Student Support Services

The Academic Interventionists and ParaEducator's purpose at Thurgood Marshall is to assist in improving the academic achievement of all students in grades K-8.  They work directly with teacher (s) to assist students in reinforcing reading and mathematics skills. The Interventionist will also plan, implement, and assess intervention services to ensure fidelity; enable a teacher's capacity to effectively implement identified core or universal instructional practice for individual students or small groups of students.  Academic Interventionists will work alongside classroom teachers in planning and implementing English/ELA and math intervention initiatives through the iReady online and Orton-Gillingham's First Phonics programs. At Thurgood Marshall, we have 4 Academic Interventionsists, who are here to support your child.

 School Crisis Team information

Thurgood Marshall Elementary/Middle Crisis team is designated to assist students who are in crisis. The staff members are trained on how to use CPR, how to operate the portable AED and to provide the stop bleed techniques.

The goal of the Crisis team is to do the following:

• Develop and provide comprehensive supports and resources
• Pursue partnerships/programs that strengthen our talent pipelines
• Establish and implement a set of standard operating procedures

The school has a four-team which consists of Assistant Principal, Middle School Counselor, Resource Teacher, and a Teacher.  Please call the school office at 313.494.8820 to reach one of the team members.

Meet our Resource staff

Elementary Resource Teacher

Ms. West-Bowlson

 Ms. West-Bowlson is the Elementary Resource teacher for grades K-5 to help with student improvement. Her function is to provide additional academic support for students with mild to moderate learning disabilities. She is responsible for monitoring, assessing, and recording their individual progress. Mrs. West-Boulson's goal is to include these students in the general education setting as much of the school day as possible. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. West-Boulson via email at rosemary.west-bowlson@detroitk12.org or call the office at 313.494.8820.

Middle School Resource Teacher 

Ms. Stafford

Ms. Stafford is the Middle School Resource teacher for Grades 6-8 and she has 21 years of experience in the area of Exceptional Student Education.  Ms. Stafford is a product of Detroit Public Schools and she is a member of a family of educators.  Her duties consist of helping students overcome or adapt to their different styles of learning. She serves as a facilitator between the students and their general education teachers to ensure that their educational needs are being met. Ms. Stafford is a team player and she has a great rapport with students, staff, and parents. With her teaching duties at Thurgood Marshall Elementary-Middle School, she serves on the following committees:

• Leadership team
• Co-Chair of Resource Coordinating Team (RCT)
• Co-Lead teacher of the Special Education team
• The school’s medical Crisis team
• Co-Mentor for the all-female club “Butterflies

Ms. Stafford absolutely loves the students.  Watching the children grow socially and academically brings her pure joy.  You can reach Ms. Stafford at 313.494.8820 or via email at sharrain.stafford@detroitk12.org.

Ms. Mitchell

Ms. Mitchell is the Early Childhood Development Delay classroom teacher for Lower Elementary at Thurgood Marshall. She started as a Resource Teacher, then transferred to her current role in September 2012.  Ms. Mitchell's other duties include:

• Serves on the leadership team
• Lead ESE teacher
• Coordinator for the Resource Coordinating Team (RCT team 

 Please contact Ms. Mitchell at 313.494.8820 or via email at kimberly.mitchell@detroitk12.org for any questions...

Ms. Dye    &    Ms. Ali

Ms. Tanya Dye and Ms. Jassmyne Ali are the School Social Workers for Thurgood Marshall Elementary-Middle School. They are an integral part of the educational team that provides direct as well as indirect services to students, families and school personnel to promote and support student's academic and social success (DPSCD 2019).  They assess students and collaborate with other members of the Resource Coordinating Team (RCT) to create interventions.  They participate in the development of functional assessment, Behavior Intervention Plans, and crisis planning. They help with the management of social and emotional issues that affect appropriate functioning within the educational environment. They also help the staff and students with the following concerns: truant problems, social withdrawal,  over-aggressive behavior, and rebellion (Barker 2003).

