Special Education

St. Marcus is committed to providing high quality educational services to all students.  This includes students with special needs.  St. Marcus currently serves students with autism, cognitive disabilities, emotional behavior disabilities, specific learning disabilities, other health impairments, significant developmental delays and speech/ language impairments.

Approximately 11% of St. Marcus students receive special education services.

Methods of Instruction

St. Marcus provides excellent support for students with special needs - those who are formally identified with a special need and those who have not received a formal individual education plan.  Many special needs students receive individualized support and curriculum modification provided by classroom teachers as well as support teachers in the classroom.  St. Marcus also offers the following services to students with special needs:

• Special Education Teachers to provide replacement curriculum instruction, in-class academic and behavior support for students with significant special education needs
• Resource Teachers to provide instruction for students with significant special education needs and assist with in-class support
• Dyslexia Specialist to evaluate and tutor students identified with dyslexia
• Title I Reading & Math teachers to supplement our reading and math curriculum to progress students toward grade level proficiency
• A Licensed School Counselor to provide social and emotional support
• A Licensed Therapist to provide student and family support

St. Marcus has students with IEPs' (Individual Education Plan) and/or a Service Plan (a document similar to an IEP for non-public/private schools). In addition:

• Students at St. Marcus can be referred for an special education evaluation
• The public school handles referrals for St. Marcus students who reside in the city of Milwaukee
• If a child lives outside of Milwaukee, the public school where the family resides can handle the referral
• The public school provides diagnostic specialists such as a school psychologist, special education teacher, speech and language pathologist, social worker, etc. who evaluate St. Marcus students to determine if they meet criteria for a disability and if they are in need of special education services
• The public school currently provides special education services at St. Marcus
  • Speech & Language Services in grades K4 & K5 (30 minutes /1 time per week)
  • Significant Developmental Delay services in grades K4 through age 9 (30 minutes /2 times per week)
  • Specific Learning Disability services in grades 3 through 6 (45 minutes /1 time per week)

Staff Qualifications

• Director of Student Services - K3 – 8^th Grade
  • BS - Bachelors of Science Degree
  • MA - Masters of Science Degree
  • Wisconsin State Teaching License: Grades K – 8; Reading Teacher; Principal
  • Teaching Experience - 25 years
  • Administrative Experience – 8 years

• Associate Director of Student Services - Grades K3-8th
  • BS- Bachelors of Science Degree
  • MA- Masters of Science in Educational Leadership
  • Wisconsin State Teaching License: Grades 1-8; Elementary and Middle Level Education; Social Studies
  • Teaching Experience - 13 years
• Kindergarten & Primary Special Education Teacher - K4 – 4^th Grades
  • BS - Bachelors of Science Degree – Exceptional Education
  • Wisconsin State Teaching License: Cross Categorical Special Education
  • Teaching Experience – 3 years

• Middle School Special Education Teacher - Grades 5 – 8
  • BS - Bachelors of Science Degree – Exceptional Education – Emotional Behavior Disorder Emphasis
  • Wisconsin State Teaching License: Special Education Grades 1-8; Elementary Education Grades 1-8
  • Minnesota State Teaching License: Elementary Education K-8
  • Teaching Experience - 10 years

• Kindergarten & Primary Resource Teacher - K4 – 4^th Grades
  • BS - Bachelors of Science Degree
  • Wisconsin State Teaching License: Elementary Education K-8
  • Teaching Experience - 6 years

• Middle School Replacement Curriculum Teacher - Grades 5 – 8
  • BS - Bachelors of Science Degree
  • Wisconsin State Teaching License – Elementary Education – Grades 1-6
  • Teaching Experience – 31 years

• Middle School Resource Teacher - Grades 5-8
  • BS - Bachelors of Science Degree 
  • Minnesota State Teaching License: Elementary Education - K-8
  • Teaching Experience - 10 years
• Dyslexia Specialist
  • BS - Bachelors of Science Degree
  • Certified Dyslexia Screener
  • Certified Barton Tutor
  • Teaching Experience – 9 years
  • Tutoring Experience – 11 years

• Four - Title I Reading and/or Math Teachers – Grades K5 – 8
  • BS - Bachelors of Science or Arts Degree
  • Wisconsin State Teaching License – Elementary Education Grades K-8 or Grades 1-8
  • Teaching Experience – Range: 5-10 years

• School Counselor – Grades - K3 - 8
  • MA - Masters of Science
  • Wisconsin State License - Pupil Services Stage: Professional Educator 5 Year; School Counselor Developmental Level: Early Childhood-Adolescence
  • Department of Safety & Professional Services License - Professional Counselor
  • Experience – 7 years
• Speech & Language Pathologist – Grades K3 – 8
  • Certifications
    • ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC)
    • Experience – 4 years
• Licensed Therapist – Grades - K3 - 8
  • MSW – Master of Social Work
  • Wisconsin State License – Clinical Social Worker
  • Experience – 16 years

For more information contact:

Sandy O'Brien, Director of Student Services

sandy.obrien@stmarcus.org | 414-232-0841