Welcome to the Special Education Department!
Department Chair: Ms. T. Scott
IEP Chair: Dr. Andrea Torres-Blue
Message From the Department
Our department has a dedicated staff of teachers, case managers, para educators, aides, and an office assistant to help you and your child become successful academically and socially. Please email Ms. Scott, the Chairperson of Special Education, if you have any concerns regarding your child’s services or progress. You may also reach any of the department’s teachers through email.
These Special Education Teachers are listed on their Academic Department Pages!
Click to navigate to their pages!
English
- Matt Janansky
- Abraham Jones
Math
- Lauren Towson
- Michael Carter
Science
Social Studies
Meet our Department Members Below!
|
Name
|
Tyrah
Scott
|
|
Email
|
Tscott5@bcps.org
|
|
Position
|
Department
Chair of
Special
Education
|
|
College(s)
Attended
|
Morgan
State University
Notre
Dame of Maryland Univ.
|
|
Hometown
|
Baltimore,
Maryland
|
|
Bio: My name is Ms. Tyrah Scott. I am the Department Chair
of Special Education. I’ve been at Woodlawn since 2012.
In
my spare time I enjoy travelling, watching documentaries, and gardening.
|
|
|
Name
|
Dr. Andrea
Torres-Blue
|
|
Email
|
ablue@bcps.org
|
|
Position
|
IEP
Chair
|
|
College(s)
Attended
|
Coppin
State University (BS)
Goucher
College (MAT)
Towson
University (MS)
Northcentral
University (EdD)
|
|
Hometown
|
Sacramento,
CA
|
|
Bio: My name is Dr. Andrea Torres-Blue I am returning to
Woodlawn High School for a total of 4 years. I am an experienced special
education teacher, elementary teacher, and case manager with online teaching
experience in a K-12 academic setting. I am a Wife, Mother, Delta, Mentor,
and above all Educator.
|
|
(Coming Soon)
|
Name
|
Carmen
Allocca
|
|
Email
|
callocca@bcps.org
|
|
Classes
Taught/
Position
|
Period
1 – Substitute
Period
2 – English 9
Period
3 – English 10
Period
4 – Sets & Functions
|
|
College(s)
Attended
|
Towson
University -
Art Education
Major
|
|
Hometown
|
Baltimore,
MD
|
|
Bio:
Hello fellow Warriors. My name is Miss
Allocca. I am a WHS graduate. I returned to WHS in 2009, as a
paraeducator, in Special Education.
Before returning to WHS, I was on Dance Faculty at Baltimore School
for the Arts. I enjoy travelling and
relaxing with family and friends.
|
|
|
Name
|
Ruzzel
Enriquez Castañeda
|
|
Email
|
rcastaneda@bcps.org
|
|
Classes
Taught/
Position
|
IEP
Case Manager/
American
Government
|
|
College(s)
Attended
|
University
of Baltimore School of Law, Baltimore, Maryland (LL.M.)
Saint
Louis University School of Teacher Education & Liberal Arts/ School of
Law, Philippines (B.A. in Political Science, M.A. in Special Education and J.D.)
|
|
Hometown
|
Pasadena,
Maryland
|
|
Bio: My name is Ruzzel E. Castañeda and I am in the Special
Education Department. This is my first year at Woodlawn High and I am excited
to be on board.
I
am fond of traveling abroad with my adorable wife to see nature’s beauty and
bounty and to learn about historical places. When I am at home, I watch
documentaries and play with my smart border collie.
|
|
Name
|
Melody
Hendrickson
|
|
Email
|
mhendricksonl@bcps.org
|
|
Classes
Taught
|
FALS
English
FALS
Social Studies
FALS
Career Research & Dev
|
|
College(s)
Attended
|
Seton
Hall Univ./Ashford Univ.
|
|
Hometown
|
Morristown,
New Jersey
|
|
Bio: My name is Ms. Hendrickson and I am a teacher in the FALS
program under the special education department. I have been a Woodlawn
Warrior for 20 years! I am also the co-advisor for the Class of 2023.
Some
of my favorite things to do is bake and try new recipes. I also like to read
and being outdoors.
|
|
Name
|
Michelle
Hubbard
|
|
Email
|
mhubbard@bcps.org
|
|
Position
|
Dedicated
Case Manager (SPED)
|
|
College(s)
Attended
|
Randolph-Macon
College - English (BA)
University
of Phoenix – Curriculum and Instruction: ELA (MA)
George
Washington University – Special Education and Transition Services (MA)
Liberty
University (currently) – Curriculum and Instruction: Special Education (EdD)
|
|
Hometown
|
Baltimore,
Maryland
|
|
Bio: Hello, my name is Michelle Hubbard. I am a returning
teacher to Woodlawn High School for my second year in the Special
Education/English department. I have been in the field of education for over
14 years and it is a pleasure to work with the dedicated professionals and
students of Woodlawn High School.
