Pupil Personnel
Services
Zuclich brings wealth of special education
experience to Port Jervis
When it comes
to educating special needs children, it’s more than just a
job for Port Jervis’ new director of Pupil Personnel
Services – it’s personal.
 Ruth
Zuclich, who comes to the Port Jervis School District from
the Minisink Valley School District, entered the field of
special education 30 years ago after growing up in a family
with a special needs child. Born and raised in Middletown,
Zuclich was part of a large extended family that included 14
close-knit cousins. One of the most important people in the
family was her disabled cousin.
“When we were kids, there weren’t many services available
for disabled children,” explained Zuclich, who witnessed her
aunt going to great lengths on her cousin’s behalf. “My aunt
was a real forerunner – a strong advocate for special
education.”
This influenced her life. By the young age of eight, Zuclich
already knew she wanted to be a special education teacher.
After graduating from Middletown High School, Zuclich
fulfilled her dream by earning a bachelor’s degree in
special education from SUNY Cortland and becoming a special
education teacher at Minisink Valley Middle School. She
taught there for 17 years.
“I loved teaching special education,” said Zuclich, who
reluctantly left the classroom in 1997 when she was asked to
serve as the chairman of the Minisink CSE (Committee on
Special Education) and later as supervisor of special
education. Four years ago, Zuclich was promoted to director
of pupil personal services.
Although she misses teaching, Zuclich, who holds a master’s
degree from C.W. Post and her administrative certification
from SUNY New Paltz, says being an administrator “allows her
to touch the lives of all of the special needs students in
the district.”
As the Director of Pupil Personnel Services in the Port
Jervis School District, Zuclich is responsible for providing
the services needed to help students realize their full
academic potential. To accomplish this, Zuclich and her
staff will work closely with principals, teachers and other
district staff. “My goal is to have students where they need
to be and to get them the services they need to get there,”
said Zuclich.
(Pupil
Personnel Services Page)
|
