Special Education

 

(281) 420-4520
Name
Position
Extension
Christina Ritter
Director Of Special Education
Jennifer Groce
Campus Special Education Services coordinator for District-wide Programs
73622
Pamela Brooks
Campus Special Education Services coordinator for Resource/Mainstream Programs
73457
Dawn Massingill
Coordinator for Compliance and Accountablity
73852
Leanne Simpkins
Coordinator for Tri-County East Regional Day School Program from the Deaf
73360
Brooke Douget
Coordinator for Evaluation
73413
Carol Douglas
District Transition Contact
73745
Courtney Mixon
Coordinator for Districtwide Programs
73851
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The Goose Creek school district is responsible for identifying, locating, and evaluating any child (ages birth-21) with known or suspected disabilities who reside within the school district's boundaries to determine whether a need for special education and related services exist. This mandate also applies to any child who is currently attending a private school, or is being home schooled. Information regarding referrals and evaluations for special education services.

 

Contact Information

Dawn Massingill 
Child Find Coordinator (ages 3-5)

 

Brooke Douget 
Assessment Coordinator (kinder-12th grade)

 

For a Child Find Evaluation Appointment (ages 3-5), please call 281-420-4520 

 

What is Transition?

Transition is a process designed to assist students with disabilities to achieve their postsecondary goals in the areas of education. employment and adult living. Through transition planning, annual goals and a coordinated set of activities focusing on both academic and functional skills are established to facilitate progress towards a student's postsecondary goals.

 

Federal and State

Law Federal law states that beginning no later than the first IEP to be in effect when the child turns 16 (State law states age 14), or younger if determined appropriate by the IEP Team, and updated annually, thereafter, the IEP must include -Appropriate measurable postsecondary goals based upon age appropriate transition assessments related to training, education, employment, and, where appropriate, independei living skills. The transition services (including courses of study) needed to assist the child in reaching those goals.

 

Transition Employment Services Designee

Carol Douglas EMAIL

Special Education Transition Specialist

605 W Baker Road, Baytown, Tx 77521

281-420-4520

 

  • GCCISD DEFINES ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY BY 3 LEVELS:


    Level One

    • Low Tech- the IEP team determines if low tech AT is needed for the student. 
    • Basic in nature
    • Require very little training in terms of use
    • Inexpensive
    • Readily available or easily accessible within the classroom

     

    Examples of Level One Include, but are not limited to:

    • Pencil grips
    • Highlighted text
    • Math manipulatives
    • Place markers
    • Overlays
    • Post – it notes
    • Visual schedules
    • Enlarged print text

     

    Does this mean that many of the accommodations qualify as Level One?

    YES!!

    But how do i know when to check?
    1. Does the student require this to access FAPE and make progress on IEP objectives?
    2. Is the accommodation a tangible item?

     

    Level Two

    • Mid-Tech–the campus specialists such as SLP, OT, PT, Vision Specialist, Audiologist, LSSP, etc. in collaboration with the classroom teacher and school staff determine the need for mid-tech AT
    • Require more maintenance, more training, and may have some technical or electronic component
    • Require a trial period of use and recommendations are made based upon the trials. 

     

    Examples Of Level Two At Include, But Are Not Limited To:

    • Text reader
    • Talking word processor
    • Word prediction software
    • Alternate keyboard
    • FM System
    • Simple voice output device

    Level Three

    • Recommendations must be supported by campus data collected based upon trials, interventions and previous strategies documented and considered. 
    • Must include a ULS core member in the level 3 evaluation process
    • Level 3 items are often expensive, not readily accessible, highly technical, and require specialized training and knowledge of the device.

     

    Examples Of Level Three Include, But Are Not Limited To:

    • High end augmentative communication devices
    • Voice output device with dynamic display
    • Voice output device with speech synthesis
    • Voice Recognition software

Parent Resources

CENTER FOR AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITES

PLEASE CLICK ON LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION

Childcare And Rehabilitation

Childcare

Care.com

iis a wonderful site to help find care takers for your children.

The people that you can hire have had experience with children of

their own or ones close to them. This website not only helps with

special needs children, it also helps with tutoring, senior care, pet care and other stuff to help relieve people’s stress.

For more information, visit http://www.care.com

 

Adventure

Kids Playcare

T his organization is a perfect place to drop off your

children to have fun and play in a secure environment.

