NON DOD SCHOOLS PROGRAM FALL 2017 IN THE KNOW: NDSP Welcome Back elcome back! By now we have bid farewell to summer, and said hello to fall. The W NDSP team wishes you and your family a wonderful autumn season. As you begin to settle back into your routines, please take a moment to review the information included in this NDSP Newsletter. What s on the Top 5 to start the year off right? Who s on the education team? How to contact us. Keep your eye out for our January edition regarding reimbursements. Inside this issue: Welcome Back 1 Top 5 2 Europe Team 3-4 Americas Team 4 Pacific Team 5 Did You Know? The Non DoD Schools Program serves approximately 3,700 students World Wide. The Non DoD Schools Program supports families in 132 countries and more than 645 duty stations. The Non DoD Schools Program supports students in international schools, host nation schools, virtual schools, boarding schools and those who are homeschooled. The Non DoD Schools Program provides support to students in need of academic assistance. Contact Us 6
IN THE K NOW Page 2 What s on the Top 5 to start the year off right? 3. Be Prepared. Organize a space where your students can leave important items for school. Families can designate a launching pad in their entry way or common space for backpacks, special projects, lunch boxes, etc. This ensures that you can grab and go as you rush out the door. Also be aware of school special events or activities that are occurring and remember to prep your student! Heading to college? Contact NDSP ahead of time for information related to high school transitions. 1. Get acclimated. Visit your child s school, even if they have attended the school before. Find out about upcoming events, field trips and open house evenings. Learn the lingo. Below is a sample of some commonly used acronyms for international schools and the Department of Defense. PYP - Primary Years Programme IB - International Baccalaureate MYP - IB Middle Years Programme DP - Diploma Programme DEROS - Date Estimated Return from Overseas PCS - Permanent Change of Station IS - International School GCSEs - General Certificate of Secondary Education SEN - Students' Educational Needs (aka Special Education program/supports) LP - Learner Profile 2. Keep open communication. This is open communication with both your child s school and with the Non DoD Schools Program (NDSP). If you have any concerns, are not sure of what to do regarding academic needs or help with your child s learning this school year, reach out to the school and to the appropriate NDSP Education Specialist for your region. Where culturally appropriate, the teacher may also appreciate information impacting your child s day major family events, death, moves, a new baby, or celebrations. Ask the school about communication and their school culture regarding parent involvement. 4. Be involved. Keep in mind, especially in a new culture and environment, to walk the fine line between involvement and hovering over your child s every step in school. Be a facilitator or encourager to assist your child in this new adventure as an international student. If possible, volunteer or inquire about a parent organization at the school. 5. Set a routine. When living in a different country, it is important to have flexibility. However, establishing routines, especially during the school year, is important for student success. For example, if reading is a required homework, incorporating reading into a bedtime routine may assist with time management in the evenings and create a less stressful setting for your child to read. Routines are important for students at any age it can take 30 days to establish a new routine so start today! Adapted from: http://govalleykids.com/top-5-tips-for-a-good-school-year-andfreebie-alert/ https://www.healthychildren.org/english/ages-stages/ gradeschool/school/pages/ten-tips-for-your-childs-success-in- School.aspx
Page 3 Non DoD Schools Program Meet our Europe Team Ms. Sharon Gancarcik is part of the NDSP Europe team, located in Sembach, Germany. Sharon s professional background includes experience as a Special Projects Coordinator for Special Education, Child Search Coordinator and Compliance Monitor, Educational Diagnostician, Special Education Assessor and General and Special Education Teacher. In addition to providing educational services in the DoDEA organization, Sharon has supported students in stateside public schools. As a former military child, Sharon brings an understanding of the unique challenges a military child experiences during their academic career. Sharon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education, a Master of Arts in Special Education and post graduate work in educational assessment and administration. Mrs. Amy Griffing was a special education teacher, assessor and Case Study Committee Chair prior to joining the NDSP Team. She has worked as a classroom teacher, interventionist, and special education teacher. She also served as an Instructional Coach for elementary and special education teachers. During her time in the states, Amy provided regular professional development in all academic areas to teachers in the school district where she worked and at the regional level. Amy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in Special Education with a focus on consultation. She is certified to teach grades 1-8, special education for grades Pre-K 12, ESL for grades 1 8, and children in the Gifted and Talented Program. She is also a certified Special Education (SPED) assessor. Amy is proud to be from a family of veterans. She is honored to serve American military families. Vision: To be among the world's leaders in education, enriching the lives of military-connected students and the communities in which they live.
