Dr. Shannon Hitch | Executive Director of Special Services

425-936-1301 | shhitch@lwsd.org

Dr. Hitch provides leadership for the development, implementation, and management of district services and programs for students with special needs, including students with Individual Educational Programs (IEPs) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) qualifying for specially designed instruction and students qualifying for accommodations under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act. Dr. Hitch assumes responsibility for ensuring successful collaboration between parents, school teams, and district teams to ensure that free and appropriate public education is provided for qualified students. She provides oversight of district special education services, 504 services, health services, district preschool, and birth-two programming. Dr. Hitch serves as the district’s section 504/ADA coordinator, monitoring and coordinating the district’s compliance with matters pertaining to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Special Services organizational chart

Department webpage: Special Services

Kim Brenner | Director of Early Learning

425-936-2844 | kbrenner@lwsd.org

Ms. Brenner works in collaboration with the Executive Director of Special Services to provide leadership and direction for early learning programs within Lake Washington School District. She is responsible for the daily operations and management of district-wide special education preschool, Head Start, our tuition based preschool program and SNAPS (extended day for students with autism) and will oversee the Early Childhood Center program opening at Old Redmond Schoolhouse next year. She directs the Lake Washington preschool Childfind process and works collaboratively with Birth-to-Three agencies such as Kindering Center and Wonderland.  Ms. Brenner works collaboratively with parents, staff and community members concerning early childhood programs, special services, and procedures.

Dr. Stacey McCrath-Smith | Director of Special Services, Secondary, Eastlake and Redmond 

425-936-1337 | smccrathsmith@lwsd.org

Dr. McCrath-Smith works in collaboration with the Executive Director of Special Services to provide leadership to ensure success for students receiving special education and 504 services in the Eastlake and Redmond Community, Secondary Schools. She supports our Adult Transition Academy in Redmond, which provides programming for students ages 18-21. She supports efforts focused on ensuring academic success for every student by collaborating with district leaders, school principals and teams to increase student access and engagement, close achievement and opportunity gaps, and support student learning and success. She works collaboratively with families and supports communications and conflict resolution efforts. Dr. McCrath-Smith coordinates district Section 504 services and provides support for school psychologists.

Dr. Natalie Pullen | Director of Special Services, Secondary, Juanita and Lake Washington 

425-936-1221 | npullen@lwsd.org

Dr. Pullen works in collaboration with the Executive Director of Special Services to provide leadership to ensure success for students receiving special education and 504 services in the Juanita and Lake Washington Community, Secondary Schools. She supports our Adult Transition Academy in Kirkland as well. She supports efforts focused on ensuring academic success for every student by collaborating with district leaders, school principals and teams to increase student access and engagement, close achievement and opportunity gaps, and support student learning and success. She works collaboratively with families and supports communications and conflict resolution efforts. Dr. Pullen provides support for occupational therapists (OTs) and physical therapists (PTs) as well as paraeducators.

Erin Romanuk | Director of Special Services,
Elementary,  Eastlake and Redmond

425-936-1288 | eromanuk@lwsd.org

Ms. Romanuk works in collaboration with the Executive Director of Special Services to provide leadership to ensure success for students receiving special education and 504 services in the Redmond and Eastlake Community, Elementary Schools. She supports efforts focused on ensuring academic success for every student by collaborating with district leaders, school principals and teams to increase student access and engagement, close achievement and opportunity gaps, and support student learning and success. She works collaboratively with families and supports communications and conflict resolution efforts. Ms. Romanuk provides support for vision and orientation/mobility staff and extended school year (ESY).

Debbie Wagner | Director of Special Services,
Elementary, Juanita and Lake Washington

425-936-1247 | dewagner@lwsd.org

Ms. Wagner works in collaboration with the Executive Director of Special Services to provide leadership to ensure success for students receiving special education and 504 services in the Lake Washington and Juanita Community, Elementary Schools. She supports efforts focused on ensuring academic success for every student by collaborating with district leaders, school principals and teams to increase student access and engagement, close achievement and opportunity gaps, and support student learning and success. She works collaboratively with families and supports communications and conflict resolution efforts. Ms. Wagner provides support for speech language pathologists (SLPs), Deaf and Hard of Hearing (interpreters, teacher of the deaf, audiologist), and Assistive Technology (AT) services.