2012 Awardees for tenure of service posing at the 40th anniversary celebration of TIEE

The affair was held at the Coronado Community Center with over 200 staff members, friends, and families in attendance. Music for the evening was provided by “The Ideas,” a rousing rock ‘n roll trio, and MC for the affair was Mike Hanlon, award winning Kindergarten teacher at Mt. Helix Academy

COOK Education Center students got an "insider's" tour of Petco Park, including the broadcast booth. What a special day for special students!

The students were led by Robin Smith, coordinator of Disabled Guest Services and Alex Montoya, the manager of Latino Affairs for the Padres.

Students had the opportunity to see areas of the park that most fans could only dream of, including being on the freshly trimmed field, behind the infamous home plate and in the sky high press box. Our students left with big smiles and a season calender for the upcoming baseball year.

A special thanks to the Padres for having us for this once in a lifetime experience, and to Donna Ahdoot (Dr. A.) for setting up this great activity.

Assembly Member Toni Atkins (center) poses with Dr. Suzy Fitch, TIEE Executive Director, and Carol Nielsen, COOK Education Center Program Coordinator

California State Assembly Member Toni Atkins and her Senior Field Representative, Lindsey Masukawa, were given a tour of TIEE’s COOK Education Center by TIEE Executive Director, Dr. Suzy Fitch. Assembly Member Atkins’ tour came as a result of her desire to learn more about the continuum of publicly funded school options for students with special needs.

Both Assembly Member Atkins and her Senior Field Representative, Lindsey Masukawa, were very complementary of the highly skilled teaching staff of COOK Education Center. They witnessed students being actively and positively engaged in instruction that met wide-ranging individual needs from personal grooming to vocational skills to high school biology.

Assembly Member Atkins also met with the San Diego region members of the California Association for Private Special Education Schools (CAPSES), who constitute the majority of non-public schools in the San Diego area. The CAPSES region members thoroughly enjoyed interacting with Assembly Member Atkins who eagerly discussed various issues of concern for schools in providing special education and services to children in these difficult economic times. Dr. Fitch, current CAPSES President, noted that Assembly Member Atkins showed great interest in CAPSES’ concerns and asked to be kept apprised of issues of concern to CAPSES members.

Assembly Member Atkins was elected in November 2010 to represent California’s 76th Assembly District in which three of TIEE’s four schools are located, including COOK Education Center, Urban Skills Center, and Children’s Workshop.

"Wow, that was good!" COOK Foundations students finishing up their feast.

COOK Education Center held two celebrations
The COOK Foundations Program Thanksgiving Feast
The students enjoyed a turkey sub sandwich, along with a selection of yummy side dishes and fantastic desserts!

We celebrated with fall colored tablecloths and turkeys that the students designed in art class. Thanks to families for all your help in making our feast a success!

"We had a great time and the food was soooo good!" Our Thanksgiving feast is just one way we show that we care.

COOK Education Center’s Secondary Program had a wonderful time sharing a traditional Thanksgiving lunch with their family and friends. In true Thanksgiving style, guests gorged themselves on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and rolls with cookies and cupcakes for dessert.

A big thank you to Kathy Olsen and Juliet Sy for helping with decorations, setting up, and serving this great feast. And another thank you to Josie Myers for cooking up a wonderful gluten free/casein free meal for our guests with dietary restrictions. And thank you to all who sent in donations. It was wonderful to see everyone and share this time together.

Feast at Urban Skills Center
The Urban Skills Center program held it’s Annual Thanksgiving Feast on Tuesday 11/22/11. We were thrilled to have over 80 students, staff, family members and alumni join us for this tasty event. Some of the highlights of the meal included stuffing made by Ms. Martin’s Food Prep class, gravy made by Mr. Forthun’s Food Prep class, vegan mashed potatoes, sausage gravy, fried rice roasted blue potatoes and pasta made by Ms. Alana’s Food Service (i.e, Kangaroo Cafe) class, sweet potatoes prepared by Ms. Lepard, salad prepared by Mr. Johnson and all the delicious desserts and soft drinks donated by our families. Special thanks too to Mr. MacAskill’s purchasing class for shopping for our ingredients. We also want to thank all the families that donated money to help fund one of our treasured annual events. A wonderfully delicious time was had by all!!!

