Student Support

Mount Tamalpais School offers many types of academic support and advising services.

We partner with families to help students of every academic level find success within our rigorous academic program. However, we do not offer a specialized program for students with significant learning differences or emotional challenges. Our learning specialists provide screening, direct instruction, and consultation with faculty, parents, and outside professionals. Students are identified and referred to the Learning Support Program based on screening results, observations in the classroom, and teacher recommendations. Our learning specialists provide four key components of support outlined below.

Lower School Learning Support

Kaitlyn McKinzie

Lower School Learning Specialist

Kaitlyn McKinzie is our Lower School Learning Specialist.

Kaitlyn works with our students in grades K-4, to help support the development of both their academic and social growth. She works with students in the classroom in large and small groups, as well as individually, and on a case-by-case basis.

Kaitlyn McKinzie's work centers around Humanities and Math. Kaitlyn also works closely with classroom teachers to monitor students throughout the year to be sure their skills are developing and to determine the appropriate support for students as needed.

I love being able to work with students across many grade levels. Getting to be in the classroom and making a connection with students through push-in support as well as working with small groups or individuals makes every day fun and exciting. I also enjoy getting to partner with families and teachers to help our students reach their academic potential.

Kaitlyn McKinzie

Middle School Learning Support

Maria Pevzner

Middle School Learning Specialist

Maria Pevzer is our Middle School Learning Specialist.

Maria works with a select group of students in grades 5-8. Student support blocks are built into the day (rather than after school), so that students can receive classroom based support during their school day.

Maria keeps up with, and completes every assignment her students receive. She does everything they do, from language arts reading responses, to chemistry labs, and math worksheets. As a result, she knows exactly what they're learning and can provide support accordingly.

"I go to school with them. I read what they read, I learn what they learn; which is actually one of my favorite things about my job, because I love to learn!"

Maria Pevzner

Counseling Services

Melodie Del Rio

School Counselor

Melodie Del Rio, the MTS School Counselor, is on campus 4 days a week, working with entire classes, small groups, and individuals.

Melodie partners with teachers and parents to work through a wide range of social-emotional topics.You can also find her in the classroom, teaching SEL (Social Emotional Learning) lessons to students of all age groups.

Melodie's work is need based; she goes where she will be most useful- whether that means coming into the classroom, bringing specific groups into her office to work out friendship issues, sitting down with individuals, or hosting her zoom-based Parent Support Group that she spearheaded during the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, in spring 2020.

"I'll teach material on friendship skills, conflict resolution, understanding your feelings and other people's, stress reduction, mindfulness-- basically, whatever the classroom needs."

Melodie Del Rio

Referrals

The MTS learning support team also partners with parents and teachers to make referrals.

On a case-by-cases basis, Kaitlyn and Maria may work with families to provide referrals for comprehensive evaluations and outside specialists including:

Educational Psychologists
Educational Therapists
Occupational Therapists

Speech and Language Pathologists
Developmental Optometrists
Social Skills Professionals

Audiologists
Counselors
Academic Tutors

Small Group & Individual Support

Small group remedial instruction in language arts skills for first through fifth grade

Small group and individual support for executive function difficulties, habits of mind coaching, and explanation of individual learning profiles for middle school students

Curricular & Teacher Support

Curricular design and support for teachers

Classroom observation and teacher collaboration

Assistance to classroom teachers regarding specific strategies, accommodations, and modifications

Screening

Screen the entire first grade to ensure foundational language and motor skills are on track and determine appropriate supports for students as needed

In-depth screening of students on an individual basis with parental consent

As needed informal screening of specific skills

Case Management

Maintain and share records of student evaluations and current outside support as well as successful interventions and strategies for individual students

Ensure teachers have current information about individual student needs

Consult with and provide resources to parents

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