Special Education

Special Ed Photo Cropped

Special education and related services are provided to eligible students with disabilities ages 3 to 21 and to students who qualify for gifted services Kindergarten through grade 12. Infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities are served through Infant Toddler Services of Johnson County.

Special education in Shawnee Mission is specially designed instruction that enables students to make continuous progress in school. Special education services are present within each school and are an integral part of Shawnee Mission's comprehensive school system. 

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

As amended by the United States Congress in 2004, IDEA is a federally-funded statute that requires a free and appropriate public education for students who meet eligibility in one or more of the 13 federal disability definitions. The act has provisions for evaluation, placement, and an individualized education plan (IEP) for eligible students who require specially designed instruction provided by special education certified personnel. Procedural safeguards for parents and the school district are a component of this act. The IDEA is enforced by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and monitored locally by the Kansas Department of Education.

The Shawnee Mission School District uses compliant practices as described in the Kansas Special Education Process Handbook that is published by the Kansas State Department of Education, which is available online.

Special Education Department Contacts:

Center for Academic Achievement                                                   
8200 W. 71st Street Shawnee Mission, KS 66204
Phone: (913) 993-8600
Fax: (913) 993-8614

Sherry Dumolien, Chief of Special Education

Dr. Jennifer Dancer, Assistant Director of Special Education
(Brookridge, McAuliffe, Mill Creek, Nieman, Rising Star, Trailwood, Santa Fe Trail, Westwood View)

Katie Laird, Coordinator of Special Education, Elementary​
(Belinder, Bluejacket Flint, Briarwood, Broken Arrow, Highlands, Oak Park Carpenter, Pawnee, Prairie, Sunflower, Tomahawk) 

Linda Scott, Coordinator of Special Education, Elementary
(Apache, Benninghoven, Brookwood, Comanche, Corinth, Diemer, East Antioch, Lenexa Hills, Overland Park, Ray Marsh, Rosehill, Roesland, Rushton, Shawanoe) 

Tracy Smarr-Dolezal, Coordinator of Special Education, Early Childhood and Elementary                                      (Crestview, Merriam Park)

Debra DuPree, Coordinator of Special Education, Secondary
(Hocker Grove, Indian Hills, Indian Woods, Trailridge, Westridge)

Amanda Wade, Coordinator of Special Education, Secondary
(Horizons, SM North, SM South, SM East, SM West, SM Northwest, Post High Transition)

Sarah Ingraham, Secretary

Kelly Ingram, Secretary

Shawnee Mission Early Childhood Education Center  (SMECEC)
6701 W 83rd St
Overland Park, KS 66204
Phone:(913) 993-2600
Fax: (913) 993-2699

Carla Heintz, Principal of Early Childhood Education