Special Education

Wisconsin’s rule for identifying students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) has changed.  No later than December 1, 2013, all initial SLD evaluations of public school students will use information from interventions to make eligibility decisions.

This is to notify you that beginning on 10/28/13 initial SLD evaluations at Lance Middle School will begin using information from a student’s response to intensive, scientific research-based or evidence-based interventions when making special education eligibility decisions.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please refer to the following webpage link at http://sped.dpi.wi.gov/sped_ld

6th Grade
Ms. Miller Trailblazers House		Hi, Lance Middle School, I am Joanna Miller, a sixth-grade resource teacher. I have been at Lance for the last 21 years. I have taught in seventh grade for twelve years and in sixth grade for the past nine years. I am a wife and a mother of two daughters. I live quite a distance away from Lance, so I am totally into listening to podcasts on my drive to and from Lance. I love to travel and visit new places on each trip. I also love reading, biking, and baking. I love the energy that Lance brings to staff and students. Lance is a great place to learn, teach, and enhance learning in all aspects. I went to Carthage College in Kenosha for my Bachelor’s and I went to Concordia for my Master’s.
Ms. Freisheim – Epic House		I proudly wear many hats: a devoted daughter, a wife, a creative photographer, and an animal lover. A proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin Parkside. Currently, I’m diving into the world of special education as a grad student at Carthage College. My teaching mantra? To uncover the hidden strengths in each individual – because we all have something special to offer. As a Special education teacher at Lance Middle School, I strive to inspire and empower my students every day.
Mr. Modory – Pathfinders House		Hello, Bolts, my name is Lennon Modory and this is my second year teaching at Lance. I graduated from UW-Parkside with a degree in Secondary Education and English in 2023. I come from a family of teachers and I am proud to say it is one of my biggest passions. I love being able to make an impact on my students, ensuring they are receiving the best education possible. Outside of teaching, I am an avid music and sports fan. I also enjoy photography and I love visiting amusement parks around the world.
7th Grade
Ms. Berry Olympians House		Meet Mary Berry, a dedicated educator from Kenosha, WI, with a deep love for teaching and learning. With a loving husband, two wonderful children, and a furry companion named Bailey the Goldendoodle. My life is full of warmth and joy. My journey through Catholic schools shaped my belief in the power of education, leading me to earn my bachelor’s degree at Saint Norbert and later my teacher’s license and master’s at Carthage College. Surrounded by a big family with five brothers and sisters-in-law’s, along with numerous nieces and nephews, I deeply value connection and community. When I am not cheering on Notre Dame football, playing basketball, tennis, or volleyball, or enjoying a musical, I am embracing my Italian heritage through its rich cuisine. My unwavering belief in creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students reflects her commitment to nurturing young minds with care and compassion. Join me on my journey of teaching, where my passion for education and empathy shines brightly, inspiring students to reach their full potential.
Ms. Drake Dynamite House
Ms. Gann Discovery House		Hello! My name is Mrs. Gann. I am happy to be back teaching at Lance Middle School. I went to Lance as a student and am now entering my tenth year of teaching special education. In my spare time I enjoying spending time with my family (Mr. Gann and my two sons, Noah and Jace), spending time outdoors and shopping. I love to support my students and watch them grow throughout the school year! I am looking forward to a great school year!
8th Grade
Ms. Passafaro Phoenix House		Greetings Bolts! I am Mrs. Passafaro, a resource teacher at Lance. For the past 7 years, I’ve been part of this educational district, following a 9-year tenure teaching high school in Illinois. My educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Nursing and a master’s degree in special education. While I spent most of my life in Chicago, I have called the Pleasant Prairie/Kenosha community my home for the last 10 years. I am passionate about exploring diverse methods to solve challenges across various subjects, always with a focus on real-world applications. Family is incredibly important to me; I treasure moments spent with my husband, two children, and beloved family and friends. Beyond my role as an educator, I find joy in basking under the summer sun, engaging in boating activities, and attending Chicago sporting events.
Ms. Wienke Victory House		My name is Tricia Wienke and I am an 8th grade Resource Teacher.  I have been a Special Education Teacher for 28 years, all at Lance Middle School.  For 22 of those years, I was one of the self-contained ID teachers. I have lived in Kenosha my entire life and attended KUSD schools.  I received my Bachelor’s in Education from Carthage College and my Master’s in Education from Cardinal Stritch.  I have been married to my husband Dan for 23 years and have 3 children, Grace(21), Sean(19) and Avery(15).  We have two dogs, Giggs and Bailey.  Outside of school, I enjoy spending quality time with friends and family.  We enjoy trying new activities, new restaurants and traveling.
