At its May 20 meeting, the Bethlehem Central Board of Education approved several changes designed to strengthen special education programming and create more equitable, consistent support for students across the district.
The Board appointed McKenzie Barrett as the district’s Secondary 6-12 CSE Chair and created three new positions that will support special education (two full-time reading teachers and a half-time physical therapist).
Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, planned changes to both the Committee on Special Education (CSE) Chair structure and to student programming are intended to improve coordination, strengthen transitions between grade levels, and expand support for students with specialized needs.
Special Education Leadership
The district is refining leadership responsibilities within special education to create clearer areas of focus and increase continuity for students and families. These changes are described below:
Laura Rosa – Interim Director of Special Education
Beginning July 1, Laura Rosa will serve as interim director of special education. Rosa was appointed to the position by the Board in April.
In this role, Rosa will oversee districtwide special education operations, including budget and fiscal management, legal and compliance responsibilities, and oversight of the Committee on Special Education chair structure.
She will also serve as Special Class CSE Chair and will be responsible for chairing meetings specifically for students placed in a self-contained or special class. These programs involve more intensive special education placements where students receive instruction in a separate class. Rosa will supervise all staff assigned to special classes.
Rosa will also oversee all scheduling of all special education instruction for kindergarten through post-graduate, and will serve as CSE chair for students receiving educational services in a residential setting.
Sarah Laster – Interim Assistant Director of Special Education
Sarah Laster will assume the role of interim assistant director of special education on July 1. Laster was appointed to the position by the Board in April.
In this role, Laster will support the director in overseeing special education operations. Her responsibilities will include CSE chair oversight of out-of-district special education services, non-public and homeschool services, supervision of the College Transition Program, and leadership of related service areas and improvement initiatives.
Laster will also supervise all related service providers who support students through special education and the district’s Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).
McKenzie Barrett appointed Secondary CSE Chair
McKenzie Barrett will serve as Secondary CSE Chair for grades 6-12. The new role, approved May 20, is part of the overall restructuring of leadership within the department. This role consolidates and reshapes the previous CSE middle and high school chair duties to strengthen continuity and support students as they move through secondary grades.
Barrett will oversee the 504 plans for students making transitions from 8th-grade to 9th-grade and from 11th grade to 12th grade. She will supervise the district’s Direct Consultant Teacher (DCT), Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT), and Resource Room (RR) programs for grades 6-12, and will continue all necessary communication, consistency, and coordination across the 6-12 special education program.
Laura Bronson – Elementary CSE Chair
Laura Bronson will continue leading K-5 special education services as Elementary CSE Chair. She will continue to supervise the district’s Direct Consultant Teacher (DCT), Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT), and Resource Room (RR) programs for grades K-5, and will continue all necessary communication, consistency, and coordination across the K-5 special education program.
Bronson will also expand her work supporting students as they transition from elementary to middle school. In 2026-27, she will serve as CSE Chair for students moving from 5th grade to 6th grade, ensuring more continuity for students and families moving between schools.
Special Education Programming
In addition to leadership changes, the district is expanding reading support and related services to better meet student needs.
Additional Reading Support
The district will add 2.0 full-time reading teachers to expand specialized reading support for students requiring additional assistance. These teachers will deliver targeted instruction focused on foundational reading skills, fluency, and comprehension through small-group or individualized interventions. The increased staffing will help provide earlier support and offer more continuity of support across the grades.
Adding a Physical Therapist
The district will add a new half-time (0.5 FTE) physical therapist. The new PT role will support special education students to help them reach their educational goals and gain greater independence.