Academics

Student Success

At PBDA, every student achieves more, regardless of learning differences.

PBDA Student Success Team SST

Student Success Team (SST)

The mission of PBDA’s Student Success Team (SST) is to provide each child with the necessary academic, social, emotional, and physical support, as needed, to thrive here at PBDA.

The SST is made up of two learning specialists for Primary through Grade 3, and two learning specialists Grades 4-8. A school counselor and school nurse attend to both campuses to provide additional support. Moreover, the Head of Upper and Lower Schools are actively involved in the organization and planning for student success. All members of the SST work closely with classroom teachers as well as parents to understand the students’ needs and create effective support plans. Please click here to learn more about our Accommodation Policy.

Primary through Grade 5

For students in Primary through Grade 5, foundational literacy skills are taught using the Wilson Reading System. Wilson Language is a structured, systematic, and multi-sensory approach to teaching reading, which is based on the Orton-Gillingham Methodology.

Grades 6 through 8
Beginning in Grade 6, the focus shifts to application, independence, and self-advocacy. All 6th-grade students are enrolled in a weekly Study Skills class that teaches organizational, learning, and study strategies. In Grades 6-8, a daily Guided Study class is offered for students eligible to waive a world language to provide academic support and facilitate the use of learning strategies.

PBDA Student Counselor

PBDA School Counselor

The School Counselor, Deena Sobel, is a resource for teachers, parents, and students on both campuses. Students are often referred to the counselor by teachers, but due to her open-door policy, many Upper Campus students come on their own, as needed.

Mrs. Sobel communicates with parents after individual meetings and acts as a liaison between home and school during times of transition and with outside professionals. In addition to one-on-one conversation, Mrs. Sobel also meets with students in small groups, scheduled around academic classes or before school.

Grades 4-6

Sobel teaches weekly social-emotional classroom guidance lessons to Fourth Grade, and bi-weekly lessons to Fifth Grade. In Sixth Grade, Sobel leads single-gender discussions throughout the year to discuss friendship and conflict resolution. Students in Grades 4-6 are also invited to join in casual “lunch bunches” throughout the year.

Meet the School Nurses

Angela Hampton
Lower School Nurse

Nurse Angela Hampton

Angela Hampton has been at PBDA since 2020. Having graduated with a B.S.N from Indiana State University, she is a Registered Nurse and holds the certification in BLS, ACLS, First Aid, Combat Medic, Reiki, Battlefield Acupuncture, and Bloodborne Pathogen Training. She is a United States Army Veteran serving during wartime at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in D.C. Angela served with the American Red Cross in Korea and Germany as an OR/ER Nurse, and is the parent of Thierry 2030 and Milan Hampton 2032.

Carrie Pateman
Upper School Nurse

Carrie Pateman (’92) is an active participant on the Student Success Team, contributing essential medical information relative to student progress and success. In addition, she provides first aid and injury care to students; provides nursing assessments and counseling referrals, when appropriate; maintains student health records; administers medications to students prescribed by a medical doctor; counsels parents on child-specific health needs; develops and conducts group education sessions to address health topics that include sleep habits, healthy nutrition and exercise; and more.