Encouraged to Include: I enjoy reading, visiting museums,
going to be the beach and relaxing with my husband and three sons.
|
|
|
Name
|
D’Andrea
Jacobs
|
|
Email
|
Djacobs3@bcps.org
|
|
Position
|
School
Psychologist
|
|
College(s)
Attended
|
UCLA (BA)
Michigan
State
University
(MA, PhD)
Loyola
University, Maryland (MA)
|
|
Hometown
|
Carson,
CA
|
|
Bio: Must Include: My name is Dr. Jacobs and I am a School
Psychologist at Woodlawn High School. This is my 7th year at
Woodlawn High School, and I’m excited for another year! I work with teachers,
students, and families to support academic and emotional well-being. In my
spare time, I like to dance, cook new dishes, and go bike riding.
|
|
|
Name
|
Towanda
Mensah
|
|
Email
|
tmensah@bcps.org
|
|
Position
|
Paraeducator
|
|
College(s)
Attended
|
Coppin
State University
|
|
Hometown
|
Baltimore,
Maryland
|
|
Bio:
My name is Ms. Towanda Mensah and I am in the Special Education Department. This
is my first year at WHS. I am grateful
to be apart of the WHS Team.
I
enjoy being in nature and spending time with my family. I recently started
working with clay, making all sorts of things. It is very therapeutic!
|
|
|
Name
|
Lucy
Mwai
|
|
Email
|
lmwai@bcps.org
|
|
Position
|
Special
Educator- FALS Program
|
|
College(s)
Attended
|
Coppin
State University (BS)
Towson
University (M. Ed)
|
|
Hometown
|
Baltimore,
Maryland
|
|
Bio: My name is Ms. Lucy Mwai and I am a certified teacher
in the Special Education Department, FALS Program. This is my 6th
year at the great Woodlawn High School.
I
love traveling, cooking, reading and learning new cultures. I love the ocean
but am terrified of snorkeling.
|
|
Name
|
Lindsay
Segal
|
|
Email
|
lsegal@bcps.org
|
|
Classes
Taught/
Position
|
SPED
Teacher: (SCLS)
1st
Period: CRD (Co-Teacher)
2nd
Period: Resource Class
3rd
Period: English 9 (Co-Teacher)
|
|
College(s)
Attended
|
West
Virginia University (BS)
Notre
Dame of Maryland (MS)
|
|
Hometown
|
Charlottesville,
VA
|
|
Bio: My name is Mrs. Segal and I am in the special education
department. I’ve been a teacher for over 10 years, but this is my 2nd
year teaching at WHS!
My
family and I live in Catonsville, MD however, I’ve traveled a lot and have
lived in 9 different states across the US and in two different countries! I
enjoy all forms of music, watching movies and TV, reading, playing with my
daughter and taking my dog for walks. My favorite part of teaching is getting
to know you, the students!
|
|
Name
|
Marcus
Sivels
|
|
Email
|
msivels@bcps.org
|
|
Classes
Taught/
Position
|
Special
Educator
SCLS
Program
|
|
College(s)
Attended
|
Delaware
State University (BS)
Grand
Canyon University (MS)
|
|
Hometown
|
Randallstown,
MD
|
|
My
name is Marcus Sivels and I am a special educator at WHS. This will be my
second year at WHS with many more to go. I am a proud BCPS alum, receiving my
diploma from Milford Mill Academy in 2003. My loves are family, music, good
food, and watching students reach their goals. One fun fact about me is I
helped deliver my daughter into this world in 2017 in a secluded parking
lot.
|
|
|
Name
|
Bryan Strom
|
|
Email
|
bstrom@bcps.org
|
|
Classes Taught
|
Economic Theory and Personal Finance
Living Systems
And I help in Introduction to Physics and Chemistry
|
|
College(s) Attended
|
Bachelors of Science from Towson State University
Masters of Arts from Towson University
|
|
Hometown
|
Mason, Michigan
|
|
Bio: My name is Mr. Strom and I teach special education at Woodlawn High School. This is my 20th plus year in education.
Hobbies: Gaming, skiing, camping.
Interesting Facts: One of my ancestors served on Blackbeard’s ship as the Quartermaster. I’m also distantly related to some very important English nobility. I also know how to drive a manual transmission car.
|
|
Name
|
Lauren
Towson
|
|
Email
|
ltowson@bcps.org
|
|
Classes
Taught/
Position
|
Case
Manager
Co
teaching – Ms. Martin
|
|
College(s)
Attended
|
Towson
University (BS)
Towson (MS)
|
|
Hometown
|
Merrick,
NY
|
|
My
name is Mrs. Lauren Towson and I am in the special education department. This
is my second year working at Woodlawn!
I
am married with two kids (ages 9 and 7) Most of my spare time is spent doing
things with my family. I love to read and watch documentaries. I also love
swimming. I am really looking forward to this year as different as it may be 😊
|