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Student services director to return to classroom after presenting department overview
Summary
Dr. Candice Burkhart told the board Nov. 24 she will leave her role as executive director of student services and return to the classroom; she reviewed tiered supports, special-education services (about 20.8% of students, roughly 605 learners) and partnerships that support students across South Saint Paul Public Schools.
Dr. Candice Burkhart, executive director of student services, announced at the South Saint Paul Public Schools board meeting on Nov. 24 that she will leave her role and return to classroom teaching, and she used the occasion to outline the department’s work.
Burkhart told the board the student services team focuses on four core areas: academic access; social, emotional and behavioral supports; physical and mental health services; and specialized instruction aligned with IDEA and Section 504. "Our work centers on 4 core areas," she said, describing a system of tiered supports that range from universal, schoolwide social-emotional learning to individualized Tier 3 interventions including IEPs and individual health plans.
She said about 20.8% of students — approximately 605 learners — currently receive special education services in the district, a rate she described as comparable to Minnesota state averages. Burkhart outlined screening and referral processes, including Help Me Grow referrals for early-childhood services and regular universal screening using FastBridge and CBM tools at elementary grades.
Burkhart also highlighted the district’s partnerships and specialized programming: the DASH program and the pre-K–5 deaf and hard-of-hearing program hosted at Lincoln for Dakota County, a tri-district transition partnership with neighboring districts for post‑school programming, and work-based learning and Unified Physical Education in partnership with Special Olympics Minnesota.
She described professional supports for staff — smaller special-education caseloads relative to the region, teachers on special assignment to handle testing and coaching, and recent behavior de-escalation and Okeru training pilots at early childhood and elementary levels.
At the close of her presentation, Burkhart said, "Tonight marks my last school board meeting as the executive director of student services and my position comes to an end and I'm about to return back to the classroom as a teacher." Board members thanked her for her service; Chair Heumann and others praised the department’s work and wished her well.
The board did not take any separate action on the staffing item during this presentation; Burkhart’s remarks served as an informational update and a farewell.
