Special Education

The Special Education program in the Northshore School District serves students from birth through twenty-one years of age. Children from birth through two years of age are served through contracts with community agencies. Instructional and support services are delivered by special education teachers, school psychologists, speech language pathologists, behavior specialists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and educational assistants. In compliance with federal and state law, students with disabilities are served in the least restrictive environment to the maximum extent possible. All special education students at all district schools participate as appropriate in general education classrooms. Special education services include individualized specially-designed instruction in academic skills, adaptive skills (e.g. self-help; self-advocacy, community, independent living), communication and language skills, motor skills, social skills, behavior and vocational skills. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed at least annually for each special education student, and goals and objectives (where appropriate) are written based upon formal and informal testing and on-going quantitative data.

The Northshore School District will make every effort to provide accessibility to events, meetings, and programs to individuals with disabilities. Please contact the building principal where the activity is occurring to request special accommodations.

Resources

 

Steps to Follow When You Have a Question or Concern

Parents who have questions or concerns about their student should first contact the special education teacher/case manager, general education teacher, and/or school therapist who works with their student. If the questions or concerns are not answered at that level the following list shows who to contact, and in which order:

  1. Start with the special education teacher/case manager, general education teacher, and/or school therapist
  2. If you feel concerns are not met, contact your school principal
  3. If you feel your concerns are not met, contact the:
    • Executive Director of Special Education and Director of Early Childhood if the student is receiving early childhood services, Doreen Milburn (dmilburn@nsd.org)  425-408-5575.
    • Special Education Director, South Region, Kim Durkin (kdurkin@nsd.org) 425-408-7736,
    • Special Education Director, North Region, Julie Trembath Neuberger (jtrembathneuberger@nsd.org) 425-408-7735
    • Special Education Director, West Region, Scott Irwin (sirwin@nsd.org) 425-408-7738
    • Special Education Director, East Region, Shannon Phanhthavilay (sphanhthavilay@nsd.org) 425-408-7737
  4. If there are further concerns, contact the appropriate Regional Assistant Superintendent:

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) also has resources and venues to assist parents with questions and concerns. They can be found on their website: http://www.k12.wa.us/SpecialEd/Families/default.aspx. You can directly contact OSPI Special Education Parent Liaison Scott Raub at 360-725-6075.

 

Leadership

Executive Director of Special Education
Doreen Milburn
425- 408-7739
dmilburn@nsd.org

Director of Special Education, South Region
Kim Durkin
425-408-7736
kdurkin@nsd.org

Director of Special Education, North Region
Julie Trembath Neuberger
425-408-7735
jtrembathneuberger@nsd.org

Director of Special Education, West Region
Scott Irwin
sirwin@nsd.org
425-408-7738

Director of Special Education, East Region
Shannon Phanhthavilay
425-408-7737
sphanhthavilay@nsd.org​​​​​​​

Contact Us

Phone Number

425-408-7733

Records Requests

425-408-7734
spedrecords@nsd.org