The state of special education and the need for certified staff have become a focus in our nation, New England, and Massachusetts schools. Fortunately, the special education teachers and paraeducators who work at Oakmont genuinely care about the children and want them to gain independence.
All the paraeducators here at Oakmont – Mr. Derek Demarco, Ms. Jenna Duncan, Mr. Paul Giacobbe, Mr. John Paajanen, Ms. Beth Rouleau Wojnas, Ms. Cynthia Ruschioni, and Ms. Katie Rushford – work closely with our students. The staff includes special education teachers Ms. Kathleen Brennan, Mr. James Mellekas, Ms. Sheena Swanso, Mrs. Leblanc, Ms. Stephanie Shaw, and Mr. Samuel Parker. The students are also supported by school adjustment counselors, Mrs. Elizabeth Masterman and Ms. Lori Malnati.
With such an experienced and caring staff, it is interesting to hear their perspective on their roles.
After speaking with Giacobbe, I can confidently say he loves his job. He is continually impressed by what the kids have accomplished, which serves as fuel for his passion.
The patience required for his job is remarkable, and teachers and paraprofessionals like Giacobbe should receive greater recognition.
Paajanen, another paraprofessional here at Oakmont, stated that, “Working with students sometimes requires a lot of patience. When a student is having a hard time understanding, I often need to think of different ways of approaching and explaining problems.”
Oakmont staff have clearly displayed their skills when it comes to its special education programs.
As an older sister to a brother with autism, I feel like he is never truly understood. I don’t think he gets many opportunities to make friends, but knowing he gets to come to Oakmont eases my fears. He’ll have educators who take the time to understand him and an environment that is accepting and inclusive.
Historically, in our nation, it is known that students have treated those in the special education system badly; however, at Oakmont, it seems different. They’re always involved with other peers, and everyone is treated with respect.
Oakmont offers multiple sports and extracurricular activities for the special education students, ranging from Unified Basketball and Track to our Best Buddies program and Cooking classes.
Paajanen also mentioned that we established unified teams before most other schools across Massachusetts did. As he put it, “…Oakmont has had unified sports as part of our athletic program for several years. Oakmont’s early and continued commitment to unified sports makes our school special and is a prime example of our inclusive school culture.”
After learning this, Giacobbe described what he finds most rewarding about his job.
Giacobbe also told me that most, if not all, of what the special education department asked for – such as vans, trips, and a cooking room – has all been provided by the school. Oakmont is very flexible with the needs of the program.
Looking at nearby schools’ special education programs, most don’t offer as much as Oakmont. While they might have one or two unified teams, they don’t compare to the range of extracurriculars within the department.
After everything I heard and saw, the conclusion was clear: Oakmont’s special education program cares and is inclusive.
Oakmont junior Hailey Cringan said, “The school does a good job involving the students with disabilities, interacting with other students, and learning all at the same time. “
This is a common theme around the school, with the constant involvement of ‘all’ – and those persons with disabilities – students being a top priority.
Giocobbe has also said that he tries to help his students while still allowing them to figure things out on their own. He mentioned that most students are used to people being there every step of the way, but that security can sometimes hinder growth.
To prevent them from becoming too dependent on constant help, Giocobbe tries to let the students figure things out on their own unless they really need him. He wants to make sure the students know how to be independent and learn, too. Independence is very important.
Paajanen also explained that as a paraeducator, he supports classes and assists in learning centers throughout the school day. He primarily focuses on math classes, although this year he also took part in an applied physics class. Although he didn’t take physics in school, he was happy to learn on the job to benefit his students.
“I think it’s important to realize that learning is a process, not just a goal that you achieve and then you’re done,” Mr. Paajanen said. “It’s not supposed to be easy, and making mistakes and struggling to understand are part of the learning process. That is one thing I hope I convey to students.”
Oakmont offers other activities for the special education department that reach the broader school community, such as drama club, band/chorus, and learning center.
When a special needs student graduates, they move on with their class, but also have the opportunity to enroll in a program called ACE: Advanced Community Exploration.
The ACE program focuses on helping special needs students develop independent and academic skills after high school. Students have the option to participate in jobs within or outside of school, helping them find independence while continuing to learn.
Overall, the programs here at Oakmont seem to be welcoming. Parents have constant involvement and say in what they think is best for their child. In fact, parents’ involvement has always been a big part of Oakmont.
Whether it’s informing parents that their child has been picked up or dropped off by the van, or just letting them know how their kids are doing that day, Oakmont is prepared to take on the challenge.
The administration, faculty, staff, and paraprofessionals care for these students and understand what is best for them.
Everything done is for the students’ benefit. To have them learn in a way they are comfortable and happy with, every choice is considered in terms of how it could affect the students.
And that’s why Oakmont has, if not the best, a very impactful special education system.
