Pupil Services

The North Pocono Special Education Department provides services for students with disabilities and other exceptionalities. As a district, North Pocono believes that the well-being and achievement of each of our students with an exceptionality is a high priority. The department is under the direction of Katrina Aiello, M.Ed. who has been in the field of Special Education since 2006. Mrs. Aiello holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Studies from The Pennsylvania State University, a Master of Science degree in Special Education from East Stroudsburg University, a special education teaching certificate and a supervisory certificate, also from East Stroudsburg University. Prior to assuming her current role as North Pocono’s Director of Special Education, Mrs. Aiello worked in the East Stroudsburg Area School District as a special education teacher and administrator. Mrs. Aiello is also a senior TACT2 trainer for the district. Mrs. Aiello’s district-level team consists of school psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, a behavior specialist, a social worker, and a secretary, all of whom support and work with the many special education teachers and regular education teachers throughout the district.

Special Education refers to a variety of programs designed to meet the educational needs of students with disabilities. In layman’s terms, the ultimate goal of special education is to provide the instruction and services necessary to help each student identified as having a disability succeed, and to do so in the least restrictive environment (LRE) that can produce that success. In the language of special education, this goal is referred to as FAPE, or free and appropriate public education. Towards this end, the school district follows a process specified by the law when a student is referred to special education.

1. Screen students suspected of having potential disabilities that interfere with learning
2. For students whose screening so indicates, perform a multidisciplinary evaluation (MDE) to identify whether such a disability exists, and, if so, the specific nature of that disability
3. If such a disability does exist, design an individualized education program (IEP) to meet the child’s unique needs, complete with:
   • Specially designed instruction (SDI)
   • Related services (RS)
   • Recommended educational placement (REP)
   • Annual goals
   • The means for regularly measuring student progress with respect to goals

Parents have the right to be partners with the school staff in all aspects of that process from the evaluation to the decision over which programs, services, and placement procedures are appropriate to meet their child’s needs.

Parents who suspect their child has an exceptionality or who have concerns regarding a child’s existing individualized education program should contact the school directly and schedule a conference with the classroom or special education teacher to discuss concerns or questions. Additionally, the principal and/ or school counselor at each school are available to assist with the child’s educational plan. Should a parent still have questions that remain unanswered, the Special Education Office can be reached at 570-842-3957.