The ages range from 6 weeks to 12 years old.

For more information, visit

http://web.adventurekidsplaycare.com/

 

Rehabilitation

Avondale House

The Avondale House is habilitation center for people of all ages with

autism where it provides education services, day habilitation services

and residential services.

For more information, visit http://www.avondalehouse.org

 

Bay Area Rehabilitation Center

Bay Area Rehab is a wonderful center that is located in the Houston

area. It has been making a difference with people with disabilities of

all ages. It provides therapy of all kinds, Rehabilitation by going out

and do activities, and helping people be more involved in the

community. For more information, visit

http://www.bayarearehab.org/

 

Katy Autism Support

Katy Autism Support is a non-profit organization that wants to help

inform families and educate them about autism. Their mission is to

help the community become more autism friendly and offer resources

to care for the community. For more information, visit

http://www.katyautismsupport.org/

Events & Activities

Special Olympics

Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year round training and competitions to more than 4.2 million athletes in 170 countries.

For more information, visit http://www.specialolympics.org/default.aspx

 

Baytown Special Rodeo

The Baytown Special Rodeo is a chance to provide a fun filled Western day for mentally and/or physically challenged children and their parents. For more information, visit http://www.specialrodeo.org 

Camp for All

Camp For All is a unique camping and retreat facility that works in collaboration with other non-profits to provide life changing programs for children and adults with challenging illnesses and special needs.

For more Information, visit http://www.campforall.org

GCCISD offers training and competition for eligible Goose Creek and Barbers Hill students in the sports of golf, softball, volleyball, bocce, flag football, bowling, track, table tennis, basketball, soccer, track and cycling. These competitions are offered through Special Olympics Texas. Competition is provided for all ability levels, ranging from individuals with severe to those with mild intellectual disabilities. Athletes not ready for team play can compete in individual skills while more skilled athletes may compete on traditional or unified teams. Traditional teams are teams made of all athletes with ID. Unified teams are teams/doubles made up of athletes without intellectual disabilities participating alongside athletes with intellectual disabilities. By participating together and socially interacting, we unite the two groups in an environment of equality, respect and acceptance. Competitions are held at local, area, regional, state, national and international (World) levels.

 

There is no cost for a GCCISD or BHISD student to participate in the program . The district provides coaches, uniforms, equipment, transportation to and from competitions, and some meals for the athletes. GCCISD also provides after school transportation from all Jr High and High schools to the after school practice sites. Elementary students must provide their own transportation to and from practices. BHISD provides transportation to all after school practices, for all BHISD athletes, from all of their schools. Student/athletes can earn letter jackets, can take team pictures at the end of each sport season and can attend the annual, spring sports/awards banquet. Athletes who have been in the program and graduate, are allowed to come back and participate, however they are responsible for their own meals, entry fees or any other expenses incurred at events.     

Unified teams/doubles are made up of equal numbers of athletes with ID and athletes without ID (partners). GCCISD has offered unified teams/doubles in all of the sports at one time or another. Unified teams are created depending on a number of factors and are decided yearly from sport to sport and from season to season. Partners are selected from area schools, families and the community. Partners must submit an application and they are selected by the Special Olympic coaches. Partners fall under the same rules/guidelines as the other athletes. Persons wanting to participate as a partner must fill out a Partner’s Application form, a Volunteer A form and a Volunteer Minor form (if applicable). Forms must be turned in to Chuck Russell at Alamo Elementary or by Email at Crussell@gccisd.net.


For the past 20 years, we have coordinated a community unified league each fall in either Softball or volleyball. This league involves over 100 people (athletes and partners) with many of the partners and athletes coming from the community. Information on the league goes out each fall. Persons interested may contact Chuck Russell at Crussell@gccisd.net .

Competition for Special Olympics begins at local levels (in Baytown), area level (Houston), Regional, State, National and international (World Games). Athletes must compete at lower levels to advance to higher levels. Area competitions are offered in every sport. State competitions are offered 3 times a year: 1.Fall Games (softball, flag football, golf, bocce, aquatics), 2. Winter Games (Volleyball, table tennis, bowling, weight lifting), and 3. Summer Games (track, cycling, soccer, basketball). When attending state Games, which normally last for 3-4 days, athletes may only enter one of the sports offered at the games. The district pays all expenses for the games for all GCCISD student/athletes who qualify to go.

