District Speech & Language Staff Updates

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

January 22, 2024

Dear Gill-Montague Families,

I am writing today to inform you of some updates with our district speech & language providers.   We are very pleased to welcome John Gordon, SLP-CCC, to GMRSD as of January 17, 2024.  He was all set to start on Tuesday, January 16th, but the weather forecast led to a change of plans for many of us and our first snow day of the year!  Please note the linked brief biography on Mr. Gordon.

As an experienced SLP-CCC, Mr. Gordon will primarily be supporting learners at Great Falls Middle School/ Turners Falls High School, as well as providing both direct and indirect supervision of Ms. Kimberly Pouliot, SLP-A, at Gill Elementary School.  Ms. Pouliot, will continue her wonderful work at Gill Elementary School, as well as provide some additional support for learners at Sheffield and Hillcrest School. Ms. Cassie Holmes, SLP-A, will step back from her dual role of Life Skills & Transition teacher and SLP-A at Turners Falls High School.  As some of our families know, Ms. Cassie has embedded communication and language into all that she does as a special education teacher in her work with students. This language rich work will continue, as she partners with John Gordon, who will be covering the direct IEP and consultation services for TFHS students as we move forward. Now that we have John Gordon on board, Ms. Debra Lanou, SLP, will step away from her part time supervisory role of Ms. Pouliot. We are so grateful to Deb for helping us out in our time of need!

Some other updates include: Ms. Jasmine Smith, SLP-CCC, will have some dedicated time to support assistive augmentative communication (AAC) in the district, in addition to her students at Hillcrest School.  TDS Communication, Ms. Gabby and Ms. Rebecca, will continue on with us through June providing language services at Sheffield Elementary School as families were previously informed.  Last, but certainly not least, Ms. Joann Donnelly, will continue in her experienced role supporting our early learners as Hillcrest Elementary.

We are immensely grateful to have such a dedicated team of SLP staff to support the language and communication needs of our GMRSD learners!

Warm regards,

Dianne Ellis, Pupil Services Director