Roxie E. Kelsey, District 9
1. What do you see as one of the County's main challenges regarding special education
and what ideas do you have to improve this?
Having the proper resources and equipment to meet the many different needs of all children is an ongoing challenge. Improving student outcomes depends on well-educated teachers and assistants full of empathy, patience, and the appropriate tools to help all children learn. I worked in Special Education through SCS for 3 1/2 years and found the experience very rewarding, and also difficult for caregivers. Having support and substitutes fully equipped to offer the same quality of care would create a better working and learning environment within our schools.
2. How can we be sure to recruit, train and retain skilled and caring educators and
support staff?
We can recruit teachers to SCS by making sure the salaries and incentives offered are competitive with surrounding counties. After extensive background checks to ensure we are hiring the most highly educated and qualified candidates, we can protect our investment in them and their commitment to SCS by offering continuing education and specialized training for teachers and support staff. With proper resources and respect, teachers are able to engage students with a heart full of love and patience.
3. How can we improve inclusion in the schools, both academically and socially?
We can improve inclusion by making sure our teachers are fully aware of all the needs of the students in their classroom. Making inclusion a priority may include deliberately creating situations where different children are given the opportunity to interact. This can be done simply when teachers plan for academic activities which include teamwork assignments, or socially by making sure students have lunch and enjoy recess together.
4. What would you do as a School Board member to ensure that students involved
in Special Education were consistently considered in communications and planning
and why this might be important?
I would make myself available to ensure proper communication and planning go forth. For inclusion of children involved with Special Education to be a priority, consideration of their communication needs and planning for their participation in events and programs at school must be a part of the conversation. With my experience, these are opportunities to increase their social skills and confidence which is important to their overall success.
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