Madison County School District
Department of Special Services
Mission
With an unyielding commitment to excellence, MCSD Special Services Department seeks to identify the special needs of exceptional children and address those needs through a variety of program options and opportunities, striving always to recognize and nurture the unique potential of each student.
Overview
The Madison County School District offers a full continuum of services for students with disabilities. Eligible students from ages three to twenty-one are served in our school district. Qualified teachers, therapists, and trained support personnel strive to offer the most appropriate programs for each student. We are continuing to expand our programs to meet the wide variety of student needs. Our staff attend conferences and workshops to learn and implement the current trends in Special and Gifted education.
The Department of Special Services of MCSD strives to find, evaluate and teach every student found to have a disability while creating an environment enabling them to learn in their least restrictive environment and providing them a free appropriate public education. Through an Individualized Education Plan, we offer each student extensive opportunities and individualized services while maximizing the potential of every student. We have a variety of programs designed to meet the instructional needs of each student eligible for services. These programs include services in the areas of Gifted, Homebound, Special Education, Transition, Speech Therapy and other Related Services, 504 and Teacher Support Team Intervention Plans. Each school within our district offers a variety of special education services. There are special district-wide classes established to serve students with lower incidence disabilities. As a district, Madison County educators, both special education and regular education, work together as a team to meet the unique needs of all our students.
Personnel
Vicki Doty, Director of Special Services
Latisha Hunt, Assistant Director/Preschool Principal
Darinda Steed, Assistant Director
Brenda Price, Assistant Director
Wynelle Leonards, Special Education Coordinator
Tomeca Ingram, Special Education Coordinator
Mary Edwards, Special Projects Coordinator
Melissa Copeland, Records/Data Clerk
Cathy Barnett, Administrative Assistant/Grants Accountant
Dahlia Walker, Receptionist
Julie Clayton, Speech/Language Pathologist
Marsha Vance, Community-Based Speech/Language Pathologist
Jenny Butler, Transition Coordinator
Trinette Nichols, Transition Specialist
Johnny Ellis Jr., Transportation/Job Coach
Psychometrist
Heather Ford, School Psychologist
Valarie Williams, Psychometrist
Peter Giroux, Occupational Therapist
Jana Stringer, Occupational Therapist
Lynette Williams, Occupational Therapist
Sandra Dahmash, Occupational Therapist
Jeff Foster, Occupational Therapist
Melissa Kaye McCombs Occupational Therapist
Meredith Duncan, Occupational Therapist
Marie Hill, Behavior Specialist
Jazzmine Williams, Behavior Specialist
Hope Vancil, Hearing Impaired Services/Homebound Instructor
Office Of Special Services
476 Highland Colony Parkway
Ridgeland, MS 39157
601.853.1326 (office)