Students Thrive at Glen H. Peters School
By Shelley Ottenbacher
Championed by its namesake, Glen H. Peters (see sidebar), the school opened its doors more than 50 years ago. This school had the distinction of being the first special education facility created and operated by the Macomb Intermediate School District (MISD). Today, with more than 250 students and three specialized programs, the staff provides a loving, supportive environment that allows students to thrive and push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Glen Peters School is one of two center-based programs within the MISD serving students with moderate cognitive impairments (MoCI), severe cognitive impairments (SCI) and severe multiple impairments (SXI). The students attending the school reside within the nine northernmost school districts in Macomb County.
“Students come to us through a referral from their home school district,” said Julee Anderson, the school’s principal. “Our MoCI program is offered on a more traditional schoo-year calendar and those students are with us until age 18. After age 18, most students transition to Lutz School for Work Experience, also operated by the MISD, where the curriculum is focused on vocational skills. Our SCI and SXI students may remain with us until they are age 26, and their programs are offered on an extended-year schedule.”
The hallmark of the education provided to every student is customization to their particular disability. In close partnership with the families, planning teams develop a comprehensive Individual Educational Plan (IEP) to meet the needs of each student.
“Our students require intensive, specialized academic, social emotional, physical, and medical supports in addition to assistance with personal care services,” said Anderson. She continued, “We work collaboratively across areas of expertise to build a plan that provides the support each student needs to be successful and allows them to access programs to their highest potential.”
“Our curriculum is aligned with the common core grade-level essential standards, but our staff will modify or adapt the lesson or methods of teaching to meet individual student needs — such as using materials with larger print or a more tactile way of learning,” Anderson explained. “The process is designed to follow and evolve with each student’s individual learning path. We set high expectations and celebrate all levels of success.”
Along with a team of compassionate teachers, the school staff includes a psychologist, social worker, adaptive physical education teachers, two school nurses as well as physical, occupational and speech therapists on site.
“A huge benefit of our program is that we have ancillary and therapy support staff on site,” said Anderson. “We place a high value on the comprehensive academic, social, physical and medical supports that we provide.”
Shelley Petty, mom to Hailey, a student at Glen H. Peters for nearly 20 years, agrees.
“Hailey has a lot of medical fragilities and Glen Peters School is a great place for her,” Petty said. “It gives her a safe place to go and do all the things any kid does at school. She absolutely loves it. Her friends are there, and she is very social. She has great experiences there because the staff is able to take such wonderful care of her medically.”
In addition to an onsite support staff, the school can also request as-needed support from the MISD’s department of support-related services and access a wide variety of consultants, including orientation and mobility, hearing and vision. “The wealth of resources the ISD has available to the 21 local districts is immense,” Anderson said.
Program activities also include swimming, bowling, adaptive physical education, vocational activities and community- based instruction. The pool is a favorite of many students.
“Under the guidance of our adaptive Physical Education staff, the pool offers a wonderful opportunity for our students to be able to move their bodies in ways that they might not otherwise be able to. It can be a calming sensory experience. The kids love it,” Anderson added.
She is especially proud of the efforts of the entire staff to create an environment where students feel supported, safe, and loved. “Students have 125 cheerleaders here,” she says. “Our students’ determination is inspiring and every day we have so much to celebrate.”
From bubble parties to dance parties, Anderson applauds the creativity of her team in celebrating the students’ motivation and determination as they work on physical and mental accomplishments that so many people take for granted. Student of the Month assemblies are a highlight for students, staff and families. Each month, a student from each classroom is recognized and honored. The student’s accomplishments are shared and friends and family come to celebrate with them that day.
“The excitement among all the students and the pride in their peers is joyous,” said Anderson. “Our students work through so many barriers and they never give up – it’s hard to articulate how big these moments are.”
“One of our goals is to connect our families with their communities,” Anderson added. “We are so grateful to organizations like The Friends of Macomb Township, Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus, Alhambra, and the Parents and Friends of Glen H. Peters Organization, along with others that dedicate time and funds for inclusive events and activities. It really builds a bridge for our families.”
“If you have a child that’s special, you can go from being one of the crowd to someone out on an island by yourself,” Petty said. “By helping create a sense of community and family, we can empower all families to advocate for themselves and their children — build their confidence, and become part of a community again. Everyone needs to find their tribe.”
“We are so fortunate to have the support of so many great organizations as well as student organizations that support us,” she added. “They are quietly doing the work that helps so many.”
WHO IS GLEN H. PETERS?
Glen H. Peters served as a member of the Macomb County Board of Education beginning in 1951 until his retirement in 1987. The board eventually became tthe Macomb County Intermediate School District Board of Education.
Peters tirelessly campaigned for Macomb County children with severe disabilities. He joined with Macomb County parents to lobby the state Legislature to set high standards for special education, and the resulting law becoming became a model for national legislation.
In 1973, when the Macomb County Intermediate School District created its first special education school, it was named in his honor. Glen H. Peters was intimately involved in state school reorganization efforts – consolidating 73 school districts into the present 21 public school districts Macomb County now serves and helped to initiate plans for Macomb Community College.
