Our gold-standard education team provides unparalleled expertise to develop, implement and evaluate custom-design individualized education plans for each student which imposes tremendous and intensive emphasis on high-level scholastic achievement. Through the use of a highly positive nurturing environment we are able to provide a multi-sensory scholastic program that is warm, inviting, stimulating and extremely conducive to learning.

Additionally, we have a low staff-to-student ratio which allows intimate and healthy student-teacher relationships to flourish resulting in increased academic success and an increase in positive socialization skills.  Related services are also provided in the form of therapists, physical therapy, counseling, one-on one support and absolutely any other resource that the student would need to become responsible, independent and successful within their school, family and community.

It is our goal to make learning fun and exciting using an individualized educational program coupled with a highly structured rewards-based behavioral management system.

A Positive Impact

Since being in Bloomington, our school has had such a profound impact our students, families and our local community. Below you will find a few testimonial statements from school administrators and parents.

If we didn’t have High Road Schools we would probably have to look at residential placement for some of these students. They would have to leave their parents and live in other facilities

Dr. Chuck Hartseil, Unit 5’s Director of Special Education.

“I’m very pleased with the programs and services they provide. It is nice to know it’s there.”

Former Superintendent of District 87 Bob Nielsen

“As parents, we want our children to be positive, contributing members of society,” said Phil Carr of Hudson, whose son Jordan attends the school. “Every single person at this school deeply cares for children. They really find out what works for each child.”
 

Graduation 2010

 High Road School of Bloomington is honored to announce that Joshua Sterrett has earned his High School Diploma. Joshua’s academic achievement can only be described as lessons in perseverance and determination. Joshua’s determination to succeed is further exemplified within his remarkable work at High Road School of Bloomington as a recreational assistant for the Extended School Year Program. Joshua’s work as a recreation assistant was exemplary and invaluable to the students and staff.
In the fall, Joshua plans to begin a new academic challenge in which he plans to attend Heartland Community College, with a long-term goal of becoming a Certified Adaptive Physical Education Teacher.
We are all so proud of Joshua and wish him well in his post-secondary path.

Bloomington Public Library

“High Road School teacher Valena Claiborne of Bloomington, center, works with her students Cam W, 13, left, and Antione L, 12, right, as they select books at the Bloomington Public Library Wednesday morning April 14, 2010.” (The Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK-NEISLER) April 13, 2010)

For full article, click here.

Special Olympics

Cody P. participated in the Basketball event for Special Olympics this winter. Cody earned a silver medal at district level. 
Josh S competed in district level bocce ball, bring home two gold medals. Josh will be going to the state competition this spring.
Cody and Jordan will compete in the 50 m run, Cody and Josh HH in the softball throw, and Jordan in the standing long jump at the track and field events at IWU (district) on Sat., May 8.

High Road School 'New Remedy' for Students

Josh Sterrett wondered where he would go when the Occupational Development Center closed.

Tamara Quinn attended school only a few hours a day — and not every day. Cam Wilken got so agitated in junior high that he’d run outside near a busy street. Now, Sterrett, 20, is both a student and a paid helper at High Road School, 814 Jersey Ave., Normal, where Wilken, 13, sometimes relaxes by playing piano and Quinn, 16, has perfect attendance and hopes to graduate this spring. “She’s a worker,” said director JoAnn Ziegler, whose school caters to students with learning, language, social and behavioral challenges. Most of the students have multiple disabilities.

High Road is part of Pennsylvania-based Specialized Education Services Inc. The local school, which marked its one-year anniversary Tuesday, is funded by the state and through tuition paid by districts whose students are enrolled. High Road has 21 schools nationwide. The local school is the only one in Illinois and would take students from any district in the state. Current students are from District 87, Unit 5 and Olympia. “They’ve offered us a new remedy for students,” said Unit 5 Superintendent Gary Niehaus. “It’s an option we’ll try to keep.” The idea is similar to districts supporting the Bloomington Area Career Center instead of each district duplicating programs, resources and costs, said Olympia Superintendent Brad Hutchison.

At High Road, 17 people work with 18 students in grades junior high through high school. Staff includes three certified teachers, two teaching assistants, seven paraprofessionals, a director, activities coordinator, social worker, administrative assistant and vocation coordinator. The school contracts out occupational, physical and speech therapy through Easter Seals. Ziegler said the goal is to help students get back into public schools.

