In partnership with the East Central Kansas Cooperative in Education, the school district provides a number of special education resources. Special education teachers, social workers, school psychologists, physical & occupational therapists, behavioral specialists, and speech & language specialists are employed by the district and the ECKCE to serve USD 348 students.
Special education services are essential to our school district as they help provide an accessible, equitable, and individualized education for our students in need of additional supports.
At the core of most special education services are Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or 504 Plans. IEPs are available for students who typically require modifications within their curriculum and/or learning environment, and the student must meet a specific list of criteria to be eligible for those services.
504 Plans are available for any student who has a disability or perceived disability that impacts a major life function, like learning. The 504 plan focuses on accommodations for making the student successful in the general education classroom, and can be temporary or permanent depending on the student’s needs and situation.
Families and schools are important partners in the education of all children, and especially those receiving special education services. Parents and students have rights in the special education process laid out in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the state Kansas Special Education for Exceptional Children Act.
Both IEPs and 504s are reviewed annually, though IEPs have a more rigorous, measurable component associated with the student’s learning and progress toward their educational goals.
Our District 504 Coordinators in each building are as follows:
| Building | 504 Coordinator |
| Primary Center | Melissa McGill |
| Intermediate Center | Dan Wallsmith |
| Junior High School | Derek Bland (6th) & Bench Currie (7/8th) |
| High School | Cydney Novotney |
More information about our district special education partners, the East Central Kansas Cooperative in Education, can be found at their website, www.eckce.com.
District Special Education Staff
Baldwin Elementary School – Primary Center
| Jessica Barker | Speech and Language Pathologist | Ext 523 |
| Lindsay Base | Early Childhood Teacher | Ext 550 |
| Autumn Blakesley | Special Education Teacher | Ext 550 |
| Kate Boswell | Special Education Teacher | Ext 520 |
| Vickie Hane | Special Education Teacher | Ext 518 |
| Jennifer Herrington | Special Education Teacher | Ext 534 |
| Andrea Knowles | School Psychologist | Ext 504 |
| Lacey Maddick | Early Childhood Teacher | Ext 547 |
| Nicole Neil | Early Childhood Teacher | Ext 533 |
| Chelsey Schwendemann | Special Education Social Worker | Ext 319 |
| Kaylyn Stout | Special Education Teacher K-2 Life Skills | Ext 522 |
Baldwin Elementary School – Intermediate Center
| Xixi Cao | Special Education Teacher | Ext 451 |
| Andrea Knowles | School Psychologist | Ext 404 |
| Megan Perry | IRR Instructor | Ext 451 |
| Chelsey Schwendemann | Special Education Social Worker | Ext 319 |
| Stephanie Soden | Speech and Language Pathologist | Ext 452 |
| Rachel Sterner | IRR Instructor | Ext 451 |
Baldwin Junior High School
| Eric Burrows | Special Education Instructor | Ext 340 |
| Connor Coffman-Staatz | School Psychologist | Ext 308 |
| Bari Deardorff | Special Education Teacher Life Skills | Ext 347 |
| Joy Mapes | Special Education Social Worker | Ext 319 |
| Lori Markley | Speech and Language Pathologist | Ext 310 |
| Jennifer Ramirez | Special Education Instructor | Ext 330 |
Baldwin High School
| Connor Coffman-Staatz | School Psychologist | Ext 219 |
| Jeremy Dalton | Special Education Instructor | Ext 263 |
| Jennifer Lewis | Special Education Instructor Life Skills | Ext 266 |
| Joy Mapes | Special Education Social Worker | Ext 319 |
| Kathryn Maschke | Special Education Instructor | Ext 265 |
| Lori Markley | Speech and Language Pathologist | Ext 310 |
| Jeffery Melcher | Special Education Instructor | Ext 267 |
| Chelsey Schwendemann | Special Education Social Worker | Ext 319 |
| Ashley Taylor | Special Education Instructor Bridges Program | Ext 316 |
Staff Serving All Schools
 |
Lee Hanson | ECKCE Director | (785) 594-2737 ext. 200 |
 |
Sara Hoepner | ECKCE Assistant Director | (785) 594-2737 ext. 201 |
| Randi Dalton | Extended Learning Instructor | Ext 345 | |
| Amy Hickman | Behavior Specialist | ||
| Kylie Fisher | Occupational Therapist | Ext 552 | |
| Jim Pershinger | Specialist Team Coordinator | ||
| Paxton Rienbolt | Integration Specialist |