Learning Specialist

Teacher: Mrs. Carolyn Ullman, cullman@stclarepdx.org

The Learning Specialist Program (LSP) serves the entire school community and is designed to help each student feel and be successful at school. Programs administered through this department include differentiated instruction for all learners, special supports for students who struggle and/or excel, the school-wide Tri-annual Assessment Program, learning intervention groups, ongoing teacher education and support, parent education programs, and a parent education library.

The learning specialist is also responsible for some individual educational testing for students grades K-8. The process begins with a recommendation from the student’s teacher. Therefore, parents who feel their child should be assessed should initially contact his or her classroom teacher. Students with testing on file documenting a specific disability qualify for an Individual Learning Plan (ILP), and are eligible for a program of classroom accommodations determined by the learning specialist in consultation with teachers, parents, and the principal.

We make every effort to help our students through classroom accommodations and learning interventions, along with outside tutoring and counseling. We must ask that parents respect our professional judgment in this area and support our recommendations; this cooperation ensures that students can productively remain at St. Clare. We also ask that parents share any and all educational testing to help us meet our students’ needs. Confidential testing material is treated with extreme sensitivity and care. Occasionally, even with intervention, a student presents needs beyond the resources we have; we will make every effort to work with a family towards mutually agreeable placement for those students.