​Special Populations

The GLLA Special Education Department meets the unique needs of students with disabilities by providing instruction and training to enable them to have access to, and make progress in, the general education curriculum in a virtual setting.

Meet Our Team! 

Melanie Miller 
Manager of Special Education

Dr. Miller has been an essential part of our faculty since 2022. With 10 years in the field and a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, she brings an elite level of expertise to our team. Her academic journey through Lees-McRae, Appalachian State, and Liberty University has focused on Special Education and Leadership, making her a champion for both our students and our teaching standards.​

P 810-553-6986
Webmail
​Biography 
​

Kristin McCarthy
Lead Teacher - Special Education

A vital part of our faculty since 2022, Ms. McCarthy brings 14 years of professional experience to our Special Education department. She earned her credentials at Michigan State University, specializing in Learning Disabilities and Emotional Impairment/Behavior Disorders.

P 810-553-6986
Webmail

Jodi Courtland
Manager of Student Accountability  

Mrs. Courtland manages the essential administrative functions of our Special Education team. She is responsible for compliance tracking, the coordination of 504 meetings, and the processing of records requests. Her expertise in school operations ensures that our team can focus on what matters most: supporting our students' growth.​

P 810-545-7378
​Webmail

​Ms. Buchanan
​Ms. Buchanan joined our team as a seasoned educator with over eight years of experience in the field. She earned her Master’s degree in Special Education from Tarleton State University. Her advanced training and commitment to student growth make her an essential part of our specialized instruction department.

Mrs. Klump
Mrs. Klump has 20+ years of experience in education and has been teaching here at GLLA since 2019. She has a undergraduate in Elementary Education from Saginaw Valley State University, a graduate degree in Special Education/Autism from Michigan State University, an Applied Behavioral Analysis Degree from Michigan State University and a graduate degree in Early Childhood Education from Western Michigan University.

Ms. Marchant
​Ms. Marchant recently celebrated a decade of teaching, having joined the GLLA team in early 2024. A 2015 graduate of the University of Minnesota-Duluth with an integrated degree in Elementary and Special Education, she later earned a Master’s in Education with a focus on Counseling from San Diego State University. This advanced training allows her to bridge the gap between mental health and academics, ensuring that students impacted by trauma receive the specialized support they need to thrive.

​Ms. Martinez
​Ms. Martinez GLLA in the fall of 2025, bringing over 18 years of dedicated experience to the field of education. A graduate of Hope College, she holds a Bachelor’s in Education with a specialized endorsement in Special Education: Emotional Impairments. Her deep expertise and long-standing commitment to student success make her an invaluable member of our team.

Ms. Reising-Fisher
Ms. Reising-Fisher joined us in 2025 with 11+ years of experience in the field. A graduate of Oakland University and Western Governors University with a Master’s in Teaching, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Special Education at Central Michigan University. We are proud to have such a dedicated and highly-trained educator supporting our students.

​Mr. Rodriguez
​Mr. Rodriguez has been with us since the 23-24 School year. He received his Bachelor's degree in Special Education Mild to Moderate from Western Governors University, and is currently working on his masters in Curriculum and Instruction.

Mr. Rohadfox
​Mr. Rohadfox joined our team in early 2026 after graduating from the University of Minnesota Duluth. He holds degrees in Elementary Education (K–6) and Academic and Behavioral Strategy, bringing a specialized focus on supporting diverse learning needs to our classrooms.

Ms. Simons
​Ms. Simons has been in education for 7 years and started with GLLA in the spring of 2024. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary/Special Education from WGU and is currently working on a Master’s degree in Curriculum design.

Ms. Smith
Mrs. Smith joined GLLA in December of 2023 with 30 years of experience in education.  She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Special Education - Learning Disabilities from Lee University.  She earned her Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Saginaw Valley University.

​Mr. Marsh

Ms. Gershman

Resources

SPECIAL EDUCATION EVALUATION

It is the responsibility of the district to identify persons between the ages of birth and 26 who are suspected of having a disability that may affect their educational performance.

Parents or guardians who have a concern about their child’s progress in school, suspect that their child may have a disability or may need Special Education services should contact their building principal in writing to request interventions as designed by the building scholar success team, or a special education evaluation.

Any scholar suspected of having a disability shall be evaluated by a Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team as defined in the Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE) at R 340.1701b (b). In addition to the requirements in R 340.1705 to R 340.1717, the Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team shall do the following:

1. Complete a full and individual evaluation.
2. Make a recommendation of eligibility and prepare a written report to be presented to the Individualized Education Program Team by the designated Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team member who can explain the instructional implication of evaluation results. The report shall include information needed by the Individualized Education Program Team to determine all of the following:
   • Eligibility
   • A scholar’s present level of academic achievement and functional performance
   • The educational needs of the scholar

​Special Education personnel who are authorized to conduct evaluations of scholars suspected of having a disability may provide consultation to general education personnel for the purpose of prevention and intervention.

iNDIVIDUALIZED eDUCATION PROGRAM (IEP)​

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written plan for a scholar with a disability who requires special education programs and/or services to make progress in the general education curriculum. Instruction may be provided within the general education classroom with or without accommodations and/or in a classroom with a general education teacher with a special education teacher providing support. Additionally, some scholars receive instruction in a categorical special education classroom where core content instruction is delivered by the special education teacher as determined by the IEP with parent’s input.

​All courses that earn credit towards graduation follow the Michigan Merit Curriculum and sequence with appropriate modifications and accommodations per the scholar’s IEP or personal curriculum.​

dEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PARENT RESOURCES

Parents play an important role in the education of their children. Parents can help their children at home with learning. Parents can also provide valuable input for schools about what is best for their child. Michigan Department of Education Resources can be found here. ​

Child Find

​Child Find is provided to assure that the needs of scholars suspected of having a disability will be met.
In order to meet the requirements as set forth, GRPS has designated personnel to conduct Child Find responsibilities who can assist with:

• Identifying scholars Birth to 3 years of age suspected of having a disability
• Identifying scholars 3 to 26 years of age suspected of having a disability
• Guiding families to the appropriate educational services within the district
• Finding additional information to assist families with children who have educational needs

If you suspect your child may have a disability, contact us directly at [email protected] or 616-819-3514.

Parent Resource Links

Michigan Alliance for Families
Friendship Circle
Michigan Rehabilitation Services
Bridges4Kids
Community Mental Health
Center for Parent Information and Resources
Ingham ISD Parent Resources for Special Education