Welcome, from the special education (SPED) staff of Plumas Charter School!

	SPED Director Lori Hahn lhahn@plumascharterschool.org Started with PCS in 2012 Education: BA in political science Teaching credentials: Education Specialist Instruction; Multiple Subject (general subjects) Teaching experience: 20 years, 17 in special education Interests and hobbies: gardening, cooking, photography, travel
	SPED Teacher Andre Essue aessue@plumascharterschool.org Started with PCS in 2015 Education: MA in special education; BA in human services Teaching credentials: Education Specialist Instruction (mild to moderate disabilities; moderate to severe disabilities); Education Specialist Interests and hobbies: spending time with family, hiking, gardening, camping
	SPED Teacher Melanie Strahm mstrahm@plumascharterschool.org Started with PCS in 2014 Education: BA in mathematics Teaching credentials: Multiple Subject (general subjects); intern Education Specialist Instruction (mild to moderate disabilities) Interests and hobbies: hiking, cooking
	Instructional Aide Renay Courtois rcourtois@plumascharterschool.org Started with PCS in 2017 Education: AA in environmental studies Interests and hobbies: gardening, writing poetry
	Instructional Aide Steve Rahmeyer srahmeyer@plumascharterschool.org Started with PCS in 2018 Education: state-certified to teach children with autism Teaching credential: Child Development Site Supervisor Permit Interests and hobbies: photography, hiking, traveling

Plumas Charter School offers a full continuum of special education services based on a student's individual education plan (IEP). We embrace the inclusion model, in which students with special needs spend most or all of their time with general education students. This model is based on evidence that mixed experience leads to better outcomes, both academically and socially, for special education students. We have also witnessed positive outcomes for general education students who spend time with special needs students: the experience regularly improves progress toward social emotional development goals for everyone involved.

In California, every local education agency (LEA), i.e., school entity, is required to belong to a special education local plan area (SELPA). The SELPA is a consortium of LEAs responsible for the development of special education policies and procedures, distribution of federal and state special education funds, and provision of professional development pertaining to special education. Plumas Charter School belongs to the El Dorado Charter SELPA, which we joined in 2017. For valuable information on families' rights, SPED basics, and state and federal resources, click the button below.

Family Resources

Click the link below to access the SELPA's governance page, which includes updated copies of our local plan, the annual budget and service plan, and a master list of current schools.

SELPA Governance

Plumas Charter School contracts speech and occupational therapy services. Our occupational therapist, MacKenzie Eells, works for Growing Healthy Children Therapy Services, based in Rescue, California. MacKenzie has provided virtual occupational therapy services for us since 2017.

Our speech therapist, Joseph Swingle, MS, ATP, CCC-SLP, works for Speech and Reading Resources, based in Redding, California. He is a bilingual speech and language pathologist, as well as an assistive technology professional. Joseph has provided speech pathology services for us since 2019.