 

National and World Games Competitions

As stated above, Special Olympics offers competition at local, area, regional and state levels. Athletes that compete at state become eligible to apply for and attend National and International (World) Games. The National Games are held in different states and usually last about 7-9 days. They are held every 4 years, usually the year before the World Summer Games. The Special Olympic World Games are held every 4 years, are held in different countries and usually last 10- 14 days. The World Games are divided into Winter and Summer Games, alternating every 2 years. Each State is given a sports quota (several teams and individual slots) for each of these games and athletes who have attended state competitions in those specific sports may apply to the state office. There is a cost to attend these games, usually about $500 each for Nationals and $2000 each for World Games. Athletes and teams must fundraise for these competitions. Goose Creek athletes/teams/coaches have be fortunate to have been selected to attend the 2006 National Games in Iowa, the 2010 Nationals in Nebraska, and a soccer team will be attending the upcoming 2014 National Games in New Jersey. Athletes/teams/coaches were also selected and attended the 1995 World Games in Connecticut, the 1999 World Games in North Carolina, the 2003 WG in Ireland, the 2007 WG in China, and one athlete went to the 2011 WG in Greece. 

Meet the coaches:
Contact Us

Coach Stacy Saxon

Head of Delegation

Stacy.Saxon@gccisd.net

281-420-4500

Stacy has taught in the Goose Creek Special education dept. for over 20 years. Stacy currently teaches Life skills at Ross Sterling HS. She has been involved in Special Olympics as a partner and a coach for 27 years. Stacy played as a partner at the 1995 World Games in Connecticut and has coached teams at several National Games and at the 2003 World Games in Ireland and 2007 World Games in China.

Coach Elizabeth Phillips

Ephillips@gccisd.net

281-420-4500

Elizabeth has taught in special education for 22 years. She currently teaches a life skills class at Sterling High school. Elizabeth has been a Special Olympic coach for 22 years. She has coached athletes at numerous National Games and at the 1999 World Games in North Carolina.

Coach Chuck Russell

crussell@bhisd.net 

281-576-2221

Chuck has taught in special Education for over 30 years. He currently teaches Adapted PE at Barber Hill. He has been a Special Olympic coach for 31 years. Chuck has coached athletes at numerous National Games and the 2004 and 2007 World Games in Ireland and China. 

Coach Mike Earnest

Earnstml@yahoo.com

Mike is a parent of a Special Olympic athlete and has been on the GC Special Olympic coaching staff for 22 years. He works for TX---. Mike has coached teams at several National Games and the 2003 World Games in Ireland.

Coach Ken Jones

Kwjones@Libertyisd.net

Ken is a parent of a Special Olympic athlete and has been on the Goose Creek Special Olympic coaching staff for 21  years. He is employed by Liberty ISD. Ken has coached several teams at National Games.

Texas Assessment Program for Students with Disabilities 

 

Major changes have occurred in the state assessment program. Students with disabilities will no longer have the opportunity to take a modified STAAR. Special education students will be administered the STAAR, the STAAR - Accommodated, or the STAAR - Alternate 2. All assessment decisions are based on Admission, Review, and Dismissal committee decisions. Assessment information and resources are available below. Information will be updated as it is received from TEA.  

 

TRI-COUNTY EAST RDSPD

The Tri-County East Regional Day School Program for the Deaf has proudly served students who are deaf or hard of hearing for over thirty-five years. A full continuum of services is provided, focusing on students' language, communication and auditory needs. Our teachers and staff are dedicated to helping students grow academically, emotionally, and socially. Working alongside parents and families, we strive to provide a nurturing environment where all students who are deaf or hard of hearing thrive.

 

To learn more about the history of the deaf education program click here.

TRI-COUNTY EAST RDSPD STAFF
Name
Title
Campus
Director of Special Education
Anahuac ISD
Director of Special Education
Barbers Hill ISD
Director of Special Education
Channelview ISD
Director of Special Education
Cleveland ISD
Director of Special Education
Devers ISD
Director of Special Education
Galena Park ISD
Director of Special Education
Goose Creek CISD
Director of Special Education
Hardin ISD
Director of Special Education
Hull-Daisetta ISD
Director of Special Education
La Porte ISD
Director of Special Education
Liberty ISD
Director of Special Education
Tarkington ISD
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