Special Education

Heather Creech

Speech Therapist

Education

Arizona State University — B.A. Speech and Hearing Sciences

University of Cincinnati — M.A. Speech-Language Pathology

Certification: ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competency

Endorsement: Special Education Generalist

Favorite Quote

“When you value people, accepting them and including them comes naturally.”  -unknown

Adyson Yeo

Speech Language Pathologist Assistant

Education

​Bachelors Degree in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder 

Favorite Quote

Children are not things to be molded, but are people to be unfolded. - Jess Lair

Kaitlin Frankhouser

Occupational Therapist

Education

Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Colorado State University

Master of Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University

Favorite Quote

“Loving-kindness and compassion are the basis for wise, powerful, sometimes gentle, and sometimes fierce actions that can really make a difference -- in our own lives and those of others.” -Sharon Salzberg

Lauren Vignali

Occupational Therapist

Education

Bachelor's Degree (B.S.) in Health Promotion & Sports Medicine, Coastal Carolina University

Favorite Quote

"Believe you can and you're halfway there." -Theodore Roosevelt

Nicole Johnson

ILC Teacher

Education

Favorite Quote

"I have learned that people will forget what you have said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

Nicole Lee

ILC Teacher

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Nutrition - University of Northern Colorado

Master of Education (M.Ed.)  in Special Education- Colorado Christian University

Endorsements: -Special Education Generalist (Ages 5-21)

                       - Elementary Education (K-6)

 Favorite Quote

"Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen." ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Jessi Estes

Moderate Needs Teacher

Education

Favorite Quote

"Every child deserves a champion, an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be." - Rita Pierson

Valerie Manspeaker

Learning Specialist

Education

BA History from Colorado State University

MA Special Education University of Northern Colorado

Favorite Quote

“A child's life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark.”  — Chinese proverb

Adam Parker

Psychologist

Education

Educational Specialist Degree in School Psychology (Ed.S)

Favorite Quote

“Nothing you wear is more important than your smile.”

Naarah Silva

Social Worker

Education

Bachelor of Social Work at Western Connecticut State and Master of Social Work Advanced Practice Leadership at Texas State

Favorite Quote

“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” Christopher Robin

Philosophy and Goals

The mission of the Cherry Creek District is to educate each student to think, to learn, to achieve, and to care. We are committed to this mission and to collaborating with general education teachers to provide quality education for all students, including those with special needs. We recognize the critical need for all students to achieve their highest potential.

Program Highlights

Learning Disabilities

Mrs. Manspeaker and Mrs. Estes provide assessments and services for students with perceptual and communication disabilities that significantly affect student achievement.

Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Lee provide services for students with significant support needs and Autism. The ILC classroom is a place where students learn life skills and instruction driven by the student's individualized education plan. The ILC program also includes adaptations for general education curriculum, and provides opportunities for inclusion within the general education classroom for students with significant disabilities.

Speech/Language

Mrs. Creech provides assessments and services for students with communication disabilities that have an adverse effect on educational performance.

Occupational Therapy

Ms. Frankhouser provides assessments and services that help students with fine and gross motor needs as well as sensory needs that significantly impact classroom functioning.

Mental Health Services — Psychologist

Mr. Parker provides individual, small group and classroom mental health interventions and supports so students can more readily access learning and be successful. Additionally, Mr. Parker consults to support parents and teachers, administer assessments to understand how students learn best with the goal of teaching that builds on strengths and target areas of need.