Exceptional Children

Helping Exceptional Children Reach Their Potential in the Least Restrictive Environment

At Mountain Discovery, we strive to create an environment that celebrates inclusion and diversity and that allows each child to discover their own unique potential. We pride ourselves on serving the whole child along the full continuum. We collaborate as an integrated team with teachers, parents, related services professionals, support staff, and the students to develop effective Individual Special Education Plans for each student.

The E.C. Department’s goals are to provide innovative research-based strategies and interventions to support all of our students’ academic, social, and functional growth. By utilizing a least restrictive inclusion model of services, exceptional students are in the regular classrooms with their peers as much as possible. This allows all students to participate as active classroom community members. We are here to provide the support and tools they need to successfully access and navigate the North Carolina Curriculum for their grade. Extra support, small group and one on one instruction are offered as needed and on a regular basis. Each student is provided the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills, and insight to lead productive lives.

Welcome

If you are new to Mountain Discovery and have questions about special education, please contact Tracy Wharton, Coordinator for EC Services via email at twharton@mountaindiscovery.org.

In order to make your student’s transition into Mountain Discovery go smoothly, it is very important to provide copies of the following information during registration:

Most recent psychoeducational report, eligibility, evaluation, and/or reevaluation report;
Current individualized education program (IEP);
Contact information for your student’s previous school and school district.

Parent Rights & Responsibilities in Special Education: NC Notice of Procedural Safeguards

NCDPI Exceptional Children Division

The mission of the Exceptional Children Division is to ensure that students with disabilities develop intellectually, physically, emotionally, and vocationally through the provision of an appropriate individualized program in the least restrictive environment.

This handbook is designed to support families with the understanding of the rights and responsibilities specific to the special education process. Acronyms and terms often used in special education and resources can be found in the appendices.

If at any time, you suspect your student may have a disability and is in need of special education and/or related services, you may request an evaluation, in writing, to your student’s school principal, teacher, or MDCS EC Department.

Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) for Families

MTSS For Families

Weblinks for parents:

National Center For Learning Disabilities
TEACCH
Learning Disabilities and ADHD
504 Grievance Procedure

Jessica Ray – EC Teacher

Jessica grew up in Morganton N.C. She is the youngest of three siblings and the only girl. Jessica moved away to attend college at Western Carolina University and ended up falling in love with the Western North Carolina area. She is a recent graduate with a degree in inclusive education. Jessica is able to teach general education, special education, as well as severe and profound disabilities. Her senior year at Western, Jessica did her internship at Mountain Discovery Charter School. She split her time in half with the EC department and with the 1st grade class. She enjoyed the atmosphere ...

Brittany Morgan - Self Contained Classroom EC Lead Teacher

"I grew up in these mountains and I love these mountains. We are all extremely lucky to live here together. My passion is kids, it's as simple as that. This school is definitely something special and you can feel that when you're here. As the EC teacher, I have had the privilege of working with some pretty extraordinary kids. My number one goal as a teacher is to promote key life skills to our students such as kindness, independence, empathy, communication, and making connections. I strive for our students to feel safe, comfortable, and engaged in our classroom." Brittany has ...

Ella Pindur – EC Assistant

BIO COMING SOON ...

Grace Knapp – EC Assistant

Grace Knapp joined MDCS with an eclectic background. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Western Carolina University. She is an outdoor enthusiast and also has her Forestry Skills certification from the Appalachian Holistic Institute. She has had several years of experience in working with children with disabilities. Her daughter also attends MDCS and is in 1st grade. She previously worked in Alaska as an underwater gold miner for three years before moving back to North Carolina. Her passion is traveling and scuba diving. She spent most of her life visiting every state except Hawaii (which is still on ...