About the Special Services Team
Our Staff Members
First Name | Last Name | Title | |
Allison | LeGates | Director of Special Services | |
Jill | Parthesius | Administrative Assistant | |
Edward | Londono | Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant | |
Ariel | Stanziale | Psychologist & Washington School Anti Bullying Specialist | |
Joselyn | Miller | Social Worker & Memorial School Anti Bullying Specialist | |
Welcome to the Department of Special Services
The Department of Special Services is responsible for over 135 classified students. Our Child Study team is made up of a School Psychologist, Learning Disabilities Teaching Consultant and School Social Worker. Speech therapists, an occupational therapist and behaviorists fill out the department and allow each student to receive related services as deemed necessary in accordance with their IEP.
In keeping with state and federal mandates, instruction is provided in the Least Restrictive Environment, “ To the maximum extent appropriate, a student with a disability is educated with peers who are not disabled; special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of a student with a disability from the student's general education class occurs only when the nature or severity of the educational disability is such that education in the student's general education class with the use of appropriate supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.”
Little Ferry offers self-contained and inclusion based classrooms at the preschool level located on our main campus for selected students. We participate in the preschool expansion program which allows us to utilize space at Early Learners Childcare Center for preschool students who qualify for this inclusive setting. This allows our youngest learners access to the least restrictive environment while getting the support of related services and a smaller staff to student ratio.
At the elementary and middle school levels we service students across all settings including supported, co-teaching and self-contained. In addition, we have a program with students with Autism who need a specialized teaching methodology and related services
We work to ensure that students with disabilities are provided access to the general education curriculum and extra -curricular activities in the regular education setting to the maximum extent possible with assistive support.
Allison LeGates
Director of Special Services
Child Study Team
Memorial School
130 Liberty Street
Little Ferry, New Jersey 07643
Telephone (201) 641-6760, ext. 1701 Fax (201) 641-3966
Dear Little Ferry Families,
I am excited to introduce myself and honored to be chosen as the newly appointed Director of Special Services. I join you to continue a career dedicated to students with special needs that spans over twenty years. I believe in helping every child reach their potential by finding the strategies that work for them in the least restrictive environment.
I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Louis University, my Masters of the Arts degree as well as administrative certificates from Montclair State University and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2010.
My teaching career started as a paraprofessional in a private school for children with disabilities. I accepted a teaching position at the same school, and then taught in the Montclair Public School system as a teacher for students with Autism at the Preschool level. I spent several years in Early Intervention as an evaluator and treatment therapist working part-time while my own children were young. I started the Program for Students with Autism in Garfield and became the Coordinator eventually facilitating programming for students from Pre-K through high school. Most recently, I worked in West Orange as a behaviorist developing a program for students with Emotional Regulation Impairments while working with classroom teachers to develop strategies for students in inclusive settings.
I live with my husband and two children who are now both off to college. They are as different as children can be. One entered college in the honors program and the other had an IEP for the majority of his school years. They are a constant reminder of how important it is to recognize the differences in children and the value of a partnership with families.
I look forward to bringing my experience to the Little Ferry community to continue improving student education, working with all of the staff members, and partnering with families to ensure the greatest level of success for each student.
Sincerely,
Allison LeGates