this week about their schoolwide approach to learning and inclusion. Learn More »
This occasional series highlights the special education staff who work within the schools and alongside teachers and central office staff to make sure students with disabilities are getting the most out of their education. Ms. Christian is a clinical social worker at Beers Elementary School and Moten Elementary School @ Wilkinson. Learn More »
March 8, 2011 -- DCPS today released the third and latest version of the Blackman-Jones database, which helps both DC Public Schools and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education respond to and resolve special education due process complaints, hearing officer determinations and settlement agreements. Learn More »
March 4, 2011 -- Ms. Adelay Ngide, an autism support teacher at Kelly Miller Middle School, believes in the ABC’s when it comes to her class.
That’s ABC – A for Antecedent, B for Behavior and C for Consequence – a data collection method that she and the 43 other autism support teachers at DCPS use to help their autistic students achieve in the classroom, and to improve their classroom and behavior management skills. Learn More »
February 23, 2011 -- The Hamilton Tigers had their first ever basketball season this fall at the Hamilton Center, a school that provides specialized instruction to students who are diagnosed as emotionally disturbed in grades first through eighth. Learn More »
February 22, 2011 -- Two school-to-work programs, Bridges…From School to Work and Project SEARCH, have more than doubled their enrollment and capacity, providing even more DCPS students with disabilities the opportunity to learn real world skills through local employment opportunities. Learn More »
February 11, 2011 -- Dr. Nathaniel Beers, executive director of the Early Stages Center, was recently interviewed by a number of national radio stations at Health Action 2011, a national health care grassroots meeting held in Washington, D.C. Learn More »
February 11, 2011 -- “When I lost my sight I realized I needed to reach out and bring things to me. That’s called self-advocacy,” said Don Galloway, president of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) of the District of Columbia. Learn More »
February 8, 2011 -- There are few words that can make students groan more loudly than this one can: homework. After waking up early for a day of classes, it’s sometimes easy to forget to complete a homework assignment at the end of the day. Learn More »
This occasional series highlights the special education staff who work within the schools and alongside teachers and central office staff to make sure students with disabilities are getting the most out of their education. Learn More »
January 28, 2011 -- “Does anyone know how to use Facebook?” asks Norma Villanueva, program director of low incidence disabilities for the Office of Special Education at DC Public Schools. Learn More »
January 28, 2011 -- A delegation of four South African education policy makers met with Dr. Richard Nyankori, Deputy Chancellor for Special Education, and Early Stages Executive Director Nathaniel Beers late January as part of a United States tour to discuss the challenges and solutions the U.S. faces with its primary and secondary education system. Learn More »
January 21, 2011 -- For the students in the Digital Media Arts Club at Anacostia High School, the Internet is more than just an opportunity to check a classmate’s Facebook status, download music or research information for a homework assignment. Danielle Scruggs has taught them that it’s an opportunity to empower themselves. Learn More »
January 19, 2011 -- Every year, the National Federation of the Blind-DC, East Capital Chapter hosts events and organizes activities for the District of Columbia Public Schools and its visually impaired and blind students. The mission of NFB is to advocate for the blind, and NFB-DC Vice-President and East Capital Chapter President Joie Stuart says that this especially holds true when it comes to students. Learn More »
January 14, 2011 -- District of Columbia Public Schools is partnering with the DC Public Library and other DC government agencies and community-based organizations to sponsor an afterschool program for secondary and transitioning students who are blind and visually impaired. Learn More »
January 13, 2011 -- The sounds of students splashing around in the water reverberate in the newly renovated pool at Mamie D. Lee School, a special education school for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Learn More »
Kevin Donahue is a DCPS parent. His son, Owen, attends a pre-kindergarten classroom with other four year olds at Walker-Jones Education Campus. We asked him about his experience with DCPS and its special education programs. Learn More »
January 10, 2011 -- Alexa Posny, assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services, visited Beers Elementary School in November to see firsthand how a school can integrate supports for students with disabilities in the general education classroom setting. She also visited the Early Stages Center, the DCPS diagnostic center for children ages three through five years old. Learn More »
January 6, 2011 -- DC Public Schools student Vander Cherry welcomed the crowd to the Russell Senate Office Building in honor of the 35th Anniversary of the Passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a law that ensures that all students with disabilities receive a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive setting. The event was hosted by the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in November. Learn More »
December 27, 2010 -- The Early Stages Center, the DCPS diagnostic center for children ages three to five years old, received a $2,500 donation on from The Franklin Lyle Stroud M.D. Foundation for Learning Disabilities. This donation will be used to support the families and children served by Early Stages. Learn More »
November 18, 2010 -- Dr. Richard Nyankori, Deputy Chancellor for Special Education for District of Columbia Public Schools, was honored alongside 10 other individuals at the 2010 College of Education Annual Alumni Awards Celebration at the University of Maryland, College Park. Learn More »
December 21, 2010 -- On October 26, 2010, Dr. Richard Nyankori, Deputy Chancellor for Special Education for the District of Columbia Public Schools, joined the Washington DC and Metro Area Marriott Business Council to thank the many individuals and employers in the Washington metro area who have made significant contributions to the “Bridges…from School to Work” program. Learn More »
December 17, 2010 -- A delegation of 75 government and university leaders from Yunnan Province, China, visited the District in late October to kick off their 11-day tour of the United States. Learn More »
Leah Stein, special education teacher and special education coordinator at Hyde-Addison Elementary School, teaches her students that class work is a team effort. Learn More »
Tiffani Turner, a primary special education teacher at Houston Elementary School, believes the best inclusive environment requires proper planning. Learn More »
Ashley Tepfer, a third grade language arts teacher at Lafayette Elementary School, looks at the needs of her entire class and modifies lessons accordingly. Learn More »
Seth Brecher, a special education teacher at Ellington School of the Arts, believes inclusive environments can challenge and support all students. Learn More »
Read special education news from the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years. Learn More »
