Student Services

Linda Elegante

Director of Student Services

440.285.4052 ext. 8525

Department Overview

The Student Services department is dedicated to identifying and providing services, supports, programming and specialized placements to meet the needs of diverse learners.

Child Find

The District engages in ongoing Child Find services to locate, identify, and provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for all children between the ages of three (3) and twenty-one (21) who have a disability and reside in the Chardon Local School District. Please see our Child Find Notice for more information on Child Find activities.

Child Find Notice - Updated August 2024.pdf

The Student Services department's offerings include:

Special Education Programs
Gifted Education Services
English Language Development (ELD)
Services for Homeless or Foster Placed Students
Federal Title Programs
Section 504 Plans
School Psychological Services
Speech and Language Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Preschool

Student Services also contracts with local educational service centers for additional specialized services.

Special Education Programs

Alanna Hruska
Special Education Supervisor
[email protected]

Lindsay Williams

Special Education Supervisor

[email protected]

Tamra Bell

Special Education Secretary

440.285.4052 ext. 8460

[email protected]

A variety of programming is available for students with special needs in grades preschool through age 21. The District has several specialized and cross-categorical classrooms across the District, while also providing services within the regular classroom for students with disabilities.

Based on student need, some students participate in off-site specialized vocational training programs or attend highly specialized placements out of the district.

Gifted Education Services

Megan Kinney
Gifted Coordinator
via Educational Services Center (ESC)
[email protected]

The District provides services to over 500 gifted identified students. Gifted education services can adjust instruction to provide an appropriate level of challenge for students, or they may include subject or grade acceleration.

Our part-time, gifted coordinator assists with the identification of gifted learners, provides gifted education training to staff, and supports the development of individualized written enrichment or acceleration plans for students.

English Learners Program

Wendy Fuchs
English Learner Tutor

[email protected]

Gina Pumphrey

English Learner Tutor

[email protected]

The District's English Learners program helps students overcome cultural and language challenges as they attend Chardon Schools. EL tutors support students in all grade levels through one-on-one, small group or in-class language support in speaking, listening, reading and writing. The District also provides interpreters for parents and guardians who may also need language support.

Liaison for Homeless and Foster Placed Students
The Student Services department is committed to providing educational stability for students and families experiencing homelessness while also supporting students and families with foster placements. Services are coordinated with local agencies and sending or receiving school districts and are based on individual needs.

Contracted Specialized Services

The department also works with local educational service centers to contract for specialized services that include hearing and vision specialists, adapted physical education, social work services, and behavior support.