Photos of Staff and Students
About Us
The Special Services staff at Westbrook Public Schools believes every child can learn and every child has a right to a free and appropriate public education. Some children are exceptional and have disabilities, which makes them eligible for special education services in addition to the regular education program. The Department of Special Services ensures that all children between the age of 3 and 21 will have the appropriate programs of instruction and related services designed to meet their individual needs. If you have any concern about your child’s progress in school, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher, Principal or Director of Special Services. Westbrook offers regular education and special education support services and programs to all children.
Contact Information
Fran Lagace
Director of Special Education and Student Services
FLagace@westbrookctschools.org
Jillian Carr
Administrative Assistant
158 McVeagh Road
Westbrook, CT 06498
(P) 860-399-6432
(F) 860-399-8817
Director of Special Education and Student Services, Francis A. Lagace, Introduction Letter
Fran Lagace Introduction Letter.pdf
Hello Parents, Guardians and Families,
I would like to formally introduce myself as the new Director of Special Services (since November 30, 2020) of Westbrook Public Schools! My name is Fran Lagace and I come to Westbrook with 20 years of educational experience that includes nine years of teaching and eleven years in educational leadership. As some of you may know, Madeline Illinger “retired” in June of 2020 but then stayed on in the role of Interim Director of Special Services until the end of November.
It has certainly been challenging to “hit the ground running” in the middle of a school year during a global pandemic and the amazing staff and families here in Westbrook have been truly supportive and wonderful! It has been my privilege and honor to meet many of you in meetings already since I started. I am looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you to support you and your child(ren) in having the best and most successful, personalized educational experience here in Westbrook.
If you would like to contact my office and set up a time we can meet and discuss your child’s specific needs, or just to say “Hi,” please do not hesitate to reach out to me at the contact information above. You can also reach out to my administrative assistant, Jillian Carr at jcarr@westbrookctschools.org, to schedule a meeting. Currently we are conducting all meetings remotely through Google Meet or by teleconference due to the pandemic conditions.
I look forward to meeting all of you and working with your grade level team to provide the very best services possible for your student(s)!
Sincerely and in partnership,
Fran Lagace
Director of Special Services
Westbrook Public Schools
Referrals and PPT/504
- Procedural Safeguards Notice (NEW March 2021)
- Procedural Safeguards Notice - SPANISH (NEW March 2021)
- Guidelines for Independent Educational Evaluations
- Helpful CT Resources for Families
- Parents Notice of the Laws Relating to Seclusion and Restraint
- Parent Notice of the Laws Relating to the use of Seclusion and Restraint in Spanish
- Parents Guide to Special Education
- Parents Guide to Special Education in Spanish
- Special Education Referral Form in English
- Special Education Referral Form in Spanish
- Transition Bill of Rights in English
- Transition Bill of Rights in Spanish
- The IEP Guide
Programs and Services for English Learners
Westbrook Public Schools
The Westbrook Public Schools values bilingualism, biliteracy, and multiculturalism. The district believes in the cognitive, academic, and social benefits of bilingualism and promotes language learning opportunities in grades K-12. Our opportunities include:
- Spanish as a Foreign Language Instruction at the elementary level in Grades PreK-4
- Spanish and French World Language Instruction at middle and high school, Grades 5-12
- Bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESOL) Instruction in Grades K-12
- Culminating opportunity to demonstrate bilingual proficiency in Grade 11 or 12: Any/all students may take language proficiency tests to demonstrate their proficiency in a language other than English and earn the Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal is placed on the student's diploma and noted in their high school transcript.
There is wide variation in the experiences and skills of children who are learning a second language. The degree to which children's use of their first language is supported at home and in other environments has a great impact on their language development, as does the age at which they begin to learn a second language and the students' academic/educational background. For example, preschool students, who have had limited or no exposure to English and/or an academic setting require time, exposure to the language, and numerous practice opportunities to learn and acquire English. English Learners who are new arrivals from various countries and who have had limited or interrupted formal education also require more time, compacted curriculum, comprehensible content instruction, and increased support.
The Westbrook Public Schools provides a variety or a continuum of English Leaner support services. Students who are at lower levels of English and/or academic proficiency receive more support, and students who are at higher levels of English and academic proficiency receive less support. The type and amount of EL support services changes, or is adjusted, as a student's proficiency levels and needs change and grow. As students approach the State English Learner Mastery Standards, support services are reduced. Changes in services are made after progress is monitored and discussed by teams of educators, and parents are informed of such changes.
English Language Proficiency Testing
Each year, all identified English Learners take an English Language Proficiency test to measure their progress and proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English. These scores are important in helping educators and parents make decisions about the appropriate type and amount of services that students receive each year. Test results are shared with parents annually.
Daisy Ingraham School Contact Information, (860) 399-7925
Ruth Rose, Principal
MaryJo Noonan, Bilingual Educator
MNoonan@westbrookctschools.org
Westbrook Middle School and High School Staff Contact
Middle School (860) 399-2010
High School (860) 399-6214
Susan Miller, Principal at Westbrook Middle School
SMiller@westbrookctschools.org
Joanna Brother, Bilingual Educator at Westbrook Middle and High School
JBrother@westbrookctschools.org
Tara Winch, Principal at Westbrook High School
Lisa Finnegan, TESOL and French Teacher at Westbrook High School
LFinnegan@westbrookctschools.org
Director of Special Education and Student Support Services
Fran Lagace
FLagace@westbrookctschools.org
**Special thank you to Beth Brunet, LEARN Regional Educational Service Center located at 44 Hatchetts Rd in Old Lyme CT 06371, for helping create this information**
Daisy Ingraham Bilingual Education
Middle School Bilingual Education
High School Bilingual Education
Daisy Ingraham Elementary School
Westbrook Middle School
Westbrook High School
Link to Resources
WHS Secondary Transition
- Appendix II - MAPS
- Appendix II-student participation
- Appendix V
- Building A Bridge
- Conover Program
- Journey to Self Advocacy
- Transition Into the Adult World
- Transition Manual
- Transition School to Work Ways to Access Job Coaching Employment Support
- Understanding Rights and Responsibilities
- Youth Handbook
- BRS Process
- Referral Protocol
- Easing into Secondary Transition
