Chris Atkinson, Learning Center Specialist at Oak Knoll School

At a special awards ceremony at Oak Knoll School on Wednesday, May 22nd, Chris Atkinson was presented an Honorary Service Award in recognition of her outstanding work with students, parents and staff. Ms. Atkinson is an incredibly talented and highly respected special education specialist with 32 years of experience teaching students with disabilities.

We were very fortunate to recruit Ms. Atkinson to the Menlo Park City School District at the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year when we created a new class for students with mild-moderate disabilities who were attending classes operated by the County Office of Education. During the 2005-2006 school year, Ms. Atkinson enthusiastically embraced and implemented our new intensive intervention, direct instruction model using standards-based programs in language arts and math. During the 2007-2008 school year, Ms. Atkinson transitioned her students from a traditional special class model to a Learning Center model in order to ensure that the students were included as full members of general education classes and were receiving appropriate instruction in the least restrictive environment.

Under Ms. Atkinson’s leadership as the Learning Center Specialist, and with the support of her colleagues and administrators at Oak Knoll, students served in the Learning Center program benefit academically, socially and emotionally. She is highly valued by the students and parents who have received, and currently receive, her services; by the staff at Oak Knoll; and by her colleagues in the Student Services Department. Last week, I learned that one of Ms. Atkinson’s former students, who is graduating from Menlo-Atherton High School on June 6^th, was accepted to San Francisco State University. Congratulations, Ms. Atkinson, for making a positive difference in the lives of your students and their parents for 32 years!

A variety of upcoming regional trainings that may be of interest to you.

Mosf of the slideshows from our Parent Education presentations are in PowerPoint. To advance through a slideshow, depress the "up" or "forward" arrow on your keyboard. To review previous slides, depress the "down" or "back" arrow. To end the slideshow, depress the "esc" key. For slideshows that are PDF documents, please scroll through the slideshow.

Federal and State laws require each school to consolidate all school plans for programs funded through the School and Library Improvement Block Grant, the Pupil Retention Block Grant, the Consolidated Application, and ESEA Program Improvement into the "Single Plan for Student Achievement," also known as the "School Site Plan."

The District's Mission Statement and concise summaries of the District's Goals, Strategic Plan, Local Performance Index, and the work of our Ad Hoc Committees. The Student Services Department's Annual Goals are aligned with the District's goals.

We have developed a Lending Library for staff and parents that currently includes approximately 320 books and 20 DVDs related to disabilities, health issues, parenting and best practices in education. Our library includes selected materials in Spanish. If you would like to visit the Lending Library, and perhaps check-out a book or DVD, please contact Ada Reid-Watson via phone (650) 321-7140 x5610 or e-mail.

Information about the SUHSD, including special education contacts and District calendars for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school years.

Apps for Students with Disabilities

Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

National Center & State Collaborative (NCSC)

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium

Writing