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2025-2026 Toms River Special Education Department Goals

Goals that align with academic achievement, inclusion, and positive behavior support, all grounded in a “100% Culture,” meaning every student, every educator, every day is committed to success:

Goal 1: By the end of the school year, 100% of students with disabilities will demonstrate measurable academic growth as evidenced by diagnostic and benchmark assessments and IEP goals. Growth is defined as at least one year’s progress in one academic year, with accelerated growth for students performing below grade level. Targeted instruction and individualized supports will be provided to ensure that each student meets or exceeds their expected growth trajectory. 

Goal 2: Foster a unified, inclusive, and responsive special education culture where every team member, teachers, therapists, support staff, and administrators are “all in.” Our focus is on shared responsibility, mutual respect, and continuous collaboration to ensure that every student with an IEP thrives.

Goal 3: Develop and implement a proactive, districtwide positive behavior support system to ensure that 100% of students with disabilities learn in safe, predictable, and supportive environments. Promote consistent expectations, reinforce positive behaviors, and provide tiered supports that prevent challenging behaviors and build student self-regulation skills.

Goal 4: Cultivate strong connections with families, community organizations, and agencies to enhance learning opportunities for students with disabilities. Focus on developing independence, social skills, and civic awareness through community-based instruction, transition planning, and active collaboration with SEPAG (Special Education Parent Advisory Group) and local partners. 

Programs Offered

A general education program that offers supplemental support to a student that requires prompting, redirecting, organization support, and/or reinforcement of personal, social, academic and behavioral goals. 

In-Class Resource (ICR)- A general education program that offers specialized instruction with a general education and special education teacher. The student shall be provided with accommodations, instructional strategies, testing modifications, or other specialized instruction to access the general education curriculum in accordance with the student's IEP. ICR is offered in various classes in each building throughout the District. 

Preschool Disabled (PSD)- A program for students who have been found eligible as a "preschool child with a disability". Students would be between the ages of 3-5 and experience at 33% delay in one of the 5 required areas, or a 25% delay in two or more of the required areas. Gen Ed preschools are offered at the following schools:  Citta, Silver Bay, and the Early Learning Center.  Preschool Disabilities Programs are offered in: Cedar Grove, Silver Bay, Pine Beach, Citta, and North Dover Elementary. 

Pull out Replacement Resource (POR)- A special education pull out class providing small group instruction to students with disabilities and run by a special education teacher. POR classes are offered at various levels in each school across the District. 

Learning and Language Disabilities (LLD)- A special class program, taught by a special education teacher, that is organized around the learning disabilities and/or language disabilities.  LLD classes are offered at the elementary level. 

Auditory Impairment (AI)- Our deaf and hard of hearing students are integrated in programs throughout the District and receive Teacher of the Deaf and/or interpreter services for support.

Autism- This special class program is designed for students with an autism diagnosis and/or a severe communication delay. Instruction is based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) methodology to support skill development in communication, academics, socialization, and daily living. 

This special class program, led by a certified special education teacher, is designed for students who exhibit behavioral needs and require specialized instruction to support their success. The program focuses on developing strategies for emotional regulation, social skills, and academic growth in a structured environment.

This special class program, taught by a certified special education teacher, is designed for students with cognitive disabilities. The program provides individualized instruction that emphasizes academic growth, functional life skills, and social development within a supportive and structured environment. 

This special class program, taught by a certified special education teacher, is designed for students with multiple disabilities who require a highly individualized educational approach. Instruction focuses on developing academic, communication, daily living, social, and motor skills within a supportive and structured environment. Related services are integrated into the program to address each student’s unique needs, fostering independence and growth.

Another type of MD program is our Medically Fragile MD, which is specifically designed for students who require a higher level of nursing services and medical support throughout the school day.

This program is designed for students who have reached graduation age but still require additional education to meet their IEP and graduation goals. A special class program is available at High School East, providing continued academic and functional instruction in a supportive setting. In addition, the School to Work Program offers students the opportunity to gain real-world work and employment skills, helping them prepare for greater independence and success beyond high school. 

In Action

toms river regional schools special education parent advisory group

Upcoming SEPAG Events

October 2 – Resource Fair at The Field of Dreams

📍 Location: High School North Media Center 🕕 Time: 6:00 PM

November 13 – Support Groups

December 11 – Nutrition

January 8 – The IEP Process

February 5 – Nurtured Heart

March 5–Financial Resources for a Student with a Disability

April 15– Transition Fair

May 7– Communication  

KIDZ KORNER is an after school care program for youth ages 6-21

Kidz Korner

For information on Kidz Korner, see this linked flyer and/or contact kidzkorner@familyresourcenetwork.org.
autism summit

District Leads First Annual County-Wide Autism Summit

More than 50 educators representing 13 districts throughout Ocean County and the region participated in a hands on Autism Summit organized by Toms River Regional Schools.

