FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Milford School District Hires School Specific Special Education Coordinators

MILFORD— Superintendent Jessica Huizenga is pleased to announce that the Milford School District has welcomed two new special education coordinators.

The two brand new positions were created to help the school district undertake several of the goals outlined in its 2019-2024 strategic plan, including increasing time and supports for students, teachers and families; investing in staff through ongoing professional development; and providing more access, opportunity and encouraging innovation at every level. 

“We have been working to increase accessibility and create programs that meet the needs of our special education students, and these roles are a critical component of our effort to ensure education equity for all of our students,” Superintendent Huizenga said. “We felt we needed administrators to help coordinate and oversee these new programs, support staff and families, and help improve overall service quality and outcomes in our special education program.”

The district has selected Shane Bryant to serve as the elementary special education coordinator, and Hillary Laquerre as the Milford Middle and Milford High school special education coordinator.

Bryant will oversee special education at Heron Pond and Jacques Memorial Elementary Schools, and will be hands-on in overseeing exciting new programming, including a language based learning program for students with language based learning needs. The new program will also be supported by a new part time speech pathologist. The district will also be launching a new therapeutic behavioral program at both elementary schools this fall, which will be supported by a mental health counselor, and a co-teaching model will also be put in place this school year in grades four and five. This coming school year, the district will also begin the process of implementing Universal Design for Learning at the middle school, an initiative that will make general education programming more accessible to all students, regardless of learning differences.

The two special education coordinators will also support the district’s initiatives to identify areas that need additional student supports, various social emotional learning curriculum and programming initiatives, and efforts to design a curriculum that is more accessible to all learners at all developmental levels.

Most recently, Bryant worked as a Special Education Coordinator at Mascenic Regional School District. He is also a PhD candidate to study special education from Liberty University, and holds a certificate of advanced graduate study (C.A.G.S.) in advanced educational leadership from the University of New England, master’s degree in educational psychology: counseling psychology from the University of Connecticut and a bachelor’s degree in human service: management from the University of Phoenix. He’s also a licensed New Hampshire initial special education administrator, principal and experienced educator: school counselor, and is certified in crisis prevention intervention. 

While working as a teacher at North Middlesex Regional Schools in Townsend, Massachusetts, from 2009-2011, he also co-developed the American Sign Language High School curriculum for levels 1 to 4. 

Since August 2018, Laquerre has worked as a special education teacher at Milford High School. She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in educational leadership and learning from Rivier University. She holds a master’s degree in special education from Rivier University and a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer science from Middle Tennessee State University. Laquerre is also a certified special education administrator, crisis prevention intervention trainer, RENEW facilitator, and is a highly qualified teacher in life science and English. She also has certifications in emotional and behavioral disabilities, specific learning disabilities, general special education and life space crisis intervention.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Shane and Hillary to our team this school year, and to bring the much needed supports and services that will help our students succeed and reach their goals,” Superintendent Huizenga said. “These new positions are going to be instrumental in strengthening our special education programming, and also in implementing and maintaining the new supports and curriculum that will benefit all students moving forward.”

They each began their new positions on Monday, July 1.

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