bit.ly/SITHSiss

STATEN ISLAND TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL PRIDES ON PROVIDING AN INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Students who are interested in engaging in Staten Island Tech’s: 

• rigorous and innovative academic programs 
• Advanced Placement, Dual-Enrollment College Courses, Career & Technical Education, Future Ready Pathways, Work-Based Learning Paid-Unpaid Internships
• student activities, athletics, social-emotional and work-based / service learning, cultural responsiveness, and community service opportunities,

and require access to Instructional Support Services (ISS), will find that the Staten Island Tech ISS team works closely with students and parents throughout the child’s time at Staten Island Tech to ensure student needs are met and that they are on track to successfully graduate high school and attend competitive colleges.

Through services such as Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT), Special Education Teacher Support Services (SETSS) and related services, we embed specially designed instruction and individualized support into our curriculum and extra curricular activities to meet the needs of diverse learners and ensure access for all with no barries. 

Students who are looking for a highly-engaging and cutting-edge 21st Century Career Connected Learning curriculum and require accommodations, related services, special classroom support(s) or assistive technology, and have unique management needs as outlined in their IEP, can apply to our school through taking the Specialized High School Admissions Test, and if accepted receive individualized care from our team of Instructional Support Specialists. These supports are provided in our rigorous general education classes, all of which are Honors or AP level, where all students are included. All students are welcomed and encouraged to participate in our rich extracurricular community. 

Staten Island Technical High School also offers a 1-week summer bridge program (bit.ly/SITHSbridge) for incoming freshmen and sophomores (with or without IEPs) in order to support students in:

• Getting a head-start on the school year by becoming familiar with staff, peers, the building and services.
• Making friends by meeting other Techies in a social and academic environment.
• Beginning to learn some of the subjects taught at Tech, like Russian while further developing their writing, note taking and study skills.

Throughout the entire 9th grade we continue to support the High School transition with a weekly Advisory “Talknology and Career Development” (bit.ly/SITHSTalknology) course to support the transition to high school through a unique Social Skills and Oracy curriculum that cultivates communication, soft skills, social awareness, and student agency, leading to transformative changes in students’ academic, social, home and work lives. It’s our belief that every student can learn these skills, regardless of their grades, test scores, social, cultural and economic background, fostering self-confidence, self-advocacy and self-esteem. 

Our collective approach towards student growth and success aims to cultivate curiosity, capacity, the courage to try and the validation of failure. We collectively have championed a reimagination of student achievement by applauding student efforts as they FAIL (First-Attempt-In-Learning), SAIL (Second-Attempt-In-Learning) and TAIL (Third-Attempt-In-Learning) success.  Students are nurtured towards a gracious knowledge that learning and true development comes from the journey, which was, in fact, always the goal. This is not only a testament of true, authentic learning, but also critical to prepare students for the challenges of the real world.

Teacher’s have developed exceptional practices around delivering frequent feedback and eliminating unit assessments in place of more frequent-formative micro-assessments, and most notably, employing thoughtful mastery-based assessments re-designed around providing students with multiple-opportunities. In essence, students are now able to exercise their voice and choice to backtrack and re-assess if they haven’t achieved a benchmark or grade that the student (or teacher) identifies as not meeting or exceeding competency in a skill or topic. We like to refer to this practice as “Restorative Assessment,” building intentional “U-Turns” in the learning and assessment pathway.  (bit.ly/RestorativeAssessment)

Our students continue to flourish and develop their communication and advocacy skills through continued support after the 9th grade through their participation in our Career Development Center’s (CDC) Work-Based / Career-Connected Learning  programs. Students have access to the CDC starting at the conclusion of the 9th grade and throughout their senior year via paid and unpaid internships, and service learning opportunities where our team is trained in providing IEP-related support for postsecondary goals including career and college preparation. Staten Island Tech works closely with the NYC Public Schools Transition and College Access Service Center (TCAC) which offers TOP (Training Opportunities Program), SYEP (Summer Youth Employment Program), Work Learn Grow, Ladders for Leaders and many of the ever expanding programs that the NYCPS Pathways division is affording schools.Through these programs and services we ensure that students with and without disabilities are prepared for postsecondary life experiences. In addition to college readiness resources and supports, our programs will also facilitate diverse work-based learning opportunities for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

Our goal is to ensure a smooth transition into and through high school, as we blur the lines between high school, college and career. Through the Staten Island Technical High School curriculum and experience we’re confident that we employ our students with the “Future Ready” skills needed to meet and exceed the demands of post-secondary readiness. We program students purposefully and pride on our practice of maintaining consistent communication with our families. Our teachers continually engage in inquiry work and professional development and are knowledgeable and equipped to meet the needs of a variety of learners.

Staten Island Technical High School is a fully accessible building.

ISS Staff and Contact Information

For questions about Staten Island Technical High School’s Instructional Support Services, please contact Assistant Principal, Alexis Kirschbaum via email at [email protected] or via phone at 718-667-3222 ext 1221. 

Guidance Department:

Ellen Devine (Ext 1391) - [email protected]

Cathy Ecker (Ext 1371) - [email protected]

Margaret Ferrigno (Ext 1341) - [email protected]

Lisa Gervais-Barnett (Ext 1271) - [email protected]

Christopher Maddaluno (Ext 1373) - [email protected]

Amanda Nichols (Ext 2141) - [email protected] 

Valentina Vinci (Ext 1372) - [email protected]

Jessica Pisano (Ext 2521) - Social Worker - [email protected]