IN THE K NOW Page 4 Meet our Europe Team (cont d) Mrs. Cristina Rosado Landron has a professional background as a bilingual Speech-Language Mrs. Pathologist. Cristina She Rosado has varied Landron clinical joins experience NDSP as with a bilingual both adults Speech-Language and children (birth Pathologist to 21) with in schools, varied clinical rehabilitation hospitals, working university with adults clinics and children and early (birth intervention to 21). Cristina settings. has Cristina worked has in worked a variety in of a variety DoDEA of and experience stateside the DoDEA schools, schools. rehabilitation Besides providing hospitals, Speech-Language university clinics therapy and early services, intervention she has settings. also worked Besides on providing interdisciplinary teams therapy assessing services, children she with has suspected also worked disabilities. on interdisciplinary teams assessing children with Speech-Language suspected disabilities. Cristina s areas of interest include: bilingual language development, motor speech disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder areas of and interest positive include: behavior bilingual interventions. language In development, addition to her motor work speech in the disorders, DoDEA organization, Autism Cristina s Spectrum Cristina has Disorder supported and students positive behavior stateside interventions. and has served In as addition an Adjunct to her Professor/Graduate direct clinical work, Student Cristina Su-hapervisor. as an Adjunct Professor/Graduate Student served Supervisor. Cristina holds holds a a Bachelor of of Arts Arts degree in in International Cultural Studies and and a a Master of of Arts Arts degree in in Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology. She She holds holds multiple certifications and and a a license in in Speech-Language Pathology; as as well well as as a a teacher certification of of speech and and hearing with with a a bilingual extension in in Spanish. A native of Puerto Rico, Cristina appreciates the value of learning multiple languages and experiencing diversity of cultures through travel. She is very proud to support our military-connected students on the NDSP Europe team. Meet our Americas Team Dr. Kevin O Brien has worked in education and school administration for over 20 years. Prior to joining the DoDEA, he served in various teaching and leadership positions in special education and general education. After teaching and administration positions for the Do- DEA, Kevin joined the NDSP team in 2011. Kevin was part of the NDSP Europe team and now he is responsible for South/Central America, the Caribbean, and Canada. In addition to administration and teaching, Kevin is also a certified special education assessor. Kevin has a Doctorate in Special Education Leadership, Master of Arts in Education Leadership, and a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education. Kevin is committed to working with families in remote locations around the world. He has conducted numerous joint site visits around the globe along with the Department of State and Defense Intelligence Agency to help improve the quality of education available to DoD families worldwide. He has been a guest speaker for numerous military connected organizations including the Military Child Education Coalition.
Page 5 Non DoD Schools Program Meet our Pacific Team Ms. Lisa Edge is enjoying her 29th year with the Department of Defense Education Activity. Since joining the DoDEA, she has had the pleasure to work in several locations supporting our military-connected students. Lisa s professional background is in the area of Special Education (SPED); both instructionally and as an assessor. Prior to joining NDSP, she has taught students with learning disabilities, served as a Case Study Committee chair, and was a Special Education Assessor. Currently, Lisa s area of responsibility includes countries throughout the Pacific and AFRICOM. Originally from North Carolina, Lisa attended Peace College for her undergraduate studies and East Carolina University for her graduate school. Ms. Lynn Carey has had a variety of education positions and started out as a Montessori preschool through 2 nd grade and special education teacher at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Lynn continued her career with special education as the special education coordinator for 2 large middle schools and one high school. She also taught adult classes at the local community college. Lynn has also cofounded an International Baccalaureate (IB) middle/high school which continues to serve students in grades 6 through 12. Lynn served the DoDEA in multiple roles prior to joining the Non DoD Schools Program. She was the District Coordinator for Special Education and later an Assistant Principal. In January 2014, Lynn joined the NDSP Europe team and in May 2016, she shifted to the NDSP Pacific office where she now serves families located in the Pacific theater. Lynn received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Arts in Special Education. She completed her Administration degree in Educational Leadership. Mission: Educate, engage, and empower each student to succeed in a dynamic world. As a part of Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), the Non-Department of Defense Schools Program (NDSP) adopts the DoDEA mission and vision statement.
Non DoD Schools Program Team Overview Education Support The team of education specialists are certified educators with concentrations and/or additional degree(s) in special education. Each specialist has a geographic area of responsibility to ensure intimate knowledge about the educational landscape of the area(s). They provide support to families to ease education transitions and to aide in educational continuity. Possible topics in which they can assist are: special education, English as a Second Language, 504 accommodations, gifted education, high school transitions, post secondary support, U.S. related coursework, homeschool support, and academic support. Our Goal: To provide support to facilitate continuity of education in international locations. Financial Support The resource management team ensures the timely processing of invoices and provides support on financial related matters such as reimbursements, refunds, allowable and non-allowable expenses. Eligibility and Program Support Education Team The policy and management team ensure adherence to policy and laws and work hand-in-hand with the resource management and education teams in support of equitable implementation of the program. This team is also responsible for determining eligibility for the program and supports the stakeholders understanding of the policies that govern the Non DoD Schools Program. Resource Management Team Department of Defense Education Activity 4800 Mark Center Drive Alexandria, VA 22350-1400 CIV: 571-372-0591 DSN: 312-372-0591 NDSP.Management@hq.dodea.edu Visit us on the web at http://www.dodea.edu/nondod/index.cfm Americas: SOUTHCOM, Canada, Mexico NDSP.Education.Americas@am.dodea.edu CIV: 910-451-8242 Europe: EUCOM, CENTCOM NDSP.Education.Europe@eu.dodea.edu CIV: +49 (0)611-143-545-1535/1537/1538 DSN: 314-545-1535/1537/1538 Pacific: PACOM, AFRICOM NDSP.Education.Pacific@pac.dodea.edu CIV: +81(0)98-953-5677/5788 DSN: 315-644-5677/5788 Program Management Team General Program Inquiries Eligibility and Initial Registration Tour Extensions Change of School Exception to Policy Email: NDSP.Management@hq.dodea.edu Phone: DSN: 312-372-0591 Invoices Financial Support Americas: SOUTHCOM, Canada, Mexico NDSP.Invoices.Americas@hq.dodea.edu Europe: EUCOM, CENTCOM, AFRICOM NDSP.Invoices.Europe@hq.dodea.edu Pacific: PACOM NDSP.Invoices.Pacific@hq.dodea.edu Technical Support for sponsor/liaison portal Liaison Changes Email: NDSP.Administration@hq.dodea.edu DSN: 312-372-0591 CIV: 571-372-0591