The Academic Support Program is designed to better address the needs of students who are struggling with academic, behavioral, and/or organizational skills.  The Learning Specialist facilitates the program and consults with classroom teachers and administrators.
The primary role of the Learning Specialist is to work individually and in small groups with students who have diagnosed learning differences.  In addition, the Learning Specialist works with students in classrooms, serving as a resource to classroom teachers and students.  In close concert with teachers and parents, the Academic Support Program may involve any of the following, or such other steps as the School deems appropriate:

• Strategy-based instruction for grade-level curriculum in reading and math
• Instruction in developing written expression skills
• Behavioral modification interventions to target specific interfering behaviors as determined by teachers
• Instruction in study skills and note-taking
• Co-teaching in some classrooms to provide a smaller student-teacher ratio as well as support for students with disabilities within those classes
• Consultation with private tutors and therapists as necessary
• Creating and monitoring two learning goals per school year for each student in the Academic Support Program

Laura Griffin, Learning Specialist

Laura Griffin is a veteran teacher and learning specialist—holding B.S. degrees in both Elementary Education (K-6) and Special Education (K-12) from Vanderbilt University, as well as a Master of Education in Special Education from Vanderbilt. In 2001, she was named the Outstanding Special Education Teacher of the Year by the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations. She works with gifted students as well as those with learning needs.