Deer Park recently appointed Kimberly Connolly as its districtwide transition coordinator. Connolly has worked in the field of special education for over 25 years, beginning as a 1-1 aide in an inclusion classroom implementing ABA methodologies and in-home settings. She later served as the educational out-of-district liaison and interim assistant special education director for the North Shore Central School District, and most recently as the Committee on Special Education chairperson/program administrator for SCO Family of Services. She completed her undergraduate work at SUNY Old Westbury, majoring in psychology, and earned her master’s degree in school counseling and advanced certificate in educational leadership as a school district and school building leader at Long Island University.

“I have obtained valuable experiences through my diverse background and I am eager to apply my skills to developing this new role for our district,” Connolly said. “Transitioning from school to post-secondary life should be an exciting journey for every student. A successful transition process is based on the student’s strengths, preferences and interests, and requires collaboration between the school district, student, family and community agencies. Transition planning and services are designed to prepare a student with a disability to achieve his or her post-secondary goals related to living, learning and earning within the community. My focus is to create a positive legacy for our students’ future while ensuring the support and resources are effectively utilized. I am incredibly enthusiastic about joining this wonderful community and contributing to our shared successes.    

Date Added: 10/1/2024