Whom Should I Ask?
Middle School Procedures for Resolving Concerns
Throughout the school year, it's normal for questions to arise. In order to efficiently and accurately address your concerns, please channel questions and concerns as follows, in the order indicated:
- General Student Concerns
- Student Behavior
- Curriculum & Instruction Concerns
- Special Education Concerns
- Parent Organization Concerns
- Food Service Concerns
- Facilities Concerns
- District-Level Concerns
- Athletics Concerns
General Student Concerns
Teacher
In most cases, a parent or guardian should speak with the individual who works most closely with their child, usually the child’s teacher. Students are also encouraged to speak first with their teacher if they have a general concern about the class. Email addresses in the Pelham Public Schools are the employees first initial followed by their last name @pelhamschools.org. I.E. John Doe is jdoe@pelhamschools.org.
Teachers' contact information may also be found using our online directory.
(For questions regarding Special Education services, see Special Education Concerns).
School Counselor
Questions regarding counseling, class placement, college admissions, etc. should be addressed to a students counselor. A list of PMS counselors is available on the Counseling Department web page. If these concerns are not fully resolved by the school counselor, they may be addressed to Director of Counseling Services Gene Farrell.
Contact the Director of Counseling Services
School Psychologist
Questions regarding peer/social concerns, and any other social-emotional issues should first be addressed to the school psychologists:
Issues that are not fully resolved at the psychologist level may be addressed to the school principal.
Assistant Principal
If an issue remains unresolved, parents should contact Assistant Principal Dr. Maria Thompson.
Contact the Assistant Principal
Principal
If an issue is not resolved after speaking with the teacher, counselor, school psychologist or assistant principal, Principal Lynn Sabia should be contacted. Personnel issues should also be addressed to principal.
Student Behavior
General Discipline
Concerns and questions regarding student behavior, including recess issues, should be directed first to Assistant Principal Dr. Maria Thompson.
Contact the Assistant Principal
If concerns regarding student discipline remain, parents should contact Principal Lynn Sabia.
Dignity for All Students ACT (DASA)
Issues related to the Dignity for All Students Act should be addressed to Assistant Principal Dr. Maria Thompson, who serves as the school's DASA coordinator.
Contact the Assistant Principal
Sexual Harassment of Students
Issues related to sexual harassment of students should be addressed to the Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services Traci Holtz or Executive Director for HR & Leadership Dr. Trisha Nugent Fitzgerald who serve as the District's Civil Rights Complaint Officers. Please view the full sexual harassment policy.
Contact the Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services
Curriculum & Instruction Concerns
Teacher
Concerns or questions about coursework or curriculum should first be addressed to the respective teacher.
Email addresses in the Pelham Public Schools are the employees first initial followed by their last name @pelhamschools.org. I.E. John Doe is jdoe@pelhamschools.org.
Teachers' contact information may also be found using our online directory.
Coordinator of Specific Subject Areas
Each specific subject area has a designated department coordinator. For teaching and curricular issues related to art, music, physical education or world languages, please contact the specific department Coordinator:
K-12 Art - Devon Fallon-St. John
K-12 Music - Andrew Van Bochove
K-12 Physical Education - Brian Leighton
Gr. 6-12 World Languages - Dr. Kerri Titone
Curriculum Directors
For concerns related to mathematics, science, English or social studies, including curriculum, instruction, department personnel or curricular materials, please contact the appropriate director:
Suzanne Short - Director of Humanities (social studies & English)
Dr. Thomas Callahan - Director of Science and Mathematics
Joe Toombs III - Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics
Director of Technology
For issues related to technology coursework, curriculum, and personnel, hardware, software, infrastructure, or the acceptable use policy, please contact:
Director of Technology John Sebalos
Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning
Issues not resolved by one of the Directors, or issues related to residency, ENL Services, Title 1 or personnel issues that were not resolved at the school level should be addressed to:
Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning Claire Comerford
Special Education Concerns
Teacher
In most cases, a parent/guardian should speak with the individual who works most closely with their child, usually the child’s teacher.
Email addresses in the Pelham Public Schools are the employees first initial followed by their last name @pelhamschools.org. I.E. John Doe is jdoe@pelhamschools.org.
Teachers' contact information may also be found using our online directory.
Case Manager
All students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) are assigned to a case manager, which is often the teacher they see most often. If issues are not resolved at the teacher level, please contact your child’s case manager with questions related to IEP implementation, testing or program accommodations, goals, or coordination of services.
Psychologist
For issues not sufficiently addressed at the teacher or case manager level, please speak to one of the school psychologists:
Assistant Principal
If issues remain unresolved, parents should contact Assistant Principal Dr. Maria Thompson.
Contact the Assistant Principal
Principal
For issues not sufficiently addressed by the channels above, parents may contact Principal Lynn Sabia for any of the same issues stated above.
Special Education Supervisor Gr. 6-12
For concerns related to Special Education services that are not resolved at the school level, please contact the Gregory Lau, Supervisor for Special Education Gr. 6-12
Contact the Secondary Supervisor
Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services
For concerns not resolved by the Special Education Supervisor, please contact Traci Holtz, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services.
Parent Organization Concerns
PTA
For concerns regarding class parents, class dues, class gifts, fifth grade celebrations, class photos, enrichment, etc., please contact the school’s PTA co-Presidents:
PTA Council
For questions regarding multi-school PTA activities or other local organizations, or questions regarding advertising in PTA “newsletters,” please contact PTA Council President Kristen Whalen.
Contact the PTA Council President
SEPTA
For questions regarding the Special Education Parent Teacher Association, please contact SEPTA co-Presidents
Food Service Concerns
Facilities Concerns
Director of Facilities
For issues related to buildings, fields, grounds or construction issues, please contact John Condon, Director of Facilities.
Contact the Director of Facilities
Assistant Superintendent for Business
For issues not resolved by the Director of Facilities. or any other transportation, facilities use, budget, auditing, accounting, purchasing, safety, or civil service staff related issues, please contact Jim Hricay, Assistant Superintendent for Business.
District-Level Concerns
District Clerk
For issues regarding voter registration, Freedom of Information requests, records requests, or Board of Education issues, please contact District Clerk, Valerie Miller.
Public Information Officer
For issues related to communications, media inquiries, email blasts, text message alerts or the school or district websites, please contact Public Information Officer Alex Wolff
Contact the Public Information Officer
Superintendent
If a concern remains unresolved after following the procedures outlined in the various areas of this page, please contact Dr. Cheryl Champ, Superintendent of Schools. Please note that only certain issues can be appealed to the Board of Education such as matters of transportation or student discipline. Such appeal processes are described in their respective Board policies.
Athletics Concerns
For concerns related to Modified Athletics, parents should first contact their child's coach. Contact information for coaches is generally available in the District Directory.
If a concern remains unresolved, parents should next contact Athletic Director Joe Toombs
If the matter is still unresolved, parents should contact the school principal.