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Philosophy:   In accordance with federal and state guidelines, DISD provides a full range of academic, behavioral, emotional and related evaluation services. Evaluations are conducted by qualified staff using the most current, appropriate norm and criterion referenced assessment instruments.  DISD assessment staff assist campus with referrals. DISD assessment staff can evaluate for dyslexia, 504 evaluations, and conduct full individual evaluations (FIE) for special education eligibility determination.  
Goals:   To provide a comprehensive, timely, and relevant written report of an evaluation that addresses the referral question as well as subsequent evaluation issue discovered during the evaluation and that will assist the parents and instructional team in planning for the student’s educational needs. To maintain a high level of professional development in all required continuing education categories.
The DISD Assessment team consists of Educational Diagnosticians, Licensed Specialists in School Psychology, and a Licensed Professional Counselor.  The team coordinates all evaluations for students suspected of having a disability or in need of a reevaluation for special education services, other than students who are only suspected of having a speech impairment.

Assessment Staff Members: 

 

Mary Gonzales Assessment Specialist281-229-6923

 

Mary Gonzales 281-229-6923 -  Assessment Specialist


Alexandria Shields- 281-229-7922

Amber Wallace 281-229-6097 

Ann Mai 281-229-6025

Bianca Watkins, Ph.D 281-229-7921  

Christine Ledwell 281-229-6036

Crystal Speer 281-229-7571

Dustin Pereira 281-229-6242

Elis Gaytan 281-229-6091

Hazel Goh 281-229-7919

Kelly Schultz 281-229-6090

Madalyn Meier 281-229-7920

Megan Giles 281-229-6029

Vanessa Renteria 281-229-7924

Yadira Villareal 281-229-6038

 

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Licensed Professional Counselor

Omar Cobo 281-229-6098

Bilingual Assessment Staff Support Clerk:

Esther Smith 281-229-6092


Process:   All initial referrals to the assessment team are via the campus referral team. Students participate in the Student Intervention Team and, when appropriate, a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) or response to intervention (RTI) process prior to a referral. The referral team determines the referral question (and thus, the nature of the evaluation, e.g. whether it is a dyslexia evaluation or a Full Individual Evaluation for special education) and forwards it to the assessment department.  An assessment team leader (ATL) is assigned – this can be either an LSSP, SLP or diagnostician.  While dyslexia and 504 evaluations are conducted primarily by a sole evaluator with input from teachers, all FIEs are conducted by a multi-disciplinary team (to include general and special education teachers and other relevant related service providers, such as an OT, or nurse).
DISD assessment staff maintain the highest standards in ongoing professional development requirements.  Staff regularly attend professional development focused on evaluation techniques, interpretation methodology, report writing and implementation strategy. During the past few years, DISD has collaborated with Santa Fe ISD, Friendswood ISD, and Alvin ISD to bring in the following state and national experts:
  • Paula Roalson (topic: Legal update)
  • Dr. Penny Koepsel (topics: Conners’ 3, Comprehensive Behavioral Evaluation Scale, and ARES)
  • Region IV: Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Orthographic Processing, Autism, various assessment instruments, behavior interventions, writing FIEs, Threat Assessment Training, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Trauma and Mindfulness training, Counseling as a related service, Dyslexia in the FIE, Impact and Needs Statements in the FIE
  • Region 6: ELL Evaluations for Monolingual Examiners, Social Emotional Evaluations, XBASS training with Dr. Flanagan, Identification of Dyslexia among Multilingual Learners, LSSP Series various topics, Cultural Considerations in the Practice of School Psychology, Bilingual Evaluations
  • Dr. Gail Cheramie, Director of the School Psychology Program (retired), UHCL (topics:  LD,  ID, Cross Battery 3, Autism Evaluations)
  • Texas Association of School Psychologists: Assessment of ELL, Autism Evaluations, Meeting the Needs of the LGBTQ+ Students, MDRs, Evaluating Deaf and Hard of Hearing Learners, School-Based Counseling, Social Justice in Schools, Supervision in School Psychology
  • HOU-MET: Various topics
  • Dr. Ortiz: Equitable Assessment in SLD Identification with English Learners
  • Dr. Dan Miller (topic: NEPSY 2)
  • Donna Black (topics: Ethics and Cultural Diversity)
  • Dr. Crystal Collier: Neurodevelopmental Effects of Risky Behavior
  • Dr. Julia Strait: Assessment of Autism in Girls
  • UTMB: Youth Poverty Simulation and ACE’s training
  • Dr. Adam Saenz: EQ Intervention
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