Olympia, for instance, had been looking for an option to help students with special needs. The district paid $6,000 in tuition for one student; 80 percent of that is reimbursed by the state. “If we didn’t have High Road and Hammitt schools we would probably have to look at residential placement for some of these students. They would have to leave their parents and live in other facilities,” said Chuck Hartseil, Unit 5’s director of special education.

District 87 chief financial officer David Wood said the per-student daily rate varies from $199 to $377 depending on student needs. “That sounds really expensive, and it is, but it’s a program we can’t really do ourselves,” Wood said. Added District 87 Superintendent Bob Nielsen, “I’m very pleased with the programs and services they provide. It is nice to know it’s there.” High Road’s course offerings are in sync with state and local requirements, and the idea is to eliminate obstacles.

Staff members may take a student with attendance problems to a doctor’s appointment and bring him back to class. They also provide strong security, personal connections with students, and supervise places for students to regroup when the day gets unmanageable. “As parents, we want our children to be positive, contributing members of society,” said Phil Carr of Hudson, whose son Jordan attends the school. “Every single person at this school deeply cares for children. They really find out what works for each child.”

Students earn money for meeting behavioral expectations. The rewards are a financial management tool but can be used for savings or for purchases, Ziegler said. For Sterrett, High Road is a place to prepare for college and to offer his own experience as a teacher’s assistant. He wants to be a veterinarian. Quinn, who volunteers at Westminster Village retirement community, wants to become a certified nursing assistant, said teacher Holly Armstrong. Other students have been inspired by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity or taking culinary training. “Everyone in this school cares about everyone else,” said Wilken, who has Asperger syndrome, a form of autism. “That’s the best thing about this school.”

The school is located in a building owned by Mount Moriah Christian Church. New Beginnings Church, located at the same site, is not related to the school.

Article written by Phyllis Coulter of The Pantagraph

Success Story

Before I came to High Road School of Bloomington I felt like I was not treated with respect or just simply misunderstood.  I would only attend school two hours a day before I would just leave.  I had the ability to succeed but I was not working to my potential because of intense frustration and too many distractions.  My primary goal was to drop out of school and start a family.

I was one of the first few students to enroll when the school opened.  I really did not know what to expect and had given up on school.  When I first arrived I spent a lot of time with the social worker.  She was always available and I could she cared about me and my family. The social worker, teacher, teaching assistant and the director worked hard to assess my needs and help me set goals for my life. Since I have been at High Road School of Bloomington my attendance has improve greatly and I have been recognized for perfect attendance.  Due to all of my hard work and academic gains I received permission to take extra credits so that I can graduate on time.  The director adjusted the curriculum so that my classes would meet my requirements.  My teacher has worked extremely hard to make sure she provides individual educational programming.  It is now my dream to graduate.  Before High Road School of Bloomington this was only the dream of my parents.

I am thankful to all of the staff and family for all of their support.  I am also thankful the Unit 5 Schools gave me the opportunity and privilege to attend High Road School of Bloomington.

Unit 5 Student

Related Services & Programs

The following is information on Enrichment classes provided to High Road School students through Heartland Community College’s Youth Enrichment Programs.

Horseback Riding
Several of our students attended the “Horseback Riding classes for kids”. Our students were able to use their skills in Language Arts, Math and Science to learn how to ride and care for the horses. All lessons in horse riding and horse care are taught by degreed professional educators. Upon completion of this class, students received a Certificate of Accomplishment including a record of individual equestrian achievements which will be used in planning their next horseback riding experience.

Using Windows 7
This class was a great asset to our students at High Road School. We strive to keep our students educated with current technologies. This class taught our students location of apps as well as how to access and organize files using the new Snap, Homegroup, and Library features. They were also taught how to personalize their computers by using the ribbons and available gadgets.

Build Your Own PC
Our Students were excited to learn how to assemble working computers from the ground up using base components. After completing this class, High Road students were able to identify various computer parts and functions. They have also gained valuable hardware and software troubleshooting skills. Each student was able to take home the PC and monitor that they built.

Car Maintenance
This class introduced our students to the basics of car care and care maintenance to prevent and prepare for future car troubles. This class will provided lecture, demonstration and hands-on activities involving tires, engine, various fluids and oil, and other auto parts that require regular maintenance.

High Road School of Bloomington has a partnership with Easter Seals to provide occupational, speech and physical therapies.

The Easter Seals Mission

Easter Seals provides exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities.

The vision of our speech and language services is to maximize a student’s potential in the area of communication to support and increase the student’s participation in their educational curriculum.

