Support for Dr. Rhen and Pennsylvania's Children with Disabilities
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Author:
n/a -
Send To:
Pennsylvania Govenor Ed Rendell and Gerald Zahorchak Secretary of the PA Department of Education
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Sponsored By:
Kids Together -
More Info at:
We the people of Pennsylvania, individuals, parents, advocates, educators, professionals, family members, friends and others listed below call upon Pennsylvania's Governor Rendell and Gerald Zahorchak Secretary of the PA Department of Education to reappoint Dr. Linda Rhen to her former position as Director of the Bureau of Special Education. In the greater interest of ensuring an appropriate education to all students, specifically those with disabilities Dr. Rhen has proven to be a devoted leader creating positive changes in the educational system to meet the needs of all students.
Pennsylvania has been, and still is, one of the worse states in educating students with disabilities. Years of ignoring parents, families, advocates, and best practices have resulted in a closed-door policy unwelcoming of feedback from stakeholders and ultimately unresponsive to the needs of students with disabilities. Previous leadership in the Bureau of Special Education has chosen to ignore issues and focus on covering up problems, rather then facing them head on and working in collaboration with stakeholders to find win-win solutions. Most importantly past leadership has failed to take steps to ensure that appropriate supports and services were being provided to students entitled to them under federal law IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education) to receive FAPE (A Free and Appropriate Education) in LRE (The Least Restrictive Environment).
The Gaskin Class Action is evidence of the systemic issues that resulted in blatant disregard of federal laws and student rights. Clearly, these issues that families and other stakeholders had approached PDE with over many previous years were not just isolated incidents, as the previous department leadership claimed. It is not in the best interest of children to remove a person from leadership that has shown dedication to providing each child an appropriate education, and replace that person with someone from the previous leadership that led to the current poor state of the system.
Dr. Rhen has proven to be knowledgeable, intelligent, collaborative and open-minded. We are confident in her ability to understand both the needs of the system and the students and we know that she will work toward implementing best practices in order to move the state forward as a leader in the education of students with disabilities. Indeed, she already has, up until her untimely dismissal. We urge you to reconsider this decision and reappoint Dr. Linda Rhen as Director of the Bureau of Special Education.
Pennsylvania has been, and still is, one of the worse states in educating students with disabilities. Years of ignoring parents, families, advocates, and best practices have resulted in a closed-door policy unwelcoming of feedback from stakeholders and ultimately unresponsive to the needs of students with disabilities. Previous leadership in the Bureau of Special Education has chosen to ignore issues and focus on covering up problems, rather then facing them head on and working in collaboration with stakeholders to find win-win solutions. Most importantly past leadership has failed to take steps to ensure that appropriate supports and services were being provided to students entitled to them under federal law IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education) to receive FAPE (A Free and Appropriate Education) in LRE (The Least Restrictive Environment).
The Gaskin Class Action is evidence of the systemic issues that resulted in blatant disregard of federal laws and student rights. Clearly, these issues that families and other stakeholders had approached PDE with over many previous years were not just isolated incidents, as the previous department leadership claimed. It is not in the best interest of children to remove a person from leadership that has shown dedication to providing each child an appropriate education, and replace that person with someone from the previous leadership that led to the current poor state of the system.
Dr. Rhen has proven to be knowledgeable, intelligent, collaborative and open-minded. We are confident in her ability to understand both the needs of the system and the students and we know that she will work toward implementing best practices in order to move the state forward as a leader in the education of students with disabilities. Indeed, she already has, up until her untimely dismissal. We urge you to reconsider this decision and reappoint Dr. Linda Rhen as Director of the Bureau of Special Education.
698 Signatures
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Maria Di C
- Comments
- Pediatrician and Mother of 2 Children with Disabilities
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Trish E. Luberda, C
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- Mother of 3 exceptional children. PA is sorely lacking in special education accountability for exceptional children and now you make a decision to "fire" someone with the mindset and ambition to help our future through our children? What a close-minded way to progress!!!
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Stephen J. L
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Kathleen T
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Judy F
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Stephanie D
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Carol N
- Comments
- Please reappoint Dr. Rhen to help my child and all the children in PA with Disabilities
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Michele S
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Roxanne D
- Comments
- Dr. Rhen has been a wonderful liaison to parents, where there is typically no support. PLEASE reinstate her to the position as the Director of the Bureau of Special Education. As a parent of a child with autism, and as an advocate for many families, it is imperative to have support with all of the challenges our children face every day!
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Barbara K
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Mary M
- Comments
- parent of young man with autism
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Nancy S. B
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Sharon E. C
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Lewis F. K
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Dot S
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Emily M
- Comments
- The removal of Dr. Rhen was a step backward. I urge you to reconsider your decision, for the sake of all of Pennsylvania's children with disabilities.
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Lisa A. N
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Kathleen A. M
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Jeffrey R
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Ellen J. S
- Comments
- Dr. Rhen has been a ray of hope for families of kids with disabilities. Please reinstate her!
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Tracy L
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Dr. Damian J
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Domenico C
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- I can not believe that such a highly creative and quality individual would be let go. I am appauled that going back in time with special education and reverting to a period of ineffectiveness and poor leadership for our kids in special education throughout the Commonwelth.
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Helen C
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Helen Marie S
- Comments
- I fully support this petition!
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margaret mary h
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Gena C
- Comments
- I am about to challenge Pennsbury with placement for my son - why should that have to happen?
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Charles L. Haley I
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Ingrid M. W
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Darlene J
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Joelie D
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Janet H
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Nancy K
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Janet S. G
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Lauren R
- Comments
- Thanks for all that you do to help our children.
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LaTasha B
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Jordan T
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John R. P
- Comments
- I have 14 yr old son with Autism. Someone owes this community a very good explaination!
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Frank J. Tomko I
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Angela S
- Comments
- Remember, NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
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Aurelia C
- Comments
- I truly support this. We must stand for something.
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Joe C
- Comments
- Please reconsider and rehiring Dr. Rehn for the Special Ed Position position.
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Anna S
- Comments
- Please let Dr. Rhen help our children
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Marianne R
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- It is critically important that the Bureau Chief andthe entire Department and Administration implement courageous and principled leadership.. A return to the eight years, previous to this administration that did not support public education is like inserting a dagger in the heart of those who do believe in the viability of neighborhood schools, the importance of specially designed instruction for all children and a belief that we are all the better for it.
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Mark S
- Comments
- Let Dr. Rhen return
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Linda T
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Nancy C
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James R
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Jamie D
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Joe R
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698
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