ABOUT
Support is our priority
Our Academy
Solterra Academy provides comprehensive special education for students ages 5 to 21 who require intensive intervention due to severe emotional, behavioral, cognitive, developmental and/or learning challenges. The school is designed to provide a high level of structure and support, as well as an integrated array of services to address each child’s unique profile.
At Solterra Academy, family involvement and support is a priority. Counseling, parent education, and 24-hour crisis intervention services are provided.
LEADING STUDENTS TO NEW HEIGHTS
Our Goal
The goal of Solterra Academy is to foster independence in all aspects of the students’ development so they may be successfully transitioned back to their home school district. We believe that children can realize their potential, given an environment that is supportive, developmentally appropriate and geared to specific individual needs. We are dedicated to the development of a sense of cooperation, self-motivation, adjustment and academic accomplishment for each child.
Solterra Academy is approved as a special education facility by the Connecticut State Department of Education.
Our Services
Individualized clinical services for each student
Individualized resource instruction in reading
Diagnostic educational evaluation
Intellectual/cognitive testing
Speech/language evaluation and therapy
Occupational/physical therapy evaluation and treatment
Vocational education, including community job shadowing
Individual transition planning
Integrated use of technology within the curriculum
School consultation and community training
Music and art programs
Extra-curricular activities and family events
Our Services
Individualized clinical services for each student
Individualized resource instruction in reading
Diagnostic educational evaluation
Intellectual/cognitive testing
Speech/language evaluation and therapy
Occupational/physical therapy evaluation and treatment
Vocational education, including community job shadowing
Individual transition planning
Integrated use of technology within the curriculum
School consultation and community training
Music and art programs
Extra-curricular activities and family events
Our Approach To Leadership
Team Approach
The strength of Solterra Academy's approach to providing quality education for children with special needs rests on the interdisciplinary team model and a low student-to-staff ratio. Teams are comprised of certified special education teachers, licensed clinical social workers and psychologists, speech and language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, vocational education teachers, physical education teacher, pediatric/school nurses, assistant teachers, instructional tutors and classroom aides. A child/adolescent psychiatrist is available for medication evaluation, consultation and medication management.
Certified Special Education Teachers
Classroom instruction is provided by certified special education teachers. Most of our teachers hold Masters Degrees in Education and all of them specialize in teaching children with special needs. They are knowledgeable in the Common Core State Standards and strive to facilitate these important skills throughout the entire school day so that our students are ready for the challenges that face them in their public school districts or in the community following graduation.
Administration
Members of the administrative team at Solterra Academy have expertise in the areas of curriculum and assessment, educational diagnostics, special education law, positive behavior interventions and supports, trauma-based care and child/adolescent psychology. This dynamic team of educational and clinical administrators works together with staff, students, parents and school districts to ensure quality programming for each child enrolled in our school.
Our Administrative Team
Gwen Killheffer, Ph.D
Executive Director of Education
860-612-2366
Email: [email protected]
Jennifer Andrade, PsyD.
Clinical Director
860-612-2327
Christine Smith, LCSW
Clinical Coordinator
Deven Constant
Principal
860-612-2312
Email:
[email protected]
Neal Pearson
Educational Coordinator.
860-612-2360
Monica Thomas-Hardy, M.Ed.
Assistant Principal
860-612-2383
Email:
[email protected]
Nicole Haeseler, M.Ed., C.A.S.
Assistant Principal
Anna Maria Martin, M.Ed., C.A.S.
Assistant Principal