SPECIAL EDUCATION

The Special Services Department of the Brookhaven School District provides student services and support, including Special Education (under the provisions of IDEA 2004), and Gifted Education.

CHILD FIND

All school districts in Mississippi participate in an ongoing statewide effort to identify and evaluate children from birth through twenty-one years of age who may have disabilities and who are not currently receiving special education services. Parents, service agencies, preschool teachers, physicians or any other concerned individual may refer a child to the Child Find Coordinator of their local school district. Once a referral is made, it is the responsibility of the Child Find Coordinator to insure that the Mississippi Referral-to-Placement process is implemented in order to determine a child's eligibility for services.

Before a child is evaluated, written prior notice is given to the parents and procedural safeguards as well as parents' rights are explained. After parental permission for testing is obtained, a nondiscriminatory evaluation is conducted. Children are evaluated in all areas related to the suspected disability.

If a child is determined eligible for special education services, parents are notified and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed for that child. Parents must sign consent for placement prior to the child's receiving any special services. Services provided by each school district include speech/language therapy, services for autism, brain-injuries, learning disabilities, mental retardation, visual and hearing impairments, developmental delays, physical disabilities (including ADHD), emotional disabilities, and multiple disabilities.

The Child Find Coordinator for Brookhaven School District --- Brandy Myers (601-835-1211)

Child Find Pamphlet

Info and Publications:

The Mississippi Department of Education has issued new Procedural Safeguards for students with disabilities. It is important that all parents of students with disabilities read and understand this document. You may click the link below to view and print the safeguards. If you have any questions or would like assistance understanding your rights or the rights of your child, please contact Brandy Myers at (601) 835-1211. You may also come by the Special Services Office located at 711 Martin Luther King Drive between 7:30 and 4:30 Monday through Friday for assistance.

Mississippi Department of Education Procedural Safeguards for Students With Disabilities

Mississippi Department of Education Information and Publications .... click below

http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/special-education/special-education-information-and-publications 

For Parents:

http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/special-education/special-education-for-parents (Mississippi Department of Education Parent Information)

http://www.specialedconnection.com/LrpSecStoryTool/splash.jsp (Resources for Parents)

Username: msfam4320        Password:family

The listing for parent and advocacy groups may also be found at these links:

http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/special-education/special-education-information-and-publications

http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/special-education/special-education-for-parents

The staff of the Special Services Department works closely with administrators, counselors and teachers to ensure that these students receive the educational and support services they need to fulfill a successful student experience. Special Services is proud to continue their partnership with King’s Daughters Medical Center to provide Occupational and Physical Therapy in the classroom rather than clinical settings. Parents, teachers, and students have benefited greatly from these onsite services. Teachers are able to benefit from directly observing therapy techniques that can be continued in the classroom during instruction throughout the year. Therapists are also able to make recommendations for devices and instructional techniques that can benefit the child.

During the school year, children in need of special services receive the individualized attention, encouragement and resources they need to accomplish their academic goals and beyond. 

For further information, please contact the Special Services Department at 601-835-1211

GIFTED STUDENTS

Read Our Gifted Philosophy & Mission Statement

Characteristics of Intellectually Gifted

• Verbally precocious, early language development, high vocabulary, advanced verbal reasoning skills
• Incredible memory
• Intuitive understanding of numbers or patterns
• Unusual ability in math at an early age, advanced puzzles skills, mechanical abilities, builds elaborate structures
• Unusual visual spatial abilities
• Rapid learning, little need for repetition, learns things w/o formal instruction
• Very inquisitive, asks many in depth questions
• Highly developed sense of humor
• Obsessed with knowing all aspects of specific areas of interest
• Creative thinking, divergent problem solving, advanced logical reasoning
• Heightened sense of morality or justice; perfectionism, intensity, sensitivity, less need for sleep

Referrals may be made by teachers, parents, counselors, students or anyone aware of the intellectual abilities of the student. Referrals should be made to the student’s teacher or counselor at the school. For further information, please contact the Special Services Department at 601-835-1211.

Brandy Myers     Special Education Director                                                      

Makeisha Kees     Case Manager                 

Diane Ledet         Psychometrist

Kathy Halliwell     Behavior Specialist                  

Becky Conerly     Behavior Specialist 

Shantwania Willis    Transition Coordinator

Kelly Covington        Preschool Speech Therapist

Beth Langston         Preschool Special Ed Teacher

Ethel P. Richardson  Secretary

Contact Phone Numbers:

Office (601) 835-1211

Fax (601) 833-2082