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I’d like to introduce myself. I’m Mrs. Joan Dohle, the recently hired Response to Intervention Resource Teacher for St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Freeburg.

A little about myself: I’ve worked in the Diocese of Belleville 24 years, having previously taught in area Catholic elementary schools for 17 of those years and in Administration the other 7 (6 years as Principal at St. Mary’s, Belleville and 1 year as Assistant Principal/Development Director at SMSA). I have a Masters Degree with a Reading emphasis. I live in Fairview Heights with my husband and 14-year-old cat. We have 3 children, all in their 20’s.

A little background on Response to Intervention (RTI). The RTI Model is also known as the Problem Solving Model. The approach is a databased decision-making system that is used for all students within the school. Problem solving is defined as the approach to intervention and is the effort to eliminate the difference between “what is” and “what should be” with respect to student development. Any discrepancy between where a student is currently functioning and how we might like that student to function in the future provides a focus for problem solving. Research-based instruction will be matched to student needs.

The point I want to stress is that the RTI Model is for all students, whether those who struggle in certain areas, the average child who may need an extra push to advance, or the advanced student who may need to meet a little more challenge.

RTI in the Diocese of Belleville: According to Tom Posnanski, Director of Education in the Diocese, all schools this year should be designing a plan for implementation of the RTI Model and if possible, beginning implementation. All schools are to have the Model in effect for the 2010-2011 School Year. St. Joseph’s School has decided to begin implementing the RTI Model at the beginning of 2^nd semester of the 2009-2010 School Year.

How will the RTI Model be implemented at St. Joseph’s?

- I will be working closely with the teachers and taking their recommendations into account – in order to be successful, RTI needs to be a collaborative effort on the part of students, faculty, parents, resource teacher, and administration.

- I will also look at student test scores currently available: IOWA, AR, STAR, plus assessments based on teacher/classroom instruction

- Which students are eligible? All students.

- Researched-based instruction will be matched to individual student needs

I’m happy to be invited to be a part of St. Joseph’s School family! Having met all of the students, I am looking forward to working with them. I am here four mornings a week and can be found working in either the parish center or one of the classrooms. The best way to reach me is through the school office. Let me know if you ever have any questions or concerns.

Joan Dohle

RTI Teacher