Special Education Consulting

Svetlana Hruda Educator History

While I had some excellent teachers throughout my academic career, I had some gravely
disappointing ones, as well. Particularly in high school, watching friends struggle to balance their
personal lives with their school lives, I always thought there was a better way to support and educate
children, especially children with clear challenges. This desire to do better led to a Bachelor of Science
degree in education from Cornell University and a Master of Science in Special Education from Bank
Street College of Education. The ethos of Bank Street is child centered. Nearly every class involved
working with a child in some fashion, putting classroom theory into practice and evaluating the result.
The Bank Street Special Education program focused on clinical teaching: diagnosing the specifics of an
area of challenge, creating lessons to address that area, evaluating the results, and adjusting the lesson
program according to the results. The culture of analyzing a student's struggles and synthesizing
solutions for them is central to my approach to education. There is always a way; results are not
always immediate or quickly recognizable, particularly with students with learning disabilities, but they
do happen. Patience, perseverance, and creative thinking are key to special needs students' success. It
is the school's job to provide the environment with these qualities, so all students' needs are equitably
met. This is the environment I strive to create for the students for whom I consult and tutor.

Why Would I Need a Special Education Consultant?

Assessing students for special education service eligibility is a long, arduous process that is not
undertaken lightly by teachers and administrators. There are Federal and State laws, local school district
policies and procedures, and individual differences in school buildings that impact this process and,
consequently, its outcome. Meetings to discuss initial evaluation results and even annual individualized
education plan reviews can feel rushed and incomplete. While not necessary, parents may find it useful
and helpful to have someone outside of the school provide guidance before, during, and/or after the
evaluation process. With twenty-one years' experience as a special education teacher in two different
Kansas school districts, I can provide this guidance. I can tell you the difference between a standardized
norm referenced test and a curriculum based measurement. I can explain the "alphabet soup" of initials
to which you will be exposed, as well as the vocabulary specific to the evaluation. I can talk you
through the parent's rights form. Most importantly, I can coach you on how to best advocate for your
child with teachers and administrators. Regardless of the reason your child is being considered for
special education services, I can support you in getting the best out of these services. If you are
dissatisfied with the responses and explanations from school staff and state support personnel, consider
having me help you help your child. I can provide such assistance in private or group classes or in
private consultation.

Tutoring

My focus in tutoring is metacognition regarding learning and behavior, so that students become
as independent as possible as quickly as possible. For students of any age with special needs, I can
provide strategic tutoring in all academic subjects and self-advocacy. I am particularly strong in
language arts (reading and writing), science, social studies, and self-advocacy. Strategic tutoring teaches
how to learn through the given curriculum. I will not show students where the answers are. I will teach
students how to analyze a question, how to seek information, and how to answer a question to
demonstrate learning. I will teach how to attack a test. I will teach how to read and study to retain
information. I will teach how to talk with teachers, employers, and other service providers to get needs
met. The goal is to become a self-sufficient life-long learner capable of coping with the uncertainties of
adult life.