Special Services

I am honored to be the  Director of Special Services for River Dell Public Schools. In this position I wear many hats. In addition to supervising the district's programs and services for students with disabilities I am, at the district level, the Affirmative Action Officer, Homeless Liaison, and Section 504 officer. As Director of Special Services, my work is not limited to the high school and middle school but extends to districts that send their students to us as tuition students and non-public schools within the district's boundaries. It has always been my belief that students with disabilities should have access not only to a least restrictive environment but to an education that fosters the skills that enables