Special Education

Welcome, from the special education (SPED) staff of Plumas Charter School!

Mel

SPED Teacher
Melanie Strahm
[email protected]
Started with PCS in 2014
Education: BA in mathematics
Teaching credentials: Multiple Subject (general subjects); intern Education Specialist Instruction (mild to moderate disabilities)
Interests and hobbies: hiking, cooking
 C. Miles
Speech Therapist
Carol Miles
[email protected]
Started with PCS in 2022
Education: MA, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Clinical Rehabilitative Services with Special Class Authorization. Licensed by California State Board of Medical Quality Assurance-Speech Language Pathologist. Certificate of Clinical Competence-American Speech Language Hearing Association.
Interests and hobbies: Hiking, kayaking, boating, tubing, gardening, skiing, bird watching, reading and visual arts. 
RC SPED Instructional Aide
Renay Courtois
[email protected]
Started with PCS in 2023
Cooke

SPED Instructional Aide
Anika Cooke
[email protected]
Started with PCS in 2023
Education: AA Liberal Studies, College of the Redwoods
Interests and hobbies: art, reading, nature and music
Emily

SPED Instructional Aide
Emily Fullerton
[email protected]
Started with PCS in 2023
Education: Pursuing BA in Psychology at Northern Arizona University and SpEd Credential at Cal-Poly Humboldt
Interests and hobbies: Spending time outdoors, riding, training horses and giving riding lessons to kids. Spending time with my family, friends and partner, going to concerts and helping others. I am eager to learn new things and also volunteer for Horses Unlimited.
beth

SPED Instructional Aide IVA
Beth McDonald
[email protected]
Started with PCS in 2023 
Amy

 SPED Teacher Chester & IVA
Amy Branch
[email protected]
Started with PCS in 2024
Education: MA in Special Education
Teaching credential: Education Specialist
Interests and hobbies: I love being outdoors hiking, exploring or relaxing by the lake! I love to cook and bake. I've recently began making sourdough bread, so if I'm not outside, I'm likely making something in the kitchen. 

Notice of Public Hearing (English)Notice of Public Hearing (Spanish)
Plumas Charter School offers a full continuum of special education services based on a student's individual education plan (IEP). We embrace the inclusion model, in which students with special needs spend most or all of their time with general education students. This model is based on evidence that mixed experience leads to better outcomes, both academically and socially, for special education students. We have also witnessed positive outcomes for general education students who spend time with special needs students: the experience regularly improves progress toward social-emotional development goals for everyone involved.

In California, every local education agency (LEA), i.e., school entity, is required to belong to a special education local plan area (SELPA). The SELPA is a consortium of LEAs responsible for the development of special education policies and procedures, distribution of federal and state special education funds, and provision of professional development pertaining to special education. Plumas Charter School belongs to the El Dorado Charter SELPA, which we joined in 2017. For valuable information on families' rights, SPED basics, and state and federal resources, click the button below.

Family Resources

Click the link below to access the SELPA's governance page, which includes updated copies of our local plan, the annual budget and service plan, and a master list of current schools.

SELPA Governance

Local Plan

Service Providers

Plumas Charter School contracts with Presence Learning for its Occupational Therapy services. For more information visit: https://www.presencelearning.com/ 
We contract with Julie Hammond at Feather River Physical Therapy for our Physical Therapy program.