SUPPORT SERVICE PROVIDERS
SUPPORT SERVICES
JENNIFER LONGO
Welcome! As the K–5 ELA Instructional Specialist serving JTPS, Judson, and Polk, I partner with teachers, school leaders, and staff to strengthen English Language Arts instruction across our schools. My work is focused on supporting high-quality Tier 1 instruction so that every student has meaningful opportunities to become a confident and capable reader, writer, speaker, and thinker.
I collaborate with teachers and teams to:
- Plan and strengthen ELA lessons, questions, and learning tasks
- Support the implementation of Amplify CKLA, our ELA program
- Examine student work and assessment data
- Create and utilize instructional tools that support planning, instruction, and reflection
- Identify instructional practices that respond to students' strengths and needs.
A central part of my role is helping to create engaging, rigorous, and consistent ELA learning experiences across K–5 while supporting teachers in making instructional decisions that promote student thinking, discussion, evidence-based learning, and independence.
Ultimately, my goal is to support teachers, strengthen instruction, and help ensure that every student receives the strong ELA instruction they need to thrive.
STACY CRONIN, READING SPECIALIST
SHANNON MCDONNELL, READING SPECIALIST
Supporting Every Child on Their Reading Journey
As the Reading Specialists at John Trumbull Primary School, we work with students, teachers, and families to support the development of strong, confident readers.
We believe that every child can grow as a reader when given the right support, encouragement, and opportunities to practice. Our goal is to help students develop the skills, confidence, and love of reading that will support them throughout their school journey.
How Families Can Support Reading at Home
Families play an important role in building strong readers! Even a few minutes each day can make a meaningful difference.
- Read together every day. Take turns reading, listen to your child read, or read aloud to them. All types of reading count!
- Talk about books. Ask your child what they noticed, what they think might happen next, or what their favorite part was.
- Practice sounds and words. Play simple word games, practice letter sounds, and look for familiar words in everyday places.
- Build vocabulary. Talk about new or interesting words and encourage your child to use them in conversation.
- Make reading fun! Let your child choose books that interest them. Visit the library, read magazines, explore nonfiction, or listen to audiobooks together.
- Celebrate effort and progress. Encourage your child when reading feels challenging. Remind them that becoming a strong reader takes practice!
Most importantly, make reading a positive experience. A few minutes of enjoyable reading and conversation each day can help build both reading skills and a lifelong love of books.
JTPS PSYCHOLOGISTS
- NICOLE MURPHY, K-2 SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST
- AMANDA SCHMALING, PRESCHOOL SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST
K-2 SOCIAL WORKER
- JANESSA SMITH
Who Are School Psychologists and Social Workers?
“School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students’ ability to learn and teachers’ ability to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community.” (NASP, 2014)
“School Social Workers are trained mental health professionals with a degree in social work who provide services related to a person's social, emotional and life adjustment to school and/or society. School Social Workers are the link between the home, school and community in providing direct as well as indirect services to students, families and school personnel to promote and support students' academic and social success.” (SSWAA)
At JTPS, we help to:
- Improve academic achievement
- Promote positive behavior and mental health
- Support diverse learners
- Create a safe and positive school climate
- Strengthen the family-school partnership
- Improve school-wide assessment and accountability
All children and youth can face problems from time to time related to learning, social relationships, making difficult decisions, or managing emotions. School Psychologists and Social Workers are highly skilled and provide readily available resources in an effort to ensure that all children thrive in school, at home and life.
RACHEL LEASE, MLL TEACHER
Working with Multilingual Learners is all about creating a space where students feel seen, supported, and confident in their ability to grow. I create meaningful, engaging learning experiences that build language skills while also honoring each student’s culture, strengths, and individual needs. The real magic happens when students begin to take risks, find their voice, and realize just how capable they are.
When I service students, my goal is not to just teach them English, but to help them develop language, independence, and academic skills they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond. I aim to provide patience, encouragement, targeted support, and plenty of opportunities for students to shine.
NADIA DESIMONE
CORIN DANIELECKI
JESSICA CIAVARELLA
Speech-language services support students in developing communication skills such as understanding and using language, answering questions, social communication, speech sound production, and functional communication. Services may be provided individually or in small groups through activities using games, books, songs, movement, visuals, and play.
DesimoneNa@watertownps.org
DanieleckiCo@watertownps.org
CiavarellaJe@watertownps.org
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
- BIANCA ABEL
- ELENA DEANGELIS
In OT, we support students in developing the skills they need to participate successfully in their daily school activities. We help students improve their fine motor skills, handwriting, sensory processing, coordination, and independence with classroom tasks. We work collaboratively with classroom teachers, families, and other professionals to identify students’ needs and provide strategies, adaptations, and resources to help them succeed. Our goal is to promote each student’s independence, confidence, and ability to fully participate in the school environment.
PHYSICAL THERAPY
- AMY BLAIS
In PT, we support students in developing the physical skills they need to participate safely and successfully in their school day. We help students improve their strength, balance, coordination, mobility, and gross motor skills so they can navigate the school environment and participate in activities such as playground time, physical education, and classroom routines. We work collaboratively with teachers, families, and other professionals to identify students’ needs and provide strategies and adaptations to support their success. Our goal is to promote each student’s independence, safety, confidence, and participation in the school setting.
HEATHER MALASH
As a K–5 Math Instructional Specialist, I partner with teachers to create engaging, meaningful math experiences for every student. I work alongside teachers in classrooms, help with lesson planning and assessment, and share strategies that encourage students to think, talk, problem-solve, persevere, and make sense of mathematics.
My goal is to help teachers feel supported and confident in their math instruction while helping students see themselves as capable, curious, and confident mathematicians. When we make math a place where students feel safe to wonder, make mistakes, and share their thinking, math becomes something they can truly enjoy!