Special Education Mrs. Burkholder's Welcome Letter

Past Parent Feedback

Upcoming Events

"I can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for our family, especially **** this year. You are intelligent, with many skills and talents. We have benefitted greatly from them.

Many Thanks   ******* Family"

Parent Orientation
August 23, 2023 5:00 

First Day of School
August 16, 2023 8:00AM

It’s an honor to welcome you back to another awesome year at APA. Here are my important philosophical themes this year in Special Education.

Commitment
There are a lot of spinning plates at a school the size of APA Draper 2. Your student is important and making sure each part of their accommodations and modifications are met, is the responsibility of each member of our team. My commitment to you is that each staff member that teaches your student will be informed, trained and frequently monitored to maintain the highest standards of instruction for your special education scholar.

Equality
American Preparatory Academy holds academic standards high. This is likely part of the reason you have enrolled your student here.  We believe that each student should reach the summit. We don’t move the mountain for many students. But we do accommodate as much as we can so each student has an equal chance to reach the top.  Getting each student to the top requires the three-legged stool, parents, teachers and students, all working together. The top of the mountain is equal for each student and we are going to do our best to help each one of your scholars as they climb and reach the summit in their way.

Advocacy
Being a voice for the weak and small is a noble work. Children are the most vulnerable in our society and those with disabilities can sometimes be lost in the bureaucracy of our fast-paced world. My job is to make sure they are not lost in the shuffle of elementary school. It is my practice to walk the school each morning checking on each student and get a pulse on what the day might look like for each of them. In passing I often glean a little from their teachers of needs which may be pending. I love being able to put out the “fires” so to speak and keep them on track. On a more formal schedule I observe the instruction your children are receiving and work to tweak anything that may be hindering their progress. I’ve got their back.

Professional Competence
This is my second year in Special Education. Admittedly, I’m still, what many would consider, a novice. However, I’ve taught school for over 10 years both in the United States and overseas.  I’ve taught adult language learners, elementary students, and secondary level scholars. I am licensed as a professional teacher for elementary and secondary education.  I have a master’s degree in Comparative international Development Education Leadership (Middle Eastern Emphasis).  I’m in the process of obtaining my special education professional license and have experience conducting many aspects of the special education process from RTI, referrals, evaluations, qualifying a student, conducting meetings, amendments to the IEP, monitoring progress and exiting students from special education. I hope you will be patient with me as I learn and grow and I promise a commitment to humility and professionality. If I don’t know something, I will admit it freely and figure out the answer as soon as I can.