Student and educators working together in WHCIS library

Welcome to Special Education

Parent and family technology resource page: https://sites.google.com/k12.somerville.ma.us/parents/home

Special Education Resources and Sites for Content Area Practice - The Special Education Department staff have compiled and organized a comprehensive list of resources and sites to support families and students. We invite you to explore the site for a great list of resources, activities, and information on topics that include Accessibility, Art, Executive Functioning, Communication, Literacy, Sensory, and more! Information is available in multiple languages.

Letters to Parents and Guardians

Please read our SPS Parent / Guardian Letter from September 6, 2022 in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, or Arabic.

Take the Survey

Take the Special Education Department Parent Survey to let us know about your experience.

Special Education

The Special Education Department is responsible for ensuring all students who require special education services in order to maximize their learning are identified and their individualized learning needs are met in the least restrictive environment possible. Special Education Department staff work with teachers, administrators, and families to ensure Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students are implemented with integrity.

Easy IEP

Contact Us

We invite you to share your comments or questions.

Special Education Administration

  • Will Verbits, Interim Director of Special Education, 617-625-6600 x6807
  • Marisa MacDonald, Assistant Director of Special Education for Instruction and Programming, 617-625-6600 x6815
  • TBD, Special Education Department Heads/Coordinators
  • Susan Gibbons, Department Head, Capuano School, 617-625-6600 x3624
  • Jack Haverty, Department Head/Vice Principal, Full Circle and Next Wave, 617-625-6600 x610770
  • Wendy Roberge, Department Head, Healey School and West Somerville Neighborhood School, 617-625-6600 x6536 and x6458
  • Victoria Vendola, Department Head, Kennedy School and Program Director for LifeSkills, SHIP, and Transition, 617-625-6600 x6619
  • Julie Fielding, K-8 Coordinator of Social Emotional Supports, Services and Programming, 617-629-5440 x6678
  • Konstantina Halas, Department Head, Somerville High School, 617-625-6600 x615122
  • Siobhan Healey, Department Head Albert Argenziano and Winter Hill Community Innovation School 617-625-6600, x6347 AFAS and  x6797 WHCIS
  • Marielle Wintersteen, Department Head Benjamin Brown and East Somerville Community School 617-625-6600, x3757

Special Education Team Facilitators

Special Education Parent Advisory Council

Connect to other families whose children receive special education services in the Somerville Public Schools.

Parent's Notice of Procedural Safeguards

If a student is eligible for special education, the school district must provide a free appropriate public education, commonly referred to by the acronym FAPE, working in partnership with the student's parents/guardians. Please read the Parent's Notice of Procedural Safeguards, available on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's website in multiple languages.

Child Find

In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA 2004) and Massachusetts Special Education regulations 603 CMR 28.00, the Somerville Public Schools provides screenings and evaluations for all children residing in Somerville, MA between the ages of 3 and 21 to determine eligibility for special education services. Any parent, caregiver, or teacher may refer the student for evaluation if they suspect the presence of a disability that may preclude the child from progressing effectively in a regular education program. This notice applies to all children residing in Somerville, MA who attend either public or private schools. If you believe your child may be in need of special education services, please contact your child's principal or a special education department head or facilitator as listed below. Child Find Notice in: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole

  • Argenziano School: Siobhan Healey, Department Head, 617-625-6600 x6347
  • Brown School: Marielle Wintersteen, Department Head, 617-625-6688 x6757
  • ECIP/Capuano Early Childhood Center: Susan Gibbons, Department Head, 617-625-6600 x3624
  • East Somerville Community School: Marielle Wintersteen, Department Head 617-625-6688 x6757
  • Healey School: Wendy Roberge, Department Head, 617-625-6600 x6536
  • Kennedy School: Victoria Vendola, Department Head, 617-625-6600 x6619
  • Full Circle and Next Wave Schools: Jack Haverty, Department Head, 617-625-6600 x610770
  • Somerville High School: Konstantina Halas, Department Head, 617-625-6600 x615122
  • West Somerville Neighborhood School: Wendy Roberge, Department Head, 617-625-6600 x6458
  • Winter Hill Community Innovation School: Siobhan Healey, Department Head, 617-625-6600 x6797
  • Out of District Programs: Dorothy Scally, Facilitator, 617-625-6600 x6835

Useful Links & Resources

Resources and information from the Department, the U.S. Department of Education, and other sources regarding special education in the COVID-19 environment:
 

Department Location

Edgerly Education Building, 11 Otis Street, Somerville, MA 02145. (Look for the handicap ramp. There is a buzzer to reach our office and enter the building.)