Ms. Gaddy – Endurance House
EBD
Ms. Dohse EBD Teacher (all grades)		Hello Bolts! I am Cara Dohse – I have been teaching at Lance Middle as a special education teacher since 2017. My favorite quote about education comes from Aristotle – “Educating the mind without educating the heart, is no education at all.” I do my best every day to be intentional with each of my students to teach them not only the academics but also their individual value and worth. I truly believe that every student is capable of so very much. A little about me – I was born and raised in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, and never intended to leave the area. However, I fell in love with Kenosha when I attended Carthage College, and haven’t left since. I enjoy spending time with my great family and friends, reading, crafting, graphic design (make sure to join Yearbook Club here at Lance!), enjoying the views of Lake Michigan, and taking my retired racing greyhound on plenty of walks.
Ms. Sumpter EBD Social Worker		Hi Bolts! I am Ann Sumpter, School Social Worker. With 25 years of experience, I have been a Social Worker in Educational settings, Medical settings, and Community Mental Health settings. I have been working as a School Social Worker for KUSD for 5 years now and have enjoyed this challenging role! I love spending time with my family, being up north, and spending time on the water. I like Mountain Biking with my husband and daughters. I also love snuggle time and taking walks with my Irish Wolf Hound “Clover” and my French Bulldog “LeRoi”.
Fundamentals
Ms. Burke Math/ English Fundamentals		Hi, my name is Angela Burke and I have been a Special Education teacher at Lance and only Lance for my entire,19 year, teaching career!  Over that time I have had several different teaching opportunities first, with the Self Contained Program, then with 7th grade as a Cross Categorical Teacher, and now as the Fundamentals teacher. I believe it is important for every student to have the opportunity to learn and grow to their full potential.  One of the best things about working at Lance has been meeting my best friend, Tricia Wienke,  laughing and making memories every day with her at work is awesome!  Another plus was having my two daughters here at Lance with me, getting to witness their middle school experiences first hand was a joy.  When I am not at school I enjoy spending time with my family,  vacationing to the sunny beaches of Florida, or relaxing at our family cabin in the northwoods. I enjoy going antiquing and love all things “old” especially my 83 Chevy pickup truck.  The Burke’s are big into softball and spend our summer, fall, spring and even winter days and nights at the field.
Independence House (IDS Classrooms)
Ms. Barrett		Hi, Bolts, my name is Amy Barrett and I have been at Lance for 3 years. I am an ID teacher who works with the students in our Independence House. We work on all subjects as well as important life skills. Focusing on ability rather than disability is a passion of mine. Outside of the classroom, I love to spend time with my family, friends, and my cat. I also love reading all different genres of books and trying to bake new treats.
Ms. Kaplan		Hello Bolts! My name is Jennifer Kaplan and I am an ID Teacher here at Lance. I began my career at a special education school in IL. I was a paraprofessional there for six years and I knew right away this is what I wanted to do. I didn’t think I could manage going to school with a young child but decided to just go for it! I started college and came to KUSD all around the same time. However, I started teaching in IL and then returned to KUSD last year. This fall I am starting at UW LaCrosse to get my master’s in education. In my life outside of school, I have a daughter who is a senior at UW-Stout, where she is majoring in education just like her mom. I enjoy reading, finding new places to hike and spending time with friends and as much time with my daughter as possible. I also love to feed the local birds and find new places to watch chipmunks. I am Southern California born and raised, so I try to go back every summer to visit family.
Ms. Drechsler School Social Worker		With nearly 20 years of experience, I have served as a social worker in diverse settings such as schools, community organizations, and private agencies. My passion lies in working with families, students, and the community to initiate positive change. Through advocacy, resource provision, and problem-solving, I aim to make meaningful impacts in the lives of those I serve. I prioritize establishing strong relationships to better support individuals in need. Outside of work, I indulge in travel for leisure and education, embracing different cultures and enriching experiences. Quality time with loved ones is of utmost importance to me, and I find joy in creating fun holiday traditions and events for my family. Recently, I have embarked on a new endeavor – training our household’s two cherished dogs.
Ms. Batten-Morey Speech/ Language
Ms. Sturino Program Support Teacher (PST)

 

Click here to go to the KUSD Special Education webpage.