Special Education

Ox Ridge Elementary School Special Education

Alongside Principal Chris Melillo and Assistant Principals Maya Feldman and Jaclyn Welsh, PTO Special Education representatives serve as a resource for families navigating special education at Ox Ridge Elementary School.  We work diligently to promote diversity and inclusion while identifying and examining shared challenges and successes within the Ox Ridge Special Education Community. 

Together, we are:  

• Dedicated to promoting an environment of understanding, inclusion, and acceptance for all students. 

• Enthusiastic about building community by enhancing communication, bolstering collaboration, and fostering support amongst families of children with specialized needs. 

• Inspired by our children who conquer challenges, demonstrate resilience, and work hard to achieve their individualized goals every day.

Additionally, as active members of the Council of Darien School Parents (CDSP) Special Education subcommittee, we collaborate alongside Darien’s elementary, middle, and high school special education representatives with the goal to build and strengthen Darien’s special education community district wide.  We work to recognize district-level concerns that may need to be escalated to CDSP, Central Office, and/or the Board of Education as guided by CDSP’s mission statement. 

Ox Ridge PTO Special Education Representative Responsibilities

• Strengthen Ox Ridge’s special education community while promoting inclusion and acceptance

• Work alongside Principal Chris Melillo and Assistant Principals Maya Feldman and Jaclyn Wesh to address building-level issues as appropriate and build community. 

• Members of the Ox Ridge PTO executive committee, providing input to PTO Chairs Kate Kaufman and Vanessa Donatello about special education topics within Ox Ridge and the wider Darien school district. 

• Evaluate PTO sponsored programming, such as Sunday Funday, to ensure inclusion for all students. 

• Work alongside CDSP and the CDSP Special Education subcommittee to identify common district wide issues and share best practices throughout the school year.  

• Attend SPAC and Board of Education Meetings