Student Services Department

At SSA, the objective of our Student Services Department is to support the social, emotional and intellectual growth of all of your children. It is a mission that we take very seriously. In my role as Director, I have the privilege of overseeing an incredible team of professionals, who provide guidance to our school’s families and educators to ensure that our students reach their full potential both in and outside of the classroom. 

Our department has two teams that collaborate closely.

Our team of mental-health professionals, including Stacey Park, Adrienne Frank, Ilana Litchman, Gabrielle Marchand, and Kris Schicchi, works directly with students experiencing social-emotional or behavioral challenges, both individually and in small groups. For example, they offer individual therapy, social skills groups, supervise the BodyBreak room, and develop behavior plans. Moreover, the team consults with teachers and parents in order to support the implementation of best-practices in the classroom and home environment to help students thrive. The department also plays a role in building capacity within the community by sharing its expertise in child development with all SSA students, parents, and educators through parent workshops, professional development for teachers, and school-wide programs targeting social-emotional learning.

Our academic team, also known as “Resource”, including Catherine Meloche, Raquelle Brody, Gabrielle Marchand, Nathalie Noel, Ruth Mamane, and Laurence Rubio, provides small group and individual academic intervention, consults with parents and teachers about supporting students with different learning styles in the classroom, and are responsible for the development and revision of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). SSA uses a Response to Intervention (RTI) model to guide our delivery of academic resources to our students who need it most. RTI is an empirically-based, proactive, and ongoing educational measure that identifies students' learning challenges and adjusts interventions accordingly. In short, through standardized screenings and teacher observations, our academic team determines which students require more targeted instruction and makes certain that all children progress according to their own rhythm and goals. 

While the work that the Student Services Department does is considered complementary to the core instruction and lessons that take place in a classroom, it is also essential in ensuring that we address and break down any barriers to academic success a child may experience, whether they are social-emotional, developmental, or learning. We are proud to represent the inclusive model of education that embraces neurodiversity and opens the door for all children to receive an excellent Jewish education.

Shana Tova,

Dr. Alexandra DArrisso

Director of Student Services