Diversity of learning and teaching styles is an important aspect of the inclusiveness embraced by the Bay School’s mission. Our faculty is dedicated to helping all learners be successful. The Learning Services Program is designed to support this endeavor and is built upon the premise that the entire community benefits when all members are aware of the variety of ways in which individuals learn, the resources available to support diverse learning styles, and the accommodations and strategies that are suitable for individuals with diagnosed learning and attention differences.

The program aims to empower students to achieve their individual educational goals by building understanding, close communication, and collaboration between students and teachers, administrators, and parents. In addition, the Learning Services Program advises faculty members on methods to individualize instruction and accommodate learning differences, as well as provide practical classroom applications that support the rigorous academic standards of the school's college preparatory curriculum.

Bay School students receive training and support in learning study skills and time management strategies, both in groups and on an individual basis. The director of learning services is also available to meet with parents to discuss subjects related to their student and is able to provide referrals to instructional tutors and educational therapists as requested. As a courtesy to parents, the Office of Learning Services will assist in facilitating accommodations for students who meet College Board requirements taking SAT and ACT testing as part of the college admission process.

The Bay School provides a supportive learning environment for all students. The following types of learning support are available:

• Students are encouraged to meet individually and in small groups with their teachers during tutorial periods three times each week during the academic day. Tutorials provide an important opportunity for students to receive extra help and ask their teachers questions about course material.
• The weekly academic schedule includes eighty-minute “Flex” periods four days each week providing students with the time to work on homework, meet with teachers for extra support, or meet with outside tutors on campus.
• The Bay School sponsors a Peer Tutoring Program in which students help each other with course material.
• The Bay School employs a multi-sensory approach within the classroom. Courses utilize audio-visual materials, computer technology, field trips, and experiential and community-based learning. There are also many hands-on projects and ongoing opportunities for group work.
• The Bay School is committed to teaching critical thinking skills.
• Students carry a course load of four academic courses per trimester with four, eighty-minute periods a day. This schedule enables Bay students to concentrate on gaining a depth of understanding across the curriculum.
• Each student takes advantage of weekly academic advisory periods.

Students with diagnosed learning differences are provided with the following additional support:

• An individualized learning plan based upon the student’s psycho-educational testing is created and implemented. Learning plans provide guidance with strategies and best practices for the student and their teachers. Learning plans are reviewed with parents, students, and teachers.
• The use of technological tools such as Read Out Loud, Audacity, Speech Recognition Software, and Inspiration
• Support navigating the College Board accommodation application process
• The Office of Learning Services provides consultation with students, parents, and teachers throughout the school year.
• Learning coach support with a focus on planning, organization, and time management
• Parent education and support on topics of interest to a variety of learners

Qualifying for Learning Services Support

Families who are interested in receiving learning services support and learning accommodations for their students should submit the following documentation to the Learning Services staff. Please note that parents are encouraged to submit psycho-educational testing during the admissions process.

• Submit a full psycho-educational evaluation or neuro-psychological evaluation completed by a licensed clinical psychologist or neuropsychologist.
• The evaluation report must include a specific DSM-IV-TR diagnosis and demonstrate that the learning disability creates a functional impairment in an area of academic functioning.
• The report must also include the educational, medical, and developmental history, the description of assessment tools, and a data table with test and subtest results reported in standard scores and percentiles.
• The evaluator must clearly state any and all accommodations and reasons to support them.

Testing must be current, with evaluations completed no earlier than 7th grade.

Please contact the Learning Services staff for additional information.

Courtney DeHoff, M. Ed., Director of Learning Services
cdehoff@bayschoolsf.org, or 415.561.5800, ext. 173
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 8am-4pm.

Charles Roth, Ph.D., Neuropsychological Consultant
croth@bayschoolsf.org.
Tuesday, 8am-1pm.

Learning Services Staff Biographies

Courtney DeHoff, M. Ed., Director of Learning Services
Upon relocating from my hometown of New York City in 2010, I was thrilled to find The Bay School of San Francisco, I began working as Bay's learning coach, and became the director of the Learning Services program in fall 2011. I received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Brown University and later pursued a Master’s in Education with a specialization in School Psychology at Teacher’s College at Columbia University. Before Bay, I was at the Winston Prep School in New York, a school exclusively for learning disabled middle and high school students. At Winston Prep, I had many roles, including learning specialist, counselor, and director of admissions. Here at Bay, I enjoy working with all students with learning differences, as well as helping individual students with organizational skills. Bay is an incredibly warm and welcoming community. In this nurturing environment, students have the privilege of really exploring themselves and learning about their strengths and weaknesses. It is so much fun to be part of that process.

At home, my husband and I are the proud parents of a baby girl, Hadley, and a Portuguese Water Dog named Bella. My other past times include playing squash, golfing, reading, travelling, and trying to learn how to cook.

Charles P. Roth, Ph.D. Neuropsychological Consultant, Licensed Psychologist
I am passionate about my work with students, faculty, and parents at the Bay School as a neuropsychological consultant and part of the Learning Services team. There is always something new, touching, inspiring, humorous, and unexpected in my work with our students who have learning and attention differences.

Bay is a very nurturing and attentive school. Our faculty is comprised of committed, intelligent, highly engaged professionals who hold students to high standards. Bay teachers work closely with all students, utilizing strategies to help them experience success. Active and project based learning is a key component of our curriculum, and this is a perfect fit for students with learning differences. Our students graduate and move onto to excellent colleges and universities.

I am a licensed psychologist and also have a private practice in neuropsychological assessment. I have served on the staff of Children’s Health Council at Stanford, as a lecturer in the graduate counseling program at San Francisco State, and as a presenter at conferences including the California Association of Independent Schools, Parents Education Network, and the Association of Certified Educational Therapists. Most recently I was a consultant on the documentary film “Original Minds” about high school students with learning challenges.

When I am not at work, I enjoy traveling to Santa Monica and British Columbia.  But I also take great joy in the simple pleasure of relaxing under a blanket on my couch while watching Rachel Maddow or my latest documentary pick off Netflix.

Resources: Organizations
Parents Education Network (PEN)
Parent and teacher education. Support for students with learning differences.
www.parentseducationnetwork.org

College Board Services for Students with Disabilities
www.collegeboard.com/ssd

International Dyslexia Association
www.interdys.org

Learning Disabilities Association of America
www.ldanatl.org

National Resource Center for AD/HD
www.help4adhd.org

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder
www.chadd.org

Nonverbal Learning Disabilities
www.nldontheweb.org

Executive Functioning Difficulties
www.drthomasebrown.com

American Speech, Language and Hearing Association
Expressive/Receptive Language Disorders
www.asha.org

Published Resources/Articles
Article by Philip Schultz, Pulitzer Prize winning poet, on his struggle with Dyslexia. Mr. Schultz recently published an excellent book on the subject titled My Dyslexia.

Books/texts in audible format:
Bookshare
www.bookshare.org

Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic
www.rfbd.org

San Francisco Public Library
Department for the Blind and Print Disabled
www.sfpl.org