Situation at Hand!

Today I got some news that has my mind racing regarding Isabell's "teacher situation". I'll break it down...

• As many of our Leon family fans know, Isabell has special needs that include and are not limited to Developmental Delays, Physical Delays, and she is hearing and visually impaired. She was born with a heart abnormality called a Vascular Ring and underwent cardiac surgery April 2011.
• At age 6-9 months of age Isabell just was not meeting some of her developmental milestones.
• By age 15 months, she was still showing signs of slow progress. She didn't fully sit up until she was 8-9 months. And she had just started crawling at 14 months. She also wasn't saying any words. Not one. She was so incredibly happy, and such a sweetheart with a voice but didn't say words.
• By that time, Age 15 months- I started to wonder what I could do for Isabell.
• I learned of Arizona Early Intervention
• I called and inquired about Early Intervention for Isabell, and an evaluation was scheduled.
• When therapist (I still know her name but not sure of her spelling) Hailey McMackin with Early Intervention came out to evaluate Isabell and ask questions about her she wrote a report and I later learned that Isabell qualified for Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Developmental Specialist therapists. And we got an IFSP.
• Her first DSI was Claudia McLaughlin! We loved her. Claudia introduced us to Sign Language and Physical activity fun in the grass.  Playing with blocks, and learning new textures and a favorite was shaving cream. She gave us fun and new art and craft ideas. These are all things that Isabell needed lot of specialized attention for. Isabell benefited from therapy tremendously.
• At age 3, Arizona Early Intervention kiddos are re-evaluated and if they qualify their file is transferred over to the DDD office and the kiddo goes to a special education pre-school within your home school districts elementary school.
• At age 3, Isabell DID qualify for pre-school and started November 2008.
• Isabell went to preschool for the school years 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011. So three solid years of special education preschool. With weekly and/or daily therapies and instruction from a special ed teacher, Speech Therapist, Physical Therapist, & Occupational Therapist. Isabell made amazing progress. In the 2010-2011 school year Isabell's teacher was Miss. Bethany Kurz and along with Isabell's speech therapist Ms Bryna Cruz and School Audiologist a few tests were done and we got concerned about Isabell's hearing. So Isabell had a sedated hearing exam performed that identified that she is mild/moderately hearing impaired.
• At the end of the year, Isabell's school psychologist, teachers therapists and I sat down for our IEP Kindergarten Transition meeting. The teacher that was going to be Isabell's Kindergarten teacher also sat in on the meeting. At the transition meeting we discussed that Isabell would benefit from a special education classroom setting and our district offers a program called the PALS program. I am not completly sure what PALS stands for, but its a specialized special education class for functioning special needs kiddos. After learning of the PALS program and meeting the PALS teacher Miss Michelle I fell in love with the idea of the specialized program fpr Isabell.

Ok so fast soward to Kindergarten! This school year... 2011/2012.

• August 2011 came and Isabell started Kindergarten with her IEP in place receiving services from her PALS class, ST, PT, OT, Integrated PE, and sees a hearing therapist.
• There were 3 teachers- Miss Michelle who was pregnant and due in November who was the actual special education PALS teacher, student helper Tori who was pregnant and due in September and student helper Mr. L.
• In September student helper Ms. Tori left on maternity leave not to return so she was replaced by student helper Miss Carrie.
• In September I had an IEP meeting with Miss Michelle and all our peeps.
• In October- a week before Miss Michelle went on her maternity leave the new replacement special education PALS teacher Miss Amy was introduced to the class. Miss Amy was hired on with intentions of being a temp substitute for Miss Michelle in the even Michelle returns back to finish out the school year after her maternity leave. And if Miss Michelle was not going to return to work then Miss Amy would be accepted as the full time replacement.
•   Miss Michelle later announced she was not coming back this school year.
• Sometime in October Mr. L was transferred to another class so a new student helper Mr. Brad was introduced to the class.
• Things were really going well with Miss Amy and her new structure to the class. She had the kids on an amazing system that worked, and I was seeing more developmental progress in Isabell since Miss Amy has been her teacher. I really liked the way things were going.

Until today...
I got information that Isabell now has another teacher and that Isabell's school/district/board or something to taht effect have dismissed Miss Amy from the class.
I learned that the reasoning behind this was a budgeting reason. It's cheaper to hire a substitute than pay a permanent teacher. I guess the district thinks that since it's this late in the year that it doesn't matter and they can save a buck or two.
Well here is my immediate concern.

• Isabell and her classmates are all special needs kiddos.
• The maximum amount of students in the PALS program should not exceed 12 students.
• These kiddos all require lots of re-direction and special instruction which leads to the PALS class needing and utilizing 2 student helpers. So that makes a total of 3 adults in the classroom per 12 students (if and when there aren't any absences!)
• I have seen Isabell and her PALS classmates in action and I have observed instruction on occasion. The 3 adults in the classroom work to their fullest capabilities to keep their 12 students on task, and needless to say there is never a dull moment. With these children that need so much instruction and attention, the 3 adults in the classroom work harder than a busy construction crew on most days. All to manage My DAUGHTERS SPECIAL NEEDS along with her special classmates.
• I feel like these children with such a high demand in Special Education that have such a promising future deserve flawless structure and stability.
• Since Kindergarten began for Isabell in August- Nothing has been flawless. There has been so much instability, change, and too many teachers filtering in and out of that PALS classroom.
• I am very passionate about providing the very best for Isabell, and making sure all of our goals are being met.
• I feel like our district or deciding board on making yet another teacher change to the PALS program is a blow to the balls to Richie an I as Isabell's parents. Does this mean that our daughter has to suffer because of  budgeting issues?
• These kiddos don't understand all this change, and they don't deserve to be brushed under the rug.
• I would really like to meet the Governing Board or whoever made these decisions. I want to meet the person/people that have allowed the 2011/2012 PALS Program to become such a disaster- and who is continuing to let it be a disaster. I want this person to try and make me understand the reasoning as to why MY DAUGHTER, MY amazing perfect daughter is getting ripped off in the matter of her fucking education. Let's be real, and I'm being real. Isabell is getting fucking robbed of all her potential that I have WORKED my ass off in trying to make sure I maximize her life and education to the fullest extent.

I have alot of questions, and I need answers. I need to observe instruction with the substitute and make sure Isabell's IEP needs are being met as her IEP is a legal document and if they aren't following that document then they are breaking the law. I wish I understood all there is to know about DDD and IEP's, and all the rules and regulations. I wish I had my own personal liason who knows all this info at my beckon call!
I had a quiet week planned, but now it looks like it's going to be filled with meetings with Isabell's school, the district and anyone else that I feel necessary.

Any advise on this matter is welcome.