Pushing her students toward success

Beginning your career teaching special needs children from Willowbrook State School on Staten Island made infamous by a series of print and television stories in the 1970s was an inauspicious career start for Lori Freeman.

But, Freeman, who became Hewlett-Woodmere School District's executive director of special education on July 1, was very familiar with assisting students with special needs as she began helping young people and adults with disabilities as a teenager in the Bronx.

As a 16-year old, Freeman volunteered at the Association for the Help of Retarded Children on Saturday mornings and the AHRC summer camp's three, 3-week sessions for children, teenagers and adults.

Her educational experience has always included special education and as she said, "I am always looking to how can I reach more students and affect more students and this opportunity was right," referring to her new position.

To get acquainted with her new district, Freeman meet with all administrators and staff and discussed how the district can best meet the needs of all students with disabilities to propel their independence.

She pointed toward the district's three primary initiatives that encompass inclusion to have the students in the least restrictive learning environment, while trying to meet their individual needs.

To upgrade the literacy progress of special needs and mainstream students, the district is introducing the "Fundations" program for all kindergarten students. This is a phonological/phonemic awareness, phonics and spelling program.

To help with the transition of special needs students from one secondary level to the next, then graduation, the district will begin discussing career interests with middle school students and in high school students will help develop their individual education plans.

"I think the most important thing to me is the success of the students, to see students progressing toward independence and reaching to reach their potential," said Freeman, who came to the district from Middle Country in Suffolk County, where she was the coordinator of pupil personnel services.

This is how Freeman views her role in the district. Ensuring that all students become independent learners, providing a more rigorous educational experience and placing them in the best possible setting.

"I am lucky to be working in such a great place," she said noting the "strong" special education staff and Special Education Parents Association. "Being part of a community that's professional as well as part of the broad community in Hewlett-Woodmere is very exciting," Freeman said.