As we approach the final stretch of the school year, we want to take a moment to celebrate all that our students, staff, and families have accomplished together. It’s hard to believe how quickly the year has flown by! From the first day of school to now, we’ve seen so much growth, learning, and resilience across our schools.
This time of year is filled with excitement—end-of-year celebrations, graduations, and the promise of summer break just around the corner. We’re so proud of our students for their hard work and determination, and we’re grateful to you, our families, for the support, encouragement, and partnership you’ve shown throughout the year.
In this edition of our newsletter, you’ll find helpful resources, updates, and information from our Special Populations departments, including support services, upcoming events, and ways we’re working to ensure every student has what they need to thrive. We hope you find these insights valuable and encouraging as we wrap up the year together.
Thank you for being such a vital part of our school community!
Please feel free to reach out the coordinator or specialist that best meets your needs:
Jasmine Washington (504 and At-Risk Coordinator) jwashington@lpsfrisco.com
Lynda Delsol (Student Services Specialist) ldelsol@lpsfrisco.com
Jenny Conley (Dyslexia Coordinator and Therapist) jconley@lpsfrisco.com
Ann Henkels (Dyslexia Therapist) ahenkels@lpsfrisco.com
Sharla Reynolds (Provider of Dyslexia Instruction, Student Services Specialist) sreynolds@lpsfrisco.com
Lensie Walker (Special Ed Coordinator) lwalker@lpsfrisco.com
Lori Callaway (GT, ESL, and AP Coordinator) lcallaway@lpsfrisco.com
Danelle Standifer (Transition Specialist) dstandifer@lpsfrisco.com
Karri Luna (Social Worker) kluna@lpsfrisco.com
Christie Goheen (Social Worker) cgoheen@lpsfrisco.com
Kyla Moore (Speech Language Pathologist) kmoore@lpsfrisco.com
Kathy Allen (Speech Language Pathology Assistant) kallen@lpsfrisco.com
Amy McDaniel (Diagnostician) amcdaniel@lpsfrisco.com
Denise Tobkin (Diagnostician) dtobkin@lpsfrisco.com
Reva Soyemi (Math Instructional Coach) rsoyemi@lpsfrisco.com
Paula Ross (Coordinator of Learning and Leading) pross@lpsfrisco.com
5 Myths About Section 504
❌ Myth #1: A 504 Plan is the same as an IEP.
✅ Truth: Although both support students with disabilities, they are different. An IEP is part of special education and offers specialized instruction. A 504 Plan provides accommodations to help students access the general education curriculum without changing what is taught.
❌ Myth #2: Only students with obvious disabilities can qualify.
✅ Truth: Section 504 covers a wide variety of physical and mental health conditions—even if they’re not visible. ADHD, anxiety, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and epilepsy are just a few examples.
❌ Myth #3: A 504 Plan guarantees good grades.
✅ Truth: A 504 Plan levels the playing field—it doesn’t guarantee success. Students still need to complete assignments and show knowledge of the content, but accommodations can help them do that more effectively.
❌ Myth #4: Accommodations are “special treatment.”
✅ Truth: Accommodations are about equal access—not giving anyone an advantage. They help students overcome barriers related to their disability.
❌ Myth #5: Parents don’t have a say in the 504 process.
✅ Truth: Parents are essential members of the 504 team. You have the right to participate in meetings, review plans, and request changes.
Need to help your student stay organized? Try Google Keep. Watch this quick video for details.
!["Overcoming Dysgraphia and Writing Challenges: A Guide for Teachers and Parents" [Video Replay & Podcast #175]](https://i0.wp.com/www.additudemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/understand-conditions-webinars-green-microphones.png)
Made by Dyslexia
Overcoming Dyslexia
As we look ahead to summer, we encourage families to explore opportunities that spark curiosity and keep learning alive for students during the break. Whether your child is interested in science, sports, the arts, reading, or hands-on activities, there are many local programs and online resources available to help them stay engaged and have fun. We’ll be sharing a list of camps, workshops, enrichment activities, and community events that offer meaningful experiences tailored to students’ interests. It’s a great way to keep minds active and make the most of the summer months!
Here are a few events and camps happening in the DFW area:
Titanic: The Exhibition- (through May 11)
Dreamhack Dallas- teens and adults experience everything gaming under 1 roof for 3 days (May 23-25)
Destination Dinosaurs- Dallas Zoo (through September 28)
Bugs LIVE- Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary (through June 29)
NASA: The Apollo Project- Frisco Heritage Museum (through June 28)
Train Excursions- Grapevine Vintage Railroad (ongoing)
A Joyful Mess Summer Art Camps- Prosper (various summer dates)
AP Exam Testing
AP testing season will be upon us next month! Below is the 2025 LPS AP Exam Schedule. As we get closer, students will receive a reminder email a few days before test day with their testing room number.
AP Exam Schedule:
- Monday, May 5th at 8am - AP Biology (Hybrid)
- Wednesday, May 7th at 8am - AP English Literature and Composition (Digital)
- Wednesday, May 7th at 12pm - AP Computer Science A (Digital)
- Thursday, May 8th at 12pm - AP World History (Digital)
- Tuesday, May 20th at 12pm - AP US History (Digital)
What to Bring on Exam Day:
- Digital Exams (English Literature, Computer Science A, World History, US History)
- A watch, if desired (in case the exam room doesn’t have a clock that can be easily seen)
- Fully charged testing device and charger (devices should hold a charge for at least 4 hours) with Bluebook installed
- Their College Board account sign-in credentials.
- Pencils or pens for making notes on school-provided scratch paper
- Hybrid Exams (Biology)
- All items listed under Digital Exams apply
- 2 No. 2 pencils (with erasers) or 2 pens with black or dark blue ink for writing responses in the Section II: Free-Response booklet
- Up to 2 calculators with the necessary capabilities - Students can visit apstudents.org/courses, click on the link for their course, and then go to “About the Exam” to review the calculator policy for that subject.
A few things to note:
- Students with exams at 12pm will be allowed to eat lunch early since testing must begin at 12pm. Students should bring their lunch on test day as they will not be allowed to have off campus lunch.
- Food and drink are not allowed in the testing room
- Electronic equipment of any kind (except devices being used for digital exams) are prohibited
Parent and Student Math Resources- Elementary and Secondary
*Parents and students can use IXL this summer! Your family can review the training resources (clickable topics) from the LPS IXL Parent and Student Training:
- IXL Analytics Guide for Parents
- Getting Started with your child’s IXL school account (IXL video)
- Download the IXL app (website)
- LPS IXL Parent Student Virtual Training Part 1 Part 2 (LPS video)
Reach out to your child’s K-12 teacher for any additional information.
*Math learning continues with “Stanford Online: How to Learn Math: For Students” (web link)
“How to Learn Math is a free self-paced class for learners of all levels of mathematics. It combines important information on the brain with new evidence on the best ways to approach math effectively. Many people have had negative experiences with math. This class will give learners of math the information to become powerful math learners, correct any misconceptions about what math is, and will teach them about their own potential to succeed.”
Have a fantastic summer LPS Parents! For additional information about the Leadership Prep School Math Framework, please check out this document.
Reva Soyemi, District Math Instructional Coach