Hello,

I am incredibly excited to begin my eighth year as the Director of Special Education for the Haddon Heights School District. Thank you for making the past seven years an incredible journey. This year promises to be a year filled with opportunities for students as we work collaboratively to identify and implement ways to make this year even better than last!  

This year we welcome new Instructional Aides and Special Education Teachers. After an incredible year, our Learning Disability Teacher Consultant (LDTC), Kelsey Thompson, is leaving to work with a team closer to home. Ms. Thompson’s bright smile and dedication to students will be missed. Ms. Thompson has been communicating with April Leshick, our new LDTC, to pass on her knowledge. We wish Ms. Thompson the best and welcome Ms. Leshick, Special Education Teachers and Aides.  

Along with the teachers and staff, I will be dedicated to continuing to building strong relationships with parents, students and community members.  A few initiatives the team will focus on include Ability Awareness, Growth Mindset, and Person Centered Planning.  The district will be using new tools to measure progress and drive instruction. We will focus on consistent implementation of the curriculum and growth towards personal goals in a rigorous manner so that we can work to increase students' achievement!

The district continues to strengthen the Special Education Parent Advocacy Group (SEPAG) and the relationship with the Haddon Heights, Barrington, Lawnside, and Merchantville communities. I invite you to join us for a meeting and/or to celebrate an event. All are always welcome! On the district website, Ability Awareness Events and the SEPAG meeting dates are updated, under the Child Study Team, Parent Advisory Tab.

This year the Haddon Heights School District is embarking on the 8th year of their Ability Awareness Initiative. The primary focuses of the initiative are to raise awareness and to work to build a world of inclusion. Although this is a constant frame of mind that the district promotes, new events to increase acceptance and raise awareness continue to be organized. Since its inception, Abilities Awareness has not only been embraced by the school community but also by the Haddon Heights Borough as a whole. We appreciate your support as well as the support of the community leaders and local businesses as you have been active partners in spreading this positive message with the goal of creating an accepting and inclusive town-wide environment. This year’s Awareness Theme for the elementary is “Show Your Stripes!” We are planning a school-wide read and activities to celebrate our stripes!

I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it!

Jocqueline Renner
Director of Special Education