Special Services

Wimberley Danforth Jr. High

SPECIAL SERVICES

Updated: August 21, 2006

Content Mastery
Sherri Colca

I am the Special Education Department Head and also serve as the Section 504 Campus Coordinator. I work with students who have learning difficulties to create plans for success throughout their junior high years. Consulting with teachers about the students' modifications and accommodations is a big part of my day, in addition to helping the students organize their materials and learn the "best practice" methods for learning content material. We have the best department because of our teachers and aides! I love my job!!!

I have been teaching 25 years, the last 9 of which have been here at Wimberley Jr. High School. I earned my Bachelor of Science with degrees in German and Education at The University of Texas; I am also certified as a Reading Specialist.

Wimberley has been my home for 24 years and we continue to love the area. My husband, Michael Colca, is a Master Wood Craftsman, and.... "Yes, we have some lovely handcrafted furniture in our home!" We have one son, Bryan, who is 15 years old and starting his freshman year in high school; he loves soccer, tennis and has played the clarinet for 6 years. I am an avid gardener and love cooking Italian food as a result of my husband’s Sicilian heritage; I also love yoga regular walks down our country roads, traveling and reading.

Resource:

Dyslexia Specialist
Linda Goldman

Born in Texas, lived in LA (why??), and back to Texas (yea!!). I am a former EMT, commodities broker, and defense contractor. If you can figure out that progression, you get points.

I have a wonderful husband who is heavily involved with playing pool and running pool leagues. We have many animals (rescued), and some are medically fragile, so we are busy caretakers of our brood, all of whom hold a special place in our hearts.

My children are grown, but still my babies. My son is a pastry chef and accomplished musician, and my daughter is in fashion design and also does Irish dancing. None of these talents, I might add, came from any of my genes --- they only inherited my very warped sense of humor (and perhaps, heavy thighs).

This is my second year in Wimberley, and the district’s commitment to providing excellent education to all students is truly impressive.

I love working with dyslexic students. They often struggle with the academics that we test to determine success in school, but they have so many strengths and talents in a variety of other areas. They are bright, witty, and articulate. I try to be very sensitive to the complex academic, social, and personal issues that each of them deals with and find ways to address them.

Special Education
Raydean Moore

This school year marks my 6^th year in teaching and my second year at Danforth Junior High. I am beginning yet another, of many, traumatic years in that my baby, Logan, is beginning his freshman year in high school. My three older children are all in college, but I am truly hopeful that the boys will be out THIS May!! Katie is in track…go sis! After moving from south Texas, our family has fallen in love with the Central Texas Hill Country. We have met many new and eclectic friends in the past three years. I have always loved teaching kids to read with better comprehension and to fall in love with stories! I am presently the Resource Reading teacher for grades 6-8.

Math
Melissa Ruiz

I grew up in Wimberley. After graduation I attended Southwest Texas State University where I graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. I began my career at the middle school level teaching all subjects in a resource setting with content mastery included. I then moved to a new school district where I taught math, language arts and history while still at the middle school level. When I met my husband we decided to make Wimberley our home. I began working for the Wimberley school district after our first child was born. This will be my sixth year with WISD and my thirteenth year teaching special education at the middle school level. My husband Paul and I are the proud parents of Cruz, our six year old son and Kera , our one year old daughter.

Life Skills:

Life Skills
Mary Capps

Mary Capps, Life Skills Teacher, has a BS in Vocational Home Economics from Florida International University in Miami, Fl. She has a Masters Degree in Special Education from Texas State in San Marcos. Mary has been in our district for ten years and she enjoys collaborating with teachers and community members on special projects. She is married to Terry and they have 3 children and a daughter in law who are college graduates. She lives in Buda.

Instructional Aides:

Bobbie Arredondo

I grew up in Mississippi and moved to Austin years later. I met my husband Jesse and moved to Driftwood where he had lived for 15 years, running his own construction business. We have two boys: Jesse, Jr., age 18 in the 12th grade and Michael, age 16 in the 10th grade. They also have a big brother that lives and works in Dallas. Before coming to Danforth as an instructional aide, I worked at Bowen in CMC for two years, but now I enjoy working at Danforth.

Marti Dygert

I was born and raised in Iowa. I’m the youngest of five children. My father was a Junior High History teacher with a tremendous sense of humor. My mother was a highly decorated domestic engineer. I moved to Colorado when I turned 21 yrs. old and lived in and around the Colorado area for many years. We moved to Texas about 5 years ago. I have been a volunteer in the school system for about 10 years. I started working in the schools about 7 years ago to help further my families, economic statue and relish in those wonderful benefits. My family consists of 1husband, 3 gorgeous sons and 2 large dogs named Shilo, and Ashlee, 2 cats named Tigger, Pooh. Two of my sons are still in the school district, our oldest is in the world’s work force, a while before he’ll go back to higher learning (yeah). My background is domestic engineering and nursing. I also love helping the kiddos at the Jr. High, with all the diverse personalities it keeps me on my toes. Ready for another great year……

Glenda Wilcox

I moved to Wimberley in 1986. I returned to school at SWT and graduated with a degree in Geography. I continued my education working on my Master's in Geography, but switched to Education.

I began working with children with Learning Disabilities over thirty years ago, when my son was diagnosed with a Learning Disability.

Paul Ruiz, Jr.

Hi, my name is Paul Ruiz. I work with special education students here in Danforth Jr. High. This is my second year here at Danforth and my 10^th year working in Special Ed.

This year I will be involved with the Focus program. It is a positive behavior model that assists students with behavior problems, geared to help them manage themselves and succeed in class. I am married to Melissa Ruiz and have two beautiful children, Cruz who is in 1^st grade this year and Kera who is 1 year old. I have lived here in Wimberley for 9 years.

Paula McNabb

Although I grew up around Houston, I moved to San Marcos while attending college at Texas State (Southwest) and fell in love with the area. I have been working in the public schools for about 10 years and couldn’t imagine myself in another profession.

My last two years have been spent serving in the AmeriCorps (state-side Peace Corps) where I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a great majority of my service, with Communities In Schools, doing just what I love – mentoring and tutoring at-risk youth.

In the summers, I am working to complete my certification in secondary Sciences and all- level Physical Education.

I am also a new foster parent which has been wonderful and I am certain will hold many more blessings and challenges along the way.

Making the move to Wimberley, I am excited to be a part of a strong team of teachers and staff as well as a great community where I already feel right at home.

David Hagler

David has lived in Wimberley for 28 years. He was self employed for twenty of those years and has worked in Special Education for the past three. He has a BA in History from the University of Illinois and was formerly employed by the Hays Consolidated ISD. He has a keen interest in the Civil War and attends reenactments on a regular basis.