Special Education Department Staff

Cassie Wells, Coordinator

Cassie is originally from Oklahoma and joined the NSBSD Special Education Staff in 1999. She started out as the District's School Psychologist and has been the Coordinator for the past three years.

Kristen Mikolajewski, Administrative Assistant

Kristen has been residing in Barrow since 1989. She has worked for the NSBSD for eleven years and had been with the Special Education Department for eight years.

Audrey Strack, Secretary

Audrey is from Central Wisconsin and has four new beautiful grand babies. Her husband is a teacher at Barrow High School. This year will be their fourth year in Barrow. Audrey joined the Special Education Department this year.

Diana Marsh, Itinerant Speech/Language Pathologist

Diana currently resides in Soldotna, Alaska and has been providing Speech/Language services to students within the North Slope Borough School District for three years.

Donald Zanoff, Speech/Language Pathologist,

Donald is originally from Arkansas but is currently living in Livingston, Montana when not in Barrow. Donald has been a Speech/Language Pathologist in Montana, New Zealand and was with the Lower Kuskokwin School District for six years prior to joining the NSBSD Special Education Staff.

Ted Stuff, School Psychologist

I have been a teacher and school psychologist in Alaska for 25 years. I live in Palmer, Alaska with my wife Roberta (Physical Therapist for Anchorage School District) and two very spoiled cats, Sam and Zeus. I originally came from Montana where I earned my undergraduate degree in Secondary Biological/Earth Science and Special Education from the University of Montana in Missoula....Go Griz! After moving to Alaska, I earned graduate degrees in Special Education and School Psychology from Central Washington University. Over the years, I've worked for Kodiak, Anchorage, Lower Kuskokwim, Yupiit, Chevak, and Kuspuk school districts. Other than working as a hobby, I enjoy flying, fishing, hunting, travel, and working on home projects.

Ed Harrison, School Psychologist 

I have started working this year for North Slope Borough School District in the School Psychologist position.  I have lived in Alaska for the past 25 years working in School Psychology,  Special Education Program Management and as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, in private practice.  I am originally from the Midwest, growing up in Minnesota.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my year here in Barrow and enjoy working with the dedicated and professional staff of the North Slope Borough School District.

Theresa Sabens, Itinerant Occupational Therapist

Theresa currently resides in Fairbanks. She has been providing Occupational Therapy Services for the NSBSD for three years.

Traci Roon, Itinerant Physical Therapist

Traci also resides in Fairbanks. She has been providing Physical Therapy Services for the NSBSD for two years.

Special Education

The Special Education Department coordinates the collaborative efforts of parents, educators, and specialized professional staff in addressing the special needs of students with disabilities as well as ensures that the education provided is free, appropriate and least restrictive. The department is guided in its mission by federal laws, state regulations and district policies, all of which provide a comprehensive framework within which the Special Education Department operates. The most recent State Department of Education review of the NSBSD Special Education Department found it to be a model program.

Department staff is committed to implementing services for disabled children which are in compliance with the Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004), and also in keeping with the spirit of equity in education as exemplified by the Rehabilitation Act (1973), and Americans with Disabilities Act. "Special Education" is generally understood to mean specially designed program of services or instruction recommended by the Individual Education Plan Team which are set fourth in a child's Individual Education Plan (IEP). In order to qualify for special education services a child must be determined through the evaluation process to (1) have a disability and (2) be in need of special education. When a child meets both of these "gateway" criteria the IEP Team will then identify the specific services, which will comprise the special education program.

Cassie Wells

Coordinator of Special Education