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Director of Special Programs
Director of Special Programs
Hello, my name is Ria Michener, and I proudly serve as the Director of Special programs for the West Independent School District. With over thirty years in Texas public schools, I have previously served as a Special Education Teacher, Behavior Specialist/Special Education Counselor, and Education Diagnostician in Red Oak ISD for 19 years. I spent 3 years as an Educational Diagnostician in Mansfield ISD before moving to Waxahachie ISD where I served as the Lead Diagnostician and Special Programs Coordinator.
My educational philosophy is to meet all children where they are and take them as far as they are capable of going through meaningful inclusive practices.
Ria Michener
Director of Special Programs
West ISD
254-981-2000 ext. 2261
Special Education Department
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Ria Michener- Director of Special Programs
Kelley Brewer- Administrative Assistant
Skyler Stanley- Educational Diagnostician, Primary Campus
Meagan Perry- Educational Diagnostician, Secondary Campus
Haylee Boyd- Speech Pathologist
Maddison Pope- Speech Pathologist
Kathryn Hamilton- Social Services
Hannah Grigsby- Occupational Therapist
Mailing Address:
PO Box 655
West, TX 76691Physical Address:
406 W. Shook
West, TX 76691Phone: (254) 981-2000
Fax: (254) 826-3342 -
It is never too early or too late to explore a child’s educational opportunities. If you suspect a child of having a developmental delay or disability, West ISD can open a window of hope for a brighter future for that child. Special services are available to eligible infants, children and young adults identified with a disability.
They may be experiencing difficulties in the following areas:
- Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- Visual Impairment
- Intellectual Disability
- Physical Disability
- Deaf/Blind
- Emotional Disturbance
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Learning Disability
- Autism
- Speech and/or Language Difficulties
Each child is unique and some have special needs, but ALL have the right to an education and the ability to learn. Learning experiences encourage intellectual, social and emotional growth. Children develop self-confidence and the ability to get along with others. Every child has the capacity to learn, to develop and to grow to his or her full potential. Do you know a child who may need special services? Your school can provide needed educational/related services if there is an identified disability and an educational need.
For questions or additional information, please contact the West ISD Special Programs Department at (254) 981-2261.
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Dyslexia
Dyslexia Specialists:
Melissa Beseda
Dyslexia Teacher - West Elementary School and St. Mary's Catholic School
Email: mbeseda@westisd.net
Phone: WES - (254) 981-2200
Candace Eubanks
Dyslexia Teacher - West Middle/High School
Email: ceubanks@westisd.net
Phone: WMS - (254) 981-2100
Important Dyslexia Program Resources:
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West ISD Notification of Rights under FERPA for Elementary and Secondary Schools:
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:
(1) The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the campus receives a request for access.
Parents or eligible students should submit to the campus principal [or appropriate school official] a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The campus official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
(2) The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
Parents or eligible students who wish to ask the campus to amend a record should write the campus principal clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the campus decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the campus will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
(3) The right to privacy of personally identifiable information in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to campus officials with legitimate educational interests. A campus official is a person employed by the campus as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the campus has outsourced services or functions it would otherwise use its own employees to perform (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A campus official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the campus discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes of the student’s enrollment or transfer.
(4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the campus to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Child Find:
West ISD is required to provide services to all students with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21. The students must qualify by meeting the federal criteria in one or more of the following areas: learning disabled, speech impaired, other health impaired, orthopedically impaired, auditorally impaired, visually impaired, emotionally disturbed, mentally retarded (intellectually disabled), autistic, or traumatic brain injured. Children who are auditorally impaired and/or visually impaired can be served before the age of three in these two areas. Special education provides a continuum of child-centered education and supportive services to meet the needs of students with disabilities. These services are provided in combination with, or in addition to, those provided in the general education program. It ensures students with disabilities an equal opportunity for a free, appropriate public education. To the extent they will benefit, students with disabilities are educated with their non-disabled peers in the least restrictive environment. The specific educational needs of the student, rather than his/her disability, determine the type of instructional services and related services provided. The district must also "locate, identify, and evaluate all private school children with disabilities, including religious-school children residing in the jurisdiction of the district."
If your child is in public or private school or home schooled and you suspect that your child may be eligible for special education services, please contact the West ISD Special Programs Department at (254) 981-2261.
ESC Region 12 offers child find information, referral services, and public awareness to parents and community members at no cost. Services may be available for children from birth through the age of 21.
Information about Child Find can be found at this link: ESC 12 Childfind
For a video concerning Child Find see:
Texas Education Agency (TEA)
- Child Find in Texas http://www.tea.state.tx.us/special.ed/childfind/
- Legal Framework for the Child Centered Process: Child Find Framework Childfind Framework
Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
- Early Childhood Intervention: Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
U.S. Department of Education (DOE), Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP):
- IDEA Child Find Project:
- National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) Building the Legacy: A Training Curriculum on IDEA 2004: Theme C: Evaluating Children for Disability NIHCY
- NICHCY compiles disability-related resources in each state, and creates State Resource Sheets to help locate organizations and agencies within each state that address disability-related issues. States Resources Sheet
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Notice of Procedural Safeguards:
Parent's Guide to the Admission, Review, and Dismissal Process:
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Section 504 is an anti-discrimination statute of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This civil rights statute protects people with disabilities from discrimination and allows a "level playing field" for public school students who qualify. To qualify under Section 504, a student must have a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as eating, breathing, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, concentrating, interacting with others, learning, etc. To determine whether an impairment is "substantially limiting" a student is measured against same age, non-disabled peers in the general population. Students identified as Section 504 eligible may have a service plan. The services and/or accommodations outlined in a students plan are meant to provide equal footing to that of the student's peers so that each student has similar opportunities to access learning.
In West ISD, Ria Michener, serves as the Section 504 Coordinator. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to refer your child for a Section 504 evaluation, please contact your campus counselor.Ria Michener
District 504 Coordinator
406 W. Shook Street
West, Texas 76691
(254) 981-2000
Campus 504 Coordinators
Elementary: Tara Gerik
254-981-2200
Middle School: Raymond Cook
254-981-2120
High School: Jana Pratka
254-981-2050