Kim Farula considers the students in her 2nd grade class at Midwood Catholic Academy her own children. She wants each of them to succeed.
Success is unique for 6-year-old Janessa Gittens. She’s always been aware that she learns differently than her classmates, but she’s reading near grade level for the first time.
“When we do math, I can’t read some things, I can’t read some words,” Gittens said. “But I can read some of the word, but not all of it.”
When Gittens gets overwhelmed with her classwork she cries, just talking about it can be emotional.
“I feel sad and sometimes I feel mad and I’m trying to stop, the tears just come out of nowhere and I can’t hold my tears in,” Gittens said. “I take tissues and I try to wipe my face and then it just comes back.”
“It’s really heartbreaking to see a child become so emotional and break down,” Farula said.
Farula has been practicing with Gittens how to manage her emotions in class.
But it took Farula practice too. The deep breathing exercises and affirmations she uses are just some of the strategies she learned from a special education coach.
“The coaches will actually observe her or if I want them to look at a specific student they will observe them and they will let me know as well what they need and that’s the most important thing is what a child needs in their education,” Farula said. “Every child has specific needs.”
“My job is to make them feel more comfortable in supporting the special education population in the class,” said Amy Marelli, a Special Education Coach. “Because a lot of what we’re trying to move away from is that direct, teacher-led instruction, one size fits all lesson planning.”
Marelli teaches inclusive strategies that entire classrooms can benefit from. Right now teachers in 40 Diocese of Brooklyn schools are receiving coaching services.
“They’re seeing a lot more support for a student that may not have been able to participate as actively in a lesson before,” Marelli said. “And now they have the tools and the teacher has the understanding of how to support them in their daily classroom activities.”
The look of Special Education in the Diocese of Brooklyn has undergone a dramatic change.
This school year, Luisa Manzo was brought on as the first ever special education field representative. She’s an advocate for students with academic challenges.
“Basically, I’m just a help. I’m a contact. I’m a partner with all of the schools just basically going in and helping them in any way I can with special education, with those needs,” Manzo said.
Individualized Education Service Plans or IESPS, occupational therapy, speech therapy and special education teachers are offered today at every Catholic academy in the diocese.
Manzo said 10 years ago they didn’t exist.
“We want the student to feel confident, we want the student to be successful, we want them to thrive,” she said. “We look at those IESP’s and we make sure yes this is the right setting. This is the right fit. This is the right school.”
Without those services Gitten’s mom, Kristen, would have had to send her daughter elsewhere.
“When they told me that she could get evaluated while still going to Catholic school while still practicing her faith, getting the same as public school if not better, I was ecstatic,” Kristen said.
She never imagined Gittens would enjoy school the way she does today.
“We’re doing coloring worksheets and there’s a math equation that we have to solve and I have a favorite book and it’s called the Bad Seed,” Gittens said.
“She’s become more confident,” Kristen said. “She said ‘OK, mommy. I’ll do it. I’ll try.’”
Even if she doesn’t get every problem right or pronounce every word correctly, Kristen said Gittens is succeeding, because she’s trying.
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