Portland schools honored for ICT implementation

The Instructional Consultation Team (ICT) at Oakwood Elementary School received recognition from the University of Maryland, creators of the ICT concept, for the high degree in which the school employees implement the program at the school. Portland School Board president Tanya Marcum presented a certificate to Oakwood principal Lisa Riffle and Renee Thelen, the district's direction of special education, during the Jan. 12 meeting of the Portland Schools Board of Education.

'The recognition came from the University of Maryland itself and is for the high level of implementation that Oakwood has been using the program over the last two years,' said Superintendent Charles Dumas. 'Scott Hubble from the Ionia County ISD brought this certificate over personally and said it was a big deal to receive this.' Through the ICT process, staff members identify students who are having specific problems in school and work to come up with solutions so that the student can succeed in the classroom.