Westbury Special Education Director Reports RISE Program Triples in Size

Michael Mack, director of special education for the Westbury school district, presented a report on departmental growth at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 27. This presentation marked the first entry in a new monthly series where district department heads will update the board on their operational status. Mack focused on five specific areas of improvement: the RISE program, night school, in-district staffing, scholar re-entry, and instructional sports.

The RISE program, an acronym for Reaching Independence through Support and Empowerment, has seen a major increase in capacity. During the 2024-2025 academic year, the program operated two sections across the elementary, middle, and high schools. For the 2026-2027 school year, that number has grown to nine sections. This expansion aims to provide more localized support for students requiring specialized instruction.

The district has also broadened its after-hours offerings. The night school program, which previously focused on general academic recovery, now includes special education, counseling, and resource room services. These changes reflect a strategy to integrate support services into non-traditional school hours to accommodate diverse student schedules.

Staffing adjustments form another core part of the update. Mack noted that the district now employs in-house occupational therapy staff rather than relying solely on outside agencies. He argued that internal staff offer greater community engagement and a deeper awareness of specific student needs. The department has also added behavioral analysts to its roster to support student behavior management.

Mack cited data showing that these programming and staffing updates have helped maintain student enrollment within the district. Over the past period, 30 students who had previously left returned to Westbury schools. An additional 25 students were retained in the district due to the availability of new programs. The department also expanded special education services for bilingual students, extending coverage to grades K-3.

In the realm of extracurriculars, Mack highlighted the performance of the Challenger soccer team. The group finished its recent season with a 6-1 record, demonstrating the success of the district's instructional sports initiatives. Mack closed the presentation by emphasizing the relational aspect of the work, sharing photos of himself participating in playful activities with students, including costume events and pie-throwing sessions.

“Working in education is the best job ever,” Mack said. “It can be stressful and challenging, but some of the greatest moments of my life are when I’m just getting out and having fun with the students.”