Office of Special Services

Director of Special Services: Mrs. Dana Weber

DWeber@trschools.com

Principal, Early Learning Center: Mr. Michael Devita  MDevita@trschools.com

Supervisor of Elementary Special Education: Mrs. Renee Verdon

RVerdon1@trschools.com

Supervisor of Secondary Special Education: Ms. Catherine Mellon CMellon@trschools.com

CST Information And Contact

Kelly McNamara, LDTC,  KMcNamara@trschools.com

Joanna Novaky, LDTC, JNovaky@trschools.com

Dina Delasso, school psychologist, DDelasso@trschools.com

Kari Keale, social worker,  KKeale@trschools.com

Yesenia Newcomb, secretary,  ynewcomb@trschools.com

Stacey Arnett, School Psychologist,  SArnett@trschools.com

Linda Abramski, secretary, LAbramski@trschools.com

Tracy LaPlaca, LDTC tlaplaca@trschools.com

Jason Ruch, School Psychologist, Jruch@trschools.com

Doreen Gonello, Secretary,  DGonnello@trschools.com

Paul Fink, LDTC,  PFink@trschools.com

Lisa Frazzitta, Social Worker, LFrazzitta@trschools.com

Paula Azevedo, Secretary pazevedo@trschools.com

Kimberly DeAngelo, LDTC, kdeangelo@trschools.com

McKenzie Reed, School Psychologist mreed1@trschools.com

Joan Gallagher, secretary, JGallagher@trschools.com

Diana Brush dbrush@trschools.com

Christine Malinowski, social worker,  CMalinowski@trschools.com

Amy Andrews, Secretary aandrews@trschools.com

Kelly McNamara, LDTC, KMcNamara@trschools.com

Yesenia Newcomb, secretary, ynewcomb@trschools.com

Marissa Petraccoro, social worker,  MPetraccoro@trschools.com

Linda Abramski, secretary LAbramski@trschools.com

Ellen Higgins, LDTC,  eahiggins@trschools.com

Paul Fink, LDTC, PFink@trschools.com

Moira Gambarony, social worker,  Mgambarony@trschools.com

Lea Valentino, School Psychologist lvalentino@trschools.com

Paula Azevedo, Secretary pazevedo@trschools.com



Danielle LaVelle, School Psychologist,  DLavelle@trschools.com

Nicole Formichella, School Psychologist nformichella@trschools.com

Linda Abramski, Secretary, LAbramski@trschools.com 

Dena Kibel, LDTC,  DKibel@trschools.com

Jamie Cegerenko, Social Worker,  JCegerenko@trschools.com

Joan Gallagher, secretary, JGallagher@trschools.com

Nicole Formichella nformichella@trschools.com

Doreen Gonello, Secretary, DGonnello@trschools.com

Jason Ruch, School Psychologist,  JRuch@trschools.com

KellyAnn Montalban kmontalban@trschools.com

Doreen Gonello, Secretary, DGonnello@trschools.com

Caroline Velasquez, LDTC,  Cvelasquez@trschools.com

Kristen Stewart, school psychologist, KStewart@trschools.com

Heather Price, social worker, HPrice@trschools.com

Cheryl Pratola, secretary,  CPratola@trschools.com

Heather Nourry, LDTC hnourry@trschools.com

Anne Marie Drake, school psychologist,  agingerelli1@trschools.com

Amy Andrews aandrews@trschools.com

Jamie Weber, LDTC jweber@trschools.com

Kevin Huff, school psychologist, KHuff@trschools.com

Ivory Neals-LaBoy  ilaboy@trschools.com

Alyn Billhimer abillhimer@trschools.com

Dru Fonseca, LDTC, DFonseca@trschools.com

Bridget Abatemarco, school psychologist, BAbatemarco@trschools.com

Robin Lowery, school psychologist, Rjacobslowery@trschools.com

James Cartnick, social worker, JCartnick1@trschools.com

Lisa Varley, secretary, Lvarley@trschools.com

Sybil Canary, LDTC, Scanary@trschools.com

Monique Reed, School Psychologist, mreed@trschools.com

Meredith Brooks, Social Worker, mbrooks2@trschools.com

Ashley Gillen, Social Worker agillen@trschools.com

Ria Villari, Secretary avillari@trschools.com

Andrea Brierley, LDTC, ABrierley@trschools.com

Bridget Abatemarco, school psychologist, BAbatemarco@trschools.com

Eleanor Terrill, social worker, Eterrill@trschools.com

Veronica Greenlow, secretary, VGreenlow@trschools.com

Colleen O'Donnell, BCBA at HSE. HSN, HSS Codonnell@trschools.com

Sarah Strazzella, BCBA WD, STR Sstrazzella@trschools.com

Gina Rios, BCBA ND, SB GRios@trschools.com

Danielle Rose, BCBA BW, ED, HA, WAL drose@trschools.com

Patrice Mazza BCBA IE, IS, IN pmazza@trschools.com

Alicia Marshall, BCBA SB, Citta amarshall@trschools.com