 If you have questions for Ms. Dye and Ms. Ali, can be reached at 313.494.8820.   You can also contact them via email at tanya.dye@detroitk12.org or jassmyne.ali@detroitk12.org.

Mrs. Taylor

Mrs. Taylor is the ASD teacher for lower elementary at Thurgood Marshall Elementary-Middle School.  She works with an ASD assistant to complete a plethora of daily educational, social and emotional tasks throughout the school day. Mrs. Taylor’s main goal with her assistant is to prepare their students for life outside the classroom.  She will learn the student's communicative style and, with the help of Ms. Lewis gently introduced them to a more socially acceptable way of communication. In her class, sign language and pictures are apart of their daily schedule, especially for non-verbal students.  She implements a lot of modeling throughout the day to help show students the appropriate way to handle difficult situations as well as teaching socially acceptable behaviors. Students are involved in small steps in daily educational task analysis.  The task analysis is often repeated until the ASD students can complete the task independently.  Mrs. Taylor utilizes a SMART Interactive board in her classroom. She had noticed more student engagement and increased comprehension.   With this technology, students with limited coordination and mobility can feel successful because the board is controlled by touch.  Their technology is very beneficial to her visually impaired students. Mrs. Taylor looks forward to the milestones being reached with this latest technology in her class.  Please contact Mrs. Taylor by telephone at 313.494.8820 or via email at marjo.taylor@detroitk12.org.

Ms. Bean  &  Ms. Vellom

Our speech-language pathologists are  members of the special education team that collaborates with teachers, parents, and other professionals to help develop individualized education plans to support a student’s specific needs.  They assess, diagnose, and treat students with speech and language disorders.  Challenges can include difficulties with articulation, fluency, language, and communication in social situations.  The SLPs provide students with the tools necessary to communicate effectively and work to support language development in conjunction with curriculum guidelines. Please contact the Speech Pathologists at 313.494.8820 or via email at tristyn.bean@detroitk12.org and katherine.vellom@detroitk12.org.

Ms. Angela Chin

Ms. Chin is the Moderate Cognitive Impaired (MO-CI) Teacher for Lower Elementary in our building.  She works with students to strengthen their social, educational and self-help skills. The focus of her classes will help students with their sensory, fine motor, gross motor and communication skills and the curriculum is designed to address each child's developmental level.   With parent participation, Ms. Chin works towards their son/daughter's individualized goals in their IEP.  (Individual Educational Plan)  Ms. Chin recently received a grant from Donors Choose to have tablets in her classroom. 

The new tablets will help students experience interactive lessons to enhance reading, writing and math skills.   Please contact Ms. Chin by telephone at 313.494.8820 or via email at angela.chin@detroitk12.org.

Ms. Andrea Chin

Ms. Chin is a PreK Early Childhood Developmental Delay Teacher (ECDD) in our building.  She develops and adapts lessons to meet the needs of her students. She also provides direct instructional support to students in a positive environment.  Ms. Chin meets with parents to discuss their child's progress and she makes the determination based on their individualized educational plan (IEP).  Ms. Chin recently received a grant from Donors Choose to add tablets to her classroom.  The new technology will help with lessons being taught in the classroom.  Please contact Ms. Chin at 313.494.8820 or via email at andrea.chin@detroitk12.org.

Ms. Langford

Ms. Langford is the Teacher for MI-CI for the Middle School students in our building.  Please contact Ms. Langford at 313.494.8820 or via email at felicia.langford@detroitk12.org.

Ms. Poole-Caldwell

 Ms. Poole-Caldwell is the MO-CI teacher for Upper Middle in our building.  Please contact Ms. Poole-Caldwell at 313.494.8820 or via email at wendy.poole-caldwell@detroitk12.org for any questions.

