The Learning Team

Learning Team Philosophy and Composition

As a college-preparatory school, The Colorado Springs School is deeply committed to sound learning for all students. Our ultimate goal is to release and stimulate each student’s full intelligence, and to equip them for independent learning and self-advocacy after they graduate from CSS. Out of this commitment stems our dedication to minimize barriers to learning, within reason, that may be caused by reasons that are emotional, medical, or based on learning differences. By providing appropriate challenge from committed faculty mentors in an experiential setting, and using the Learning Team to reduce barriers to learning, we feel that we can deliver the highest quality education to our students.

The CSS Learning Team is composed of the school’s Nurse, Counselors, and Learning Coordinator. These staff members meet regularly together and with the division heads or faculty, as needed, to coordinate the strongest response on behalf of the school.

Learning Team Function

The Learning Team is responsible for a number of functions at The Colorado Springs School, which include:

Provide a first line, fundamental level of medical, psychological, or learning support to students in immediate need, within the scope of their training and expertise.
Consult with teachers to be sure that they are aware of any medical, psychological, or learning issues that would help them deliver a stronger educational experience.
Provide direct observations at school that may inform off-campus health and learning professionals.
Interpret recommendations from off-campus health and learning professionals to be sure that CSS delivers appropriate and reasonable accommodations in an effort to minimize barriers to learning (in consultation with Division Heads).
Coordinate wellness and learning styles education for faculty, and sometimes parents.

We recognize that students benefit from a collaborative effort on the part of parents, teachers, students, and other professionals. The Learning Team is available to all families who are willing to openly share related information from off-campus specialists, tutors, and therapists.

CSS considers each recommendation for accomodations and makes all final decisions about which accomodation are reasonable in our setting, given our resources and expertise.

Confidentiality and Disclosure

The Learning Team is an integral component of school life. By choosing to attend CSS, parents implicitly agree that their student may meet with any member of the Learning Team. The information gained through the work of the Learning Team helps the school to deliver the strongest possible educational program for our students, and is treated with the level of confidentiality appropriate for the situation according to professional best practices. From time to time, information from the Learning Team may be disclosed to the Head of School, Division Heads, outside professionals, law enforcements officers, parent/guardians or others when there is a compelling reason for doing so, including cases of health and safety emergencies; when students or others are in imminent danger of harm; when there is concern about an individual’s ability to function academically, emotionally, physically, and/or mentally within the school environment; or when legal requirements demand that confidential information be revealed (such as with abuse or neglect). Parents are at all times entitled to any information that is received by any of these professionals.

For more information regarding the Learning Team, please contact Georgia Allred, Learning Coordinator, at (719) 434-3521 or by email at gallred@css.org.