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Teacher says inclusion work at Coventry elementary ‘helps everyone learn’
Summary
Teacher Kristen Brocko told the board that inclusion in her multi‑disability classroom has produced measurable social and academic gains, citing students who moved into general education settings and improved independence.
Kristen Brocko, a second‑year Coventry teacher who works in a multiple‑disability classroom, told the board March 19 that inclusion practices have led to clear gains for individual students and learning benefits for peers.
"We all have something to learn and we all have something to teach," Brocko said as she described classroom strategies and showed photos documenting student progress. She highlighted one student, Luke, who was an elopement risk last year and is now traveling the building independently, spending multiple hours in a first‑grade classroom and participating in classroom activities. Another student, Grayson, showed improved upright posture and greater awareness when around peers, Brocko said.
Brocko explained that inclusion is implemented with the student’s least‑restrictive environment in mind and that supports vary: some students participate in specials and classroom activities for short durations while others are more fully integrated as they build tolerance and skills. She credited classroom aides, general‑education peers and targeted curriculum modifications with helping students make progress.
The board and attendees responded with praise: members called Brocko’s work "amazing" and thanked staff for facilitating partnerships that support inclusion. School staff at the meeting also described districtwide supports, including partnerships with Child Guidance and Family Solutions and third‑grade tutoring programs aimed at boosting proficiency.
Brocko’s presentation emphasized that inclusion can be individualized and that peer interactions often support both students with IEPs and their general‑education classmates. The district indicated it will continue partnerships and targeted interventions through the spring and summer programming.
