ESE Team

Mission Statement

To promote the improvement of students’ well-being as well as their cognitive, emotional, physical and social development in school, at home and within their community through the use of sound psychoeducational principles. 

Contact Information:

Sharnett Palmer: palmers@hendry-schools.net

Martha Carranza: carranzam@hendry-schools.net

Mission Statement

The mission of Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Specialists is to strive for excellence in education through collaborative partnerships with schools, teachers, service providers, parents, and students.  ESE Specialists provide all possible support and assistance to schools and educators to ensure that students with disabilities demonstrate increased participation and performance in the standard or Access curriculum and statewide assessments.  ESE Specialists support and assist schools in special education practices and alignment to The Individuals with Disabilities Act, Federal, and State educational requirements.

Mission Statement

Occupational therapy is a profession that aims to assist individuals to do the things they need and want to do through daily activities, also known as “occupations”. This can include improving, maintaining, developing, or returning skills that have been impacted by either illness, injury, or disability. The main goal of occupational therapy is to allow individuals to live life to their fullest. In the school system, occupational therapy is considered a related service, with the targeted outcome to support a student’s ability to participate in daily school activities at his or her maximal potential. These can include the “occupations” of education, social participation, and play. School-based occupational therapist practitioners support inclusion, strategies for academic achievement, and overall engagement in the educational environment. They work with the education team to promote student success and independence. School-based occupational therapy is available for students who are eligible through exceptional student education and evaluation. 

Contact Information

Heidi Donley: donleyh@hendry-schools.net

Mission Statement

Our physical therapy team provides skilled interventions to students that require assistance to access their educational environment. As related service providers, we collaborate with parents/guardians, school staff, and other specialists to provide individualized and inclusive strategies to allow students to physically participate with their peers in their educational programs to the best of their ability. School-based physical therapy is done in a variety of settings on the school campus including in the classroom, in a therapy room, in the cafeteria, or on the playground. School-based physical therapy follows the educational model of physical therapy that offers services to students only when they require assistance to physically access their special education, whereas the medical model of physical therapy targets any impairment a child may have, regardless of its impact on their daily living. Our team enjoys participating in extracurricular activities including school events, field days, and the Special Olympics.

Contact Information

Courtney Cottilli: cottillic@hendry-schools.net

Mission Statement

The Behavior Support Team (BST) serve as consultants to all school personnel in the capacity of:

The Behavior Support Team provides a collaborative, data-driven approach to the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) and Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) process in partnership with teachers, administrators, staff, students, and families. The team identifies the function of behavior and develops individualized, measurable interventions that teach appropriate replacement skills while reducing challenging behaviors. Support includes coaching staff in implementation of behavior strategies, classroom management, positive behavior supports, and safety planning. The team conducts observations, interviews, data collection, and analysis to inform intervention development, and provides ongoing modeling, monitoring, and plan adjustments to ensure fidelity and effectiveness across settings. The team also supports school personnel through professional development and ensures all documentation and data are maintained according to district procedures. The overall mission is to promote safe, supportive learning environments that improve student behavior, engagement, and success.