Dr. Suzy Fitch undertakes second term as CAPSES President

CAPSES is the statewide association of nonpublic schools, agencies, organizations, and individuals who specialize in the delivery of special education and related services to students with special needs. Its mission is to maximize the potential of individuals with disabilities by advocating for them in public policy and by supporting its members in providing high quality special education and related services.

Non-public schools and agencies are on the continuum of education placements available to special education students in order to meet the Federal and State requirements for a “Free and Appropriate Public Education” (FAPE). Qualifying schools and agencies, like TIEE’s schools, have meet stringent certification criteria by the California Department of Education, which permits them to contract with local public school districts to serve students with special needs. In 2010-2011, TIEE’s schools contracted with 25 San Diego and Riverside County school districts to serve students, whose needs could not be met in their public schools.

CAPSES is an association of 99 independent organizations, which operate a total of 135 non-public schools and two non-public agencies. The total special education student enrollment in CAPSES member schools was 8,500 in 2009-2010, which was approximately 75 percent of the number of students being served in non-public schools, and 1.2 percent of California’s 680,000 students who received special education and services. The average enrollment in CAPSES member schools is approximately 60 students, but some schools have as few as 5 students enrolled.

Dr. Fitch, whose two-year term runs until July 2013, is the 22nd CAPSES President. She has been a perennial member of the CAPSES Board of Directors, serving on the association’s Legislation Committee. She also served as CAPSES 14th President in the mid-nineties. TIEE’s Co-Executive Director, Dr. Ken Traupmann, served as CAPSES President in the late 1980’s.

In accepting the office of President, Dr. Fitch opined: “I am pleased to take over the leadership of our State-wide association during these challenging times for education and, specifically, for the education of students with disabilities. The fifteen Board members, all of whom volunteer their time on behalf of CAPSES, have worked diligently to develop what I feel is an effective strategic plan to guide our actions during my term and well past it.”

Click for Assembly Bill 354, which establishes Tdap requirement.

Donna Adhoot, OTD, obtained her doctorate from the University of Southern California

Donna received her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California’s Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy in 2008. To complete her degree, she conceptualized and implemented a 6-week program, called “Super Sibs,” which was an occupation-based support group for siblings of children with autism.

Donna obtained a baccalaureate, Cum Laude, in 1994 from UCLA and she obtained her Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy from USC in 2007.

Since obtaining her doctorate, Donna has served as Head Occupational Therapist for the Inglewood Adult Day Health Care Center and Temple Isaiah Preschool in Los Angeles, and she was Pediatric Occupational Therapist at Therapy in Action in Tarzana.

A member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC), Donna is a multi-talented individual who has a rich record of volunteerism, interests in Asian cooking and yoga, and a speaker of three languages other than English, including Farsi, in which she is fluent.

On joining TIEE, Donna reports: “I am glad to be part of a dedicated team where the students are first priority and the methods are evidenced based. As the new OT, I plan on supporting students and staff to reach the next level”.

Sherry Lacson, M.A., joins Alicia Ritter, M.A., BCBA, as Program Coordinator under Director Hillary Whiteside. M.S., BCBA

Over the years, now numbering 39, Children’s Workshop has built a strong reputation for providing unparalleled, research-based educational services for the San Diego community. There is strong support from the parents of its students, a solid reputation among the community’s professionals, and well-developed relationships with the area’s school districts. The number of children in the San Diego area needing Children’s Workshop has increased in recent years with the result that its student body has grown. The school has arrived at the point where, in order to remain on the cutting edge of educational programming for children with special needs, a second Program Coordinator is needed.

Sherry started her employment with TIEE at Children’s Workshop in 2005, and, since then, she has shown exceptional commitment to her development as a professional educator. She attained her Special Education Teaching Credential and was promoted to a Teacher position in 2006. This last school year she received her Masters Degree in Special Education with a Specialty in Autism from San Diego State University. She also has completed the course work and practical requirements to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and is planning to take the exam this fall. Along the way, Sherry has shown great strength in her ability to balance her educational pursuits with her responsibilities as a professional. She is very deserving of this promotion and we believe she is more than ready for this leadership role.