Student Support Services
Committed to fostering the success of all learners.
We value all aspects of student development, including personal, social and academic growth. The goal of Student Support Services department is to equip students, parents, and school staff with the skills, tools, and services necessary to foster the environment needed for students to find personal success.
- Coaches and Interventionists
- English Learners
- Gifted and Talented Development
- School Social Worker
- School Psychologist
Coaches and Interventionists
English Learners
The English Learner (EL) program supports multilingual learners in acquiring the English they need in order to succeed in the classroom and beyond, in accordance with the State of Minnesota Guidelines and English Language Proficiency Standards. Incoming students are tested for English proficiency when entering District 196 schools, as well as periodically throughout the school year to determine progress and eligibility for continued instruction.
In EL settings, English learners are part of an English language learning experience where students engage in content study and English learning simultaneously. Students are grouped by proficiency level at the elementary through high school level and may or may not share the same native language.
Molly Galloway
651-683-6969
ext. 85507
Jenna Varghese
651-683-6969
ex. 84717
Gifted and Talented Development
Gifted and talented children are those students with outstanding abilities and capable of higher performance when compared to others of similar age, experience and environment. They have significantly different educational needs from their peers and require educational differentiation as a regular part of their school day to ensure they reach their full potential.
Students in grades K-5 may be selected to participate in enrichment groups with other students of high ability (those performing above regular expectations) at their grade level. Teachers may select students for these groups based on test scores and/or classroom observation. Content covered in these groups may be subject-specific (i.e., math or reading), or in areas such as research or problem solving.
These groups are flexible so that some students may be part of one or two during the year, while other students may be included in groups throughout the year. Enrichment groups usually meet once or twice per week for 30-45 minutes.
ISD 196 Gifted and Talent Development Resources
For more information, see policy 610 under Board Policy.
GT Student Links
Educational Games for Children http://www.funbrain.org
KIDLINK is a non-profit grassroots organization aimed at providing life skills training to children and youth through secondary school age. http://www.kidlink.org
Homework Helper is a comprehensive research sites maintained by a kid. http://www.bjpinchbeck.com
ReadWriteThink: Homepage http://www.readwritethink.org
Writing Resources for Children
National Geographic website http://www.nationalgeographic.com
Abby Wood
651-683-6969
ext. 88126
School Social Worker
The overall goal of the elementary school social work program is to work directly with students, their families, school staff, and the community to provide guidance, support, and nurturance so essential to academic success and sound life decisions.
School social workers are licensed mental health professionals trained to provide support and interventions to children and families proactively and in times of emotional/mental health crisis. They do this by providing individual, small group and family support.
Your school social worker helps:
Amy Toonen, MSW, LICSW
Voicemail:
952-423-7896 ex. 78310
Schedule: M-F 8am-2pm
Marisa McNamara, LSW
Voicemail:
952-423-7896 ex. 78313
Schedule: T/W/Th 8am-2:30pm
School Psychologist
School psychologists work with a team of people to help students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. School psychologists are trained in both education and mental health to know how to identify and lower barriers to learning.
For more information about school psychology, visit the National Association of School Psychologists website.
Resources for families are also available through the National Association of School Psychologists.
