Contact Information

                                                                                                   

Fran Lagace

Director of Special Education and Student Services 

FLagace@westbrookctschools.org

 

Jillian Carr

Administrative Assistant

JCarr@westbrookctschools.org

 

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

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

RRose@westbrookctschools.org

Heather Scholfield, TESOL Educator

HScholfield@westbrookctschools.org

 

Westbrook Middle School and High School Staff Contact

Middle School (860) 399-2010

High School (860) 399-6214

Matt Talmadge, Principal at Westbrook Middle School

MTalmadge@westbrookctschools.org

Nicole Troncale, TESEL Educator at Westbrook Middle and High School

NTroncale@westbrookctschools.org

Tara Winch, Principal at Westbrook High School

TWinch@westbrookctschools.org

Stephanie Parsons, TESOL Educator at Westbrook High School

SParsons@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**

 

 ELL Bill of Right.pdf