Beth Scheiderman Heads the Hills' Special Services Department
By Eleanor Mathews
Although she’s new to her position, Mrs. Beth Scheiderman is no newcomer to Watchung Hills Regional High School. Scheiderman, newly-appointed as Director of Special Services to fill the post vacated by now-Superintendent Dr. Frances C. Stromsland, served as School Psychologist since April, 2003. Both her academic background and her familiarity with the district made her an ideal candidate for the position.
As Director of Special Services, she will oversee the efforts of 20 teachers, 10 teaching assistants, six Child Study Team members and two support staff, all of whom are involved with the educational process of 324 students whose various needs—whether academic, psychological, social, or interpersonal—make them “special.” She is also responsible for seeing that the Hills’ program for these students complies with the many facets of state and federal regulations.
Each student who is referred to the Special Services Department has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) designed by the Child Study Team, tailored to his/her particular needs and designed to determine the goals and hoped-for outcome of his/her education. (This may range from something as uncomplicated as enrollment in the Math Lab to more intensive counseling.) Aside from the focus on the areas of specific concern, almost all special services students are integrated into the general education program of the school; they participate in clubs, athletics, trips, social events. “It’s our goal to help them get the most out of their high school education and prepare them for the next step in their lives. Most of them will go on to college; in fact, many colleges do offer similar support systems for those with special needs,” said Scheiderman.
Family members and the students’ teachers are also assisted along the way in helping fulfill the programs designed for special services students.
An indication that Hills’ program is meeting with success is the fact that scores for special services students have been going up and “ have met all indicators” in the 2006 round of New Jersey’s required HSPA tests ( which assess proficiency in math and language), said Scheiderman. The school’s program has also passed State monitoring .
Scheiderman also expresses pride in Watchung Hills’ CARE program ( Career Academic Resource Experience), through which the multiple needs of about two dozen learning-disabled and language-disabled youth are met through a structured and individualized program tailored to the ability of each learner. Class members fulfill the mandated requirements in English, history, math, science, and adaptive health while also mastering skills essential to everyday living, such as meal preparation, personal grooming, decision-making, travel and money management. They also develop marketable job skills and may serve unpaid internships with local businesses. The CARE program has been so well-regarded that it has attracted a (limited) number of out-of-district, tuition-paying students., Scheiderman said.
The number of special services students will grow as the overall school population grows. However, even as numbers increase, it has been evident that the percentage of such students in the overall school population remains fairly constant.
It is Scheiderman’s hope to “keep moving, to continue to be inclusive, and to maintain the successful program that has already been established.”
Scheiderman comes with an impressive list of credentials and certifications. She holds a master’s degree in Psychological Services, Professional Diploma as a School Psychologist and holds membership in a variety of mental health, social work and counseling professional organizations. Previous to her appointments at Watchung Hills, she served in the Plainfield public school system and at Muhlenberg Hospital.
On the lighter side, she also served as advisor to Watchung Hills’ Advanced Color Guard, and will continue in that position this fall, having signed that contract prior to her appointment to the present post. She has two children in the Green Brook middle school system and has been involved locally in their Junior Warriors and cheerleading activities.