Our speech and language program includes a coordinated and individual approach.  Our certified speech therapist help students to correctly produce the correct sounds in words, increase speech intelligibility, develop vocabulary knowledge and understanding and utilize appropriate conversational skills.  Emphasis is placed on pragmatics; such as taking turns, topic maintenance, voice projection and socialization.  Grammar, syntax and written expression are also addressed.

Our occupational therapy services may be direct or indirect, within the classroom or private room to reduce stimulation. Services also may include screenings, assessment/reassessment, team collaboration, monitoring, consultation, in-servicing of classroom staff/parents, standardized evaluations, parent conferences, planning and placement team meetings.

Our occupational therapist help students with sensory, perceptual, and motor problems meet the daily demands of their environment. Our therapist use directed play as the primary method of treatment; however classroom consultation directly with the teachers and assistants regarding student’s abilities is also key to the student’s success.  Directed play includes activities such as mazes or target games to develop student’s eye hand coordination or ball games to increase coordination between two sides of the body.  Through the use of movement and touch and other functional activities the student better develops the skills that are need in the classroom, home and community.

Our physical  therapists work closely with the classroom staff and other team members to promote the highest level of function possible for each student while he/she pursues his/her educational goals. These goals are determined by the student’s individualized educational program (IEP) through the IEP process.

The Focus of Physical Therapy Services includes:
Assisting the student in acquiring the functional abilities needed to utilize educational materials and participate in classroom activities and typical educational routines.
Incorporating strategies to maximize each student’s physical capabilities within the classroom by working with classroom personnel.
Assisting students to develop and use safe mobility techniques to mobility within the educational environment.

The Transition Program of High Road School of Bloomington recognizes the need to prepare our high school students with the skills they need to reach their post graduation goals.  Our Transition Coordinator teaches job readiness skills and individualized training in preparation for competitive community placement.  Working with job coaches, each student receives the support necessary to prepare for community employment.

We understand some students do not know what career path they would like to take.  Here at High Road School of Bloomington we are dedicated to giving all of our high school students’ ample opportunities that will peak their interests.   Students will complete a variety of career interest inventories, participate in our career exploration program, research careers and complete profile sheets.  This will help our students identify prerequisite skills needed for each career of interest.  Our young adults will have an opportunity to visit and volunteer at local businesses to learn about various careers. These opportunities will develop skills to put on their resumes.

The unique opportunities presented to our students will enhance their skills and knowledge; provide endless possibilities for independence and success. It is our ultimate goal to build the competence and confidence in all of our students.

May Activities for Transition

May 4
All About Auto
•    One student will go to learn about car maintenance and get hands-on experience

May 5, 12, 19, and 26
Recycling
•    2-3 Students participate in recycling
•    Students will collect recyclables from classrooms and drop it off at the Recycling Center

May 6, 13, 20, and 27
Group Transition
•    Al Transition students will participate in group activities and exercises
•    Students will learn Life Skills for Vocational Success
•    Students will learn about different careers while building their basic reading, writing, and comprehension skills

May 7, 14, and 21
Vocational Experience
•    One student will volunteer at Westminster’s Village
•    Call out BINGO
•    Landscaping/ Grounds keeping

May 11
Careerlink
•    Transition Students will visit the Careerlink facility to learn about resources available in the community
•    Build a career profile
•    Create Resumes
•    Learn Job searching Techniques

May 18
Barnes & Noble
•    Transition Students will visit Barnes & Noble
•    Learn about what goes on Behind-the-scenes
•    Have fun with a Scavenger Hunt
•    Purchase books with their gift cards

May 21
Six Flags St. Louis
•    Eligible students will enjoy an End-Of-The Year Field Trip to Six Flags
•    Students must be on Blue Level to participate

May 25
Krispy Kreme
•    Transition Students will learn about the different positions available
•    The donut making process
•    Make their own donuts!

Ms. Bosby's Transition Activities

Ms. Bosby has formed a partnership with Heartland Community College.  Heartland Community College has offered to allow our students to attend these wonderful workshops.

College Workshops

College Workshops

Six Flags - High Road School of Bloomington students have an opportunity to attend an end of the year field trip to Six Flags in St. Louis on Friday May 21, 2010.

Spring Special Olympics - will be held on Saturday May 8th 2010 at Illinois Wesleyan University. We excited to have students participating in the 50 m run, the softball throw, and the standing long jump. Events will be held at the track and field events at IWU (district) on Sat., May 8th.