SPECIAL EDUCATION
LIFE SKILLS
At Chestnut TAG there are two classrooms made up of the Life Skills Program. Dara Gillis (teacher of Math and Science and Special Education Coordinator) and Elizabeth Rivera (teacher of ELA, Social Studies, and ESOL) run the program throughout the year. Our main focus is to introduce new "life skills" to our students so they can embed them in their everyday lives to help them become more independent. The bases of our teaching is using real world problems to challenge our students to solve which will better them for the real world. Our classes are structured with no more than 12 students per class so each student can receive as much one on one assistance as they need to be able to grasp the subject being taught. Hands on Projects are used often throughout the year so students can visually see and comprehend what is being learned and their understanding of what the outside world has to offer will expand.
Contact Info: Dara Gillis gillisd@springfieldpublicschools.com
Elizabeth Rivera riverae@springfieldpublicschools.com
DEVELOPMENTAL
Developmental is a program for students with severe disabilities. There are two teachers Jennifer Montalvo and Jullynette Vazquez. They work with no more than 12 students to a classroom with paraprofessional and nurse support throughout the day. Their main priority is to work on social skills and to assist students in gaining more independence.
Contact Info: Jennifer Montalvo: montalvoj@springfieldpublicschools.com
Jullynette Vazquez: vazquezj@springfieldpublicschools.com.
LINKS
LINKS is program designed specifically for children with autism. We learn all of our core subjects together through out the day with our teachers Mr. Kevin Morales-Diaz, Mr. Ezequiel Fernandez, and Mr. Gladstone and their friends Ms. Patty and Mrs. Sternowski. You will find us growing our social skills applicable to real life situations. We refuse to stay in our classroom and love to get out and interact with all of our friends around the school! When we aren’t working hands on with academics we can be found helping around the school picking up breakfast bags or in the school garden!
Contact Info: Kevin Morales-Diaz: morales-diazk@springfieldpublicschools.com
Ezequiel Fernandez: fernandeze@springfieldpublicschools.com
Peter Gladstone: gladstonep@springfieldpublicschools.com
