Sollars Elementary has a full staff of specialists who provide special instruction and assistance to students, parents, and faculty. In addition to their classroom teachers, children may receive instruction from the following specialists:

COUNSELOR: The Counselor provides psycho-educational services. These services include educational counseling to students and parents. The counselor identifies students with specific learning needs and/or adaptive behavior deficiencies that interfere with learning, completes achievement assessments, and /or psycho-educational evaluations. The counselor provides individual student and group counseling; coordinates the testing program; and assists staff in interpretation of test results and in implementing appropriate programs.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL): ESL instruction may be available to students whose native language is other than English or if a language other than English is spoken in their home. ESL students-participate in a wide range of language activities with the ESL teacher.

HOST NATION SPECIALIST:. The Host Nation Specialists (teacher of Japanese culture) work with grades K-6. The aim of the Host Nation program is to stimulate an awareness of the Japanese culture, history, language, and traditions. The culture teachers also advise and assist in organizing school field trips and visitations.

INFORMATION (MEDIA )SPECIALIST: The mission of the Information Center program is to ensure that Sollars Elementary students and faculty become effective users of ideas and information. This mission is accomplished by providing intellectual and physical access to materials in all formats, providing instruction to foster competence and stimulate interest in reading, viewing, and using information and ideas, and working with other educators to design learning strategies to meet the needs of individual students.

LITERACY SUPPORT SPECIALIST:The Literacy Support Specialist works with identified students within the school to improve the students' reading and writing skills. Students participate in their regular education literacy program, as well as receive an additional amount of time focused on reading and writing skills with the literacy support specialist.

MUSIC: The music specialist provides instruction in creating, performing, listening to and analyzing music for students and serves as a resource person for the classroom teacher. The sequential program of study in music is based on the nine National Standards for Arts Education endorsed by the Music Educators National Conference. These standards identify what our children must know and be able to do as they discover who they are and who they can become.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION: The PE teacher works with all students and acts as a consultant in the areas of PE for the classroom teachers. The physical education program includes development of athletic skills and sportsmanship, attainment of personal goals and meeting challenges.

SCHOOL NURSE: The School Nurse works with students, parents, teachers, and the community in a number of aspects of health education. Large group, small group, and individual instruction are used. Drug and sex education are part of the curriculum. Our school nurse serves as a health education coordinator for the entire school. Vision, hearing, and scoliosis screening will also be completed by the school nurse.

TALENTED AND GIFTED PROGRAM (TAG): The TAG teacher works with students to achieve optimum development of skills and mastery of knowledge by conducting assigned subject matter or grade-level(s) instruction within the school.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: The Learning Specialists work with students in conjunction with the school nurse, faculty, Misawa AB schools' psychologist, Educational Developmental Intervention Services staff (EDIS), and the community. Students receiving assistance include those with achievement difficulties, memory or perceptual problems, or other learning difficulties.

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST: The Speech Pathologist assists in diagnosing speech and language delays. These delays may be in the areas of articulation, stuttering, voice, and receptive or expressive language. The speech pathologist works closely with the Learning Impaired teacher as well as with the classroom teachers.

SURE START: The Sure Start program is based on the successful Head Start Program implemented for those children needing more time and attention to achieve school readiness. Applications for this specialized program are available in the main office and at other locations on base. Students must meet specific eligibility requirements for enrollment.