This year, four new classes have been added to the co-teaching program that pairs subject-area teachers with Special Education teachers in one classroom: English lV, Consumer Education, Physics, and Algebra II. The co-teaching program takes place in general education classes where a special education teacher works collaboratively with a general education teacher to help run the class and give extra help to those in the class with Individualized Education Program (IEP) Plans. 

“Co-teaching is great because you get two teachers in the room who can share ideas, strategies, and perspectives,” new teacher Lily Zopf said. “It gives us a chance to bounce ideas off each other and try different approaches, so we can meet students where they are. It also means students get more support, whether that’s small-group help, different ways of explaining something, or just having another adult who knows and cares about them.”

To fill these newly co-taught classrooms, LT needed to bring on additional staff, Special Education Division Chair Melissa Moore said. 

Specifically, there are five teachers new to LT and four teachers transitioning part-time or full-time into the division. 

“Since I am new to LT this year, one of the biggest things I am looking forward to is building strong connections with my students,” Zopf said. “Getting to know students on a personal level helps build trust from the start and a sense of belonging in the classroom. Ultimately, those relationships are the glue that holds your classroom together throughout the year, where everyone feels safe and respected.”

All students benefit from an inclusive approach to instruction. This approach can often achieve something that can be difficult to create within classrooms: a cohesive environment for students at various levels. 

“One benefit of a co-taught classroom is that students with diverse learning needs are able to learn alongside their peers in the same classroom,” new staff member Ashley Menendez said. “In a co-taught classroom, instruction is designed by combining the content [general education] teacher’s expertise in the subject matter with the special education teacher’s expertise in differentiating instruction. This collaboration creates a unique learning environment where students have multiple ways to access the material and demonstrate their understanding.”

Along with Zopf and Menendez, other new staff in the division are Johnny and Rosie Bergman and Marty Crimmens. The four transitioning LT staff members teaching part-time or full-time and are new to the Special Education Division include Michael Archbold, Ryan Gerenstein, Zainab Neeley, and Antaash Safdar.