Ms. Brooks

Ms. Alexis Brooks, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA is a certified Reading Specialist K-12 and Elementary teacher pursuing her certification in Autism Spectrum Disorder.   Ms. Brooks is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst working exclusively with young people on the Autism spectrum for the last 6 years.  Ms. Brooks’ mission is to provide all students with an individualized schooling experience with challenging yet attainable academic, social, and behavioral goals toward becoming well-rounded, productive members of society.  Ms. Brooks is a lifelong resident and supporter of the city of Detroit, mother of 3, and graduate (and current student) of Eastern Michigan University.  If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Brooks by calling 313.494.8820 or via email alexis.brooks@detroitk12.org.

Ms. Cohen

Ms. Cohen is the Teacher for MI-CI for the Elementary School students in our building.  Please contact Ms. Cohen at 313.494.8820 or via email at batya.cohen@detroitk12.org.

The Family Medical Center of Michigan, Inc. has partnered with Detroit Public Community Schools District to provide Behavioral Health Services to children at Thurgood Marshall Elementary-Middle School.  

Services Offered

Telemedicine: Video Conferencing at school

Students will be able to meet with a psychiatrist at the Family Medical Center face-to-face via a video appointment that is facilitated by onsite FMC staff. An assessment will be completed and appropriate medications can be prescribed.

Students will meet with an FMC Behavioral Health Specialist in-person at the school for the following services:

School-Based Assessment 

Students will be assessed to evaluate the concerns related to the child and determine the appropriate services and interventions needed.

School-Based Testing

Students will be tested if needed for childhood diagnoses, such as ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Conduct Disorder.

School Based-Therapy

The student will receive individualized therapy to develop coping skills and work on symptoms and stress management.

Reasons to seek FMC services/signs that your child is experiencing behavioral health issues

Home Concerns

• Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed
• Isolation from friends and/or family
• A change in sleep pattern
• Behavioral issues (not following directions, breaking rules at home, etc)
• Engaging in dangerous, illegal or thrill-seeking behaviors
• Increased arguments at home

School Concerns

• Decreased school performance
• Absenteeism
• Resistance to attending school
• Trouble focusing, concentrating or remembering information
• Behavioral issues (receiving detentions, suspensions, etc.)
• A lack of friends
• Feelings of anger or sadness related to school

Emotional/Psychological Concerns

• Feeling of hopelessness, sadness, anxiety, and/or crying often
• Frequent aggression, disobedience, or lashing out verbally
• Excessive neglect of personal appearance or hygiene
• Weight gain or loss/change in energy levels
• Substance use or abuse
• Making critical comments about themselves
• Signs of cutting, burning or other self-harm
• Difficulty coping with grief and loss
• History of Trauma

Ms. Krystle Buford is the Director of this program and she is available Monday and Wednesday from 9:00 am-4:00 pm.  Please contact her  at 313.969.3812 or via email at k.buford@familymedical.org for an appointment.

The Guidance Advisory Council/ Taskforce is organized to identify the tasks and needs of the students of Thurgood Marshall Elementary-Middle School.  The council meets twice a year in September and May. The council reviews programs and summarizes program results and then makes the appropriate recommendations for the upcoming year. At present, the council consists of Ms. Maria Barber of The Law Office of Atty Lipsey,  David and Robin Finney of the Finney Group, and Tina Robinson, School Counselor.

We have an LPN, who provides direct care to students at Thurgood Marshall Elementary/Middle School.   She provides the following services for grades PreK-8 on a daily basis:

• Leadership for the provision of health services
• Screening and referral for health conditions
• Promotes a healthy school environment
• Promotes health (nutrition, exercise...)
• Medication administration and assessment of health complaints
• Helps manage emergencies and urgent situations
• Verifies immunization information
• Identifies and manages students' chronic health care needs that affect educational achievement

Nurse  is available between 9:00 am until 4:00 pm.  Her office telephone number is 313.852.7654.  Please contact Nurse Dumond directly for any concerns...