Support Staff
Audiologist
- Assesses and monitors the hearing of students who have a confirmed or suspected hearing loss.
- Responsible for evaluating, selecting, and maintaining the hearing assistance technology used by such students in the school setting.
- Consults with teachers, support staff, parents, and the students themselves to provide useful technological and audiological information.
- Helps coordinate appropriate services with outside agencies.
District audiologist: Responsible for:
Ms. Kate Woodburne, audiologist Entire district
Office: West Oakview Elementary
Phone: 361-3426 (direct line), x-26255
Email: kwoodburne@nvps.net
Ms. Lorrie Anderson, audiology technician Entire district
Office: West Oakview Elementary
Phone: 361-3426 (direct line), x-26255
Email: landerson@nvps.net
Occupational Therapist
- Evaluates and provides direct or consultative services to students having difficulties related to using school materials (esp. fine-motor needs), effectively processing sensory input, and managing personal tasks within the school setting
- Consults closely with teachers, support staff and parents about the student’s needs and the various intervention strategies that may prove to be helpful
- Efforts may entail helping to improve functional sensory-motor skills, identifying appropriate adaptive equipment and assistive technology, and/or modifying the learning environment in order to maximize the student’s ability to function effectively
District occupational therapists: Responsible for:
Ms. Kristina Suchecki Entire district
Office: West Oakview Elementary
Phone: 361-3470, x-26211
Email: ksuchecki@nvps.net
Ms. April Hemlock West Oakview (ECSE)
Office: West Oakview Elementary
Phone: 361-3470, x-26211
Email: ahemlock@nvps.net
Physical Therapist
- Evaluates and provides direct service with students having needs related to gross-motor skills, gait, mobility, balance/equilibrium, etc. within the school setting
- Consults closely with parents and staff who work with the eligible student on a daily basis, educating them about the physical capabilities and limitations of the student, helping them to manage the student’s physical environment, and assisting with adaptive equipment
- Serves as liaison between the medical and educational teams as necessary
(Note: By state law, a prescription from a physician is required in order for ongoing direct physical therapy to occur.)
District physical therapist: Responsible for:
Ms. Stephanie Anderson Entire district (through Kent I.S.D.)
Office: K.I.S.D.
Phone: 365-2299
Email: stephanieanderson@kentisd.org
School Psychologist
- Participates in Building Team/Child Study meetings to support regular education students referred for discussion by concerned parents or teachers.
- Consults with parents and staff regarding student concerns.
- Tests students referred for evaluation, usually by obtaining measures of ability, learning strengths and weaknesses, and levels of achievement.
- Communicates results of testing with parents and staff, and as part of the IEP Team helps determine a student’s eligibility for special education services and develop an appropriate educational program.
- In some cases, may provide direct or indirect support to students via ongoing consultations, designing and implementing intervention plans, or counseling.
District school psychologists: Responsible for:
Ms. Parker Penney Early Childhood, East Oakview, Crossroads,
Office: East Oakview Elementary High School, Northview Next
Phone: 361-3460, x-25247
Email: ppenney@nvps.net
Mr. Todd VandenAkker West Oakview, North Oakview, Highlands Middle,
Office: West Oakview Elementary High School, Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing
Phone: 361-3470, x-26224
Email: tvandenakker@nvps.net
Social Worker
- Participates in Building Team/Child Study meetings to support regular education students referred for discussion by concerned parents or teachers.
- Conducts evaluations and/or behavior assessments to identify students who would qualify for and benefit from social work services, then as part of the IEP Team helps develop an appropriate educational program.
- Provides individual and/or group counseling services as prescribed in the student’s individualized education program (IEP).
- Consults with parents and staff, helps design and implement behavior interventions, and serves as liaison between the school, home, and community agencies.
District school social workers: Responsible for:
Ms. Erin Atkinson Highlands Middle, D/HH
Office: Highlands Middle School
Phone: 361-3440, x-23253
Email: eanderson@nvps.net
Ms. Meghan Brickey North Oakview
Office: North Oakview Elementary (general education support)
Phone: 361-3450, x-24242
Email: mbrickey@nvps.net
Ms. Lindsay Haveman Crossroads Middle
Office: Crossroads Middle
Phone: 361-3430, x-22206
Email: lhaveman@nvps.net
Ms. Laura Havey East Oakview
Office: East Oakview Elementary (general education support)
Phone: 361-3460, x-25211
Email: lhavey@nvps.net
Ms. Stephanie Hoekwater High School
Office: High School
Phone: 363-4857, x-28208
Email: shoekwater@nvps.net
Ms. Elizabeth Maher West Oakview (incl. Early Childhood)
Office: West Oakview Elementary (general education support)
Phone: 361-3470, x-26218
Email: emaher@nvps.net
Speech & Language Pathologist
- Participates in Building Team/Child Study meetings to support regular education students referred for discussion by concerned parents or teachers
- Conducts speech and language assessments to identify students who would qualify for and benefit from speech or language services
- Provides therapy to identified students as prescribed in his/her individualized education program (IEP)
- Consults with parents and staff, and helps coordinate services with outside agencies
District speech/language pathologists: Responsible for:
Ms. Kate Christensen Entire district (D/HH)
Office: West Oakview
Phone: 361-3470, x-26236
Email: kchristensen@nvps.net
Ms. Catherine Goetze West Oakview (Early Childhood)
Office: West Oakview
Phone: 361-3470, x-26210
Email: cgoetze@nvps.net
Ms. Laurel Horman Highlands Middle
Office: Highlands Middle
Phone: 361-3440, x-23231
Email: lhorman@nvps.net
Ms. Jamie Hulteen West Oakview
Office: West Oakview
Phone: 361-3470, x-26237
Email: jhulteen@nvps.net
Ms. Gayle Jones East Oakview
Office: East Oakview
Phone: 361-3460, x-25246
Email: gjones@nvps.net
Ms. Carolyn Steeby West Oakview, Crossroads
Office: West Oakview, Crossroads
Phone: 361-3470, x-26227
361-3430, x-62229
Email: csteeby@nvps.net
Ms. Shelby Thelen West Oakview (D/HH)
Office: West Oakview
Phone: 361-3470, X-26238
Email: sthelen@nvps.net
Ms. Tara Wieringa North Oakview, High School
Office: North Oakview
Phone: 361-3450, x-24261
Email: twieringa@nvps.net
Teacher Consultant - Autism
- Works individually with students at school
- Consults with teachers, support staff and parents on an individual basis
- Assists teachers in making specific adaptations for students with autism in the general education setting
- Helps coordinate appropriate services with outside agencies
District autism teacher consultant: Responsible for:
Ms. Jessica Lund Entire district
Office: West Oakview Elementary
Email: jessicalund27@gmail.com
Teacher Consultant - Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- Works individually with students at school or at home
- Teaches sign language to students, teachers, support staff and parents at school or at home
- Consults with teachers, support staff, parents and students on an individual basis
- Helps coordinate appropriate services with outside agencies
District D/HH teacher consultant: Responsible for:
Ms. Marina Leja Entire district, Kent County, D/HH Parent-Infant Program
Office: Special Services
Phone: (616) 320-2340 (cell, text preferred)
Email: mleja@nvps.net
Teacher Consultant - High School
Presently, the Northview Public Schools employs a non-disability specific teacher consultant primarily within the high school setting. She assists students identified with disabilities who are taking all of their coursework within the general education curriculum, including helping them with projects and exams when needed. The teacher consultant also collaborates with general education teachers to help modify or adapt curriculum to better fit students’ individual learning styles.
District high school teacher consultant: Responsible for:
Ms. Julie Haveman High School
Office: Northview High School
Phone: 363-4857, x-28305
Email: jhaveman@nvps.net
Teacher Consultant - Orientation/Mobility
- Consults with teachers, support staff and parents regarding the physical capabilities and needs of the student; provides information regarding adaptive equipment; and assists staff and/or the student with the adaptive equipment itself
- Helps coordinate appropriate services with outside agencies as needed
District mobility teacher consultant: Responsible for:
Assigned by Kent I.S.D. Entire district (through Kent I.S.D.)
Teacher Consultant - Visual Impairment
- Responsible for providing Functional Vision Assessments, when needed
- Provides appropriate Braille and large print materials
- Provides Braille instruction for student and paraprofessional, if deemed necessary
- Responsible for evaluating, selecting, and maintaining the vision assistance technology used by such students in the school setting
- Consults with teachers, support staff, parents, and the students themselves to provide useful technological and vision information
- Helps coordinate appropriate services with outside agencies
District VI teacher consultant: Responsible for:
Assigned by Kent I.S.D. Entire district (through Kent I.S.D.)
Transition Coordinator
- Assists students, their families and educational staff in the student’s transition from school to the work force and other adult life processes
- Helps develop, implement and facilitate various programs to address the vocational and transition needs of students
- May be involved in developing IEP Transition Plans and related services, as well as helping to establish community agency connections for post-high school support
District transition coordinator: Responsible for:
Ms. Kim Norman High School (through Kent I.S.D.)
Office: Northview Special Education
Phone: 361-3446, x-21155
Email: knorman@nvps.net