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Learning Support and Accommodations

The Learning Support Department serves the entire Seattle Academy community by providing support to the diverse learning needs of students and guidance to families and faculty on a wide range of topics including learning differences, giftedness, stress and anxiety, and adolescent development. Additionally, we assist students and faculty with classroom and testing accommodations, tutor referrals, and academic support/recovery plans for students with or needing psycho-educational evaluations, or who have missed school due to injury, illness, or travel.

Seattle Academy is committed to admitting a diverse student population with learning differences including Giftedness, ADHD, Specific Learning Disabilities in Reading (Dyslexia), Writing (dysgraphia/dyspraxia), Math (Dyscalculia), and ASD who are supported through our extensive Learning Support programs. 

We believe that student potential can come in a variety of combinations with students excelling in some areas but needing support in others. We want a learning environment where students are surrounded by people who don’t think the same way they do to help prepare them for the real world where they will be working with people with a wide range of abilities and approaches to working. 

All students at Seattle Academy are expected to take a full load of college preparatory classes in the 5 core academic areas of English, History, Science, Math, World Language (unless they have an accommodation for a World Language waiver). We are able to accommodate students in accessing their curriculum, but we do not modify assignments or assessments in a way that would fundamentally alter the curriculum.

We model our accommodations process on best practices recommended by AHEAD (Association on Higher Education and Disability) and support students in learning to advocate for themselves in a developmentally appropriate way. We have two full-time Learning Specialists a Testing and Assitive Techonology Coordinator to support students and their families in accessing their accommodations. See our accommodations process for more information.  

We also offer a Study Skills class for students who would benefit from high frequency, individualized support in executive function skills and/or tools and strategies to support their learning profile. 

Jess Claesson

Locations: Upper School, All School
Email:
Phone Numbers:
School: 206-861-0914

Giselle Furlonge

Locations: All School
Email:
Phone Numbers:
School: 206-676-6857

Garrett Lunceford

Locations: All School
Email:
Phone Numbers:
School: 206-720-2672

Kristel Arnott

Locations: Middle School
Email:
Phone Numbers:
School: 206-720-2603

Dawn Abbott

Locations: All School
Email:
Phone Numbers:
School: 206-861-0934