My name is Marcia Monk. I received my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education in 1991 from the University of Kansas. After teaching preschool for two years, I began working with children ages 0-5 in special education. I have been teaching at Oakland Heights since 2013. I received my English as a Second Language (ESL) certification from Arkansas Tech University in 2016. I am a National Board Certified teacher and received my master’s degree in Reading with a certification in Dyslexia in 2020. I began working as a Dyslexia Interventionist in 2021. I love teaching and believe that all children can succeed at learning.
ABOUT INTERVENTION
Response to Intervention (RTI) at O.H.E. occurs with the guidance of a school-based RTI team. It determines what interventions would best accelerate the learning of students who need more intensive instruction in reading, writing, or math. Parents are always included as members of the RTI team process.
Tier III interventions are taught by our school team of highly trained interventionists for 250 minutes over a two-week period, either individually or in a very small group setting. A student’s progress is tracked by their interventionist as well as their classroom teacher. RTI student support team meetings (SST), are typically held every 8 to 10 weeks to allow the RTI team to analyze student progress and decide on the best next steps for that student.
MEET THE INTERVENTIONISTS
Susan Berry, Math Interventionist
My name is Susan Berry. I graduated from Arkansas Tech University. I have been teaching at Oakland Heights since 1999. I taught third grade most of those years. For three years, I taught in looping cycle with my team to teach fourth grade as well. In 2006, I received my National Board Certification. In 2019, I became the math interventionist at Oakland. Teaching is my passion and I absolutely love what I do!
Miranda Harris, Reading Interventionist
I’m Miranda Harris. I graduated from Arkansas Tech University in the spring of 2014. I began teaching at Oakland Heights in the Fall of 2014. I have taught both third and fourth grades. After earning my Master's Degree in Reading from Arkansas State in 2021, I became a reading interventionist. I am so proud to be a part of the Oakland Heights family.
Marcia Monk, Dyslexia Interventionist
Kim Schwartz, Reading Interventionist
I am Kim Schwartz. I graduated from UCA with a B.S.E. in elementary and special education in 1984 and received my M.S.E. as a reading specialist in 1988. After teaching in Hector for five years and then working with special needs preschoolers for 14 years, I began teaching at Oakland in 2003. I taught special education (resource) for 10 years, then became an interventionist in 2013, teaching reading recovery to first-graders as well as working with students needing extra help in either literacy or math. I love getting to know my students and helping them learn as much as they can.