From the Superintendent’s Seat
A Feast Beyond Compare
Focus on Special Education
By Dr. Carole G. Hankin
with Randi T. Sachs

I attended a pre-Thanksgiving feast at one of our district’s middle schools recently. This annual tradition has always been a special occasion, but this year’s was truly outstanding. The food was delicious, but it was the smiles of the children there that warmed the room. The feast was put together by all of the middle school’s students who utilize special education services. They prepared the food and the decorations, and many came in costumes. For some students special education may mean time spent with a resource room teacher; for others it may mean that many, some, or just one of their classes is taken with other students who have difficulty learning those specific subjects.

This year, we have a new program in middle school called the Life Skills Class. These students require more specialized instruction and a curriculum that is appropriate for their individual needs and abilities. All children participating in our special education programs are given many “mainstream” opportunities. All of our schools in Syosset plan a significant amount of school-wide programs, such as concerts, science fairs, plays, guest speakers, dance programs, and more, which all students attend together.

Special education teachers, regular education teachers, and related service providers collaborate to provide the support a student may need to participate in a mainstream class. When it is determined that several students need more individualized attention and smaller classes to succeed, the teachers work together to make sure the curriculum mirrors what is taught in the larger classes.

We believe that every child is entitled to an education that enables him or her to learn all that he or she is capable of. The services we provide our students may adapt the methods they use to learn, but for all who are able, the quality and breadth of the subject matter need not be compromised, particularly as the student’s learning abilities progress. In fact, almost all of our students do graduate with a regular academic diploma and a plan to continue their education in college or another post-secondary program. Many students who utilize services have abilities and disabilities that cover quite a wide range. But what is most important is that we recognize that every child with or without disabilities also has abilities—and nurturing these abilities is what education is all about.

On the other end of the spectrum of special education is what is often referred to as gifted education. In Syosset, our gifted students in the elementary schools participate in a special program we call Project Beyond. However, because we have found that the teaching methods used in this program are so beneficial to our students, we have expanded our enrichment education to include a program called Talents Unlimited, which is provided to every single child in every class—and that includes our self-contained special education classes. Each week the school’s enrichment teacher brings a new lesson to each class that centers around developing one’s talents. It has proven to be a favorite lesson for children and teachers alike.#

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