JAJ Special Ed. Team

• Jane Cicchese, School Nurse
• JoAnn Cudo, Special Ed. Teacher
• Micaela Douglas, Speech/Language Pathologist
• Alice Engelhardt, Physical Therapist
• Caryn Gontarek, Itinerant Teacher for Deaf/Hard of Hearing
•  Julie Baum, School Social Worker
• Jeanette Nargeleanas, Itinerant Teacher for Physically Imparied
• Dana Nelson, Adapted Physical Education Teacher
• Abel Riodique, Special Education Resource Coordinator
• Shelly Supan, Occupational Therapist
• Jill Weiss, School Psychologist

Our Mission: 

The entire staff at JAJ works to make students be the best learners they can be and meet academic standards. We offer a continuum of services in both a push-in and pull-out model, while keeping in mind student’s individual needs and the least restrictive environment.  Students who qualify for special education may receive the following supports including: academic instruction, speech/language services, occupational therapy services, nursing services, social work, paraprofessional services, adapted physical education, and physical therapy services. 

Delivery of Special Education Services at JAJ:

Students who receive special education services at JAJ receive services in either a push-in and/or pull-out model of instruction.

• Push-in model: Special education staff supporting IEP goals/objectives of the student within the general education classroom, while working alongside with general education teacher.
• Pull-out model:  Special education staff supporting IEP goals/objectives of the student outside of the student’s general education classroom, while implementing a parallel teaching approach.  This approach aligns classroom standards/classroom expectation.

Creating a sense of belonging for all students:

•  Special Education instruction is aligned with general education curriculum and driven by the MN state standards.
•  JAJ has school wide positive behavior model called Responsive Classroom, which is used with all students.