Services
The special education department is a team of teachers, paraprofessionals, and itinerant specialists who work cooperatively with each other and the entire Pope staff to transition our students to a successful adult life. Specific categories include Learning Disabilities, Emotional/Behavioral Disorder, Other Health Impaired, Mild Intellectually Disabled, Moderate Intellectually Disabled, and Severe/Profound Intellectually Disabled. In addition, itinerant services are provided for Visually Impaired, Hearing Impaired, and Orthopedically Impaired. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy are provided as well.

Delivery Model
Students' needs may be met in a variety of ways:
(1) regular education
(2) inclusion (usually in a class that is team-taught by a regular education teacher and a special education teacher)
(3) small group instruction.

Staff
The Special Education staff at Pope currently consists of 18 full-time teachers, one half-day teacher, and six para-professionals. All teachers are fully certified in Special Education.

Transition
As with the entire Pope student body, the majority of students who are in a Special Education program receive either a College Prep or Career/Tech diploma and continue their education in a post-secondary setting. Some choose to enter the military or seek full-time employment. MID, MOID, and SID/PID teachers work with the parents of their students to plan and provide transitions for services after high school; these students may receive a Special Education diploma or certificate in accordance with the objectives of their Individual Education Plan.

Referral Process
The Student Support Team (SST) is the 'gateway' to Special Education. Referrals to SST may be made by parents, teachers, or students themselves who may be experiencing difficulty. A student is assigned a teacher mentor, and classroom strategies are put in place for a period of approximately six weeks. If the interventions are successful, the student may remain on SST or may no longer need the assistance. If a student continues to struggle despite the support provided, a referral for testing may be warranted to determine the need for additional services through Special Education. Parents are an integral part of this procedure and must give permission in writing at each phase of the process.

SAT Information
The SAT and ACT are available on an extended time basis for qualifying special education students. Please contact Cheryl Doyle with questions at (770) 578-7900 voice mail 433.

Special Education Parents                                                                       Use this link to access more information on parent mentors available through Cobb County Schools.

www.cobbparentmentors.eboard.com

Additional Information
Anyone wishing further information about the Special Education program at Pope High School may contact Phyllis Gould, at 770-578-7900 ext. 268.

Phyllis Gould*
Department Chair

Ginger Bechtold*

Stephanie Cooper*

Cheryl Doyle*

Cary Epps

Julia Fillman
Class Website

Matt Fox*

Marlene Gernstein*
Class Website

Jann Gledhill*

Rhonda Hegedus*

Dean Kroeger*

Reva Levin*

Marion Lister*

Leslie Lopez*

Krista Mullen*

Karen McCrossen*

Linda Moll*

Melody Parnes*

Jane Shumway*

Khalill Smart*

Valerie Watkins*

Diana Zentner
Class Website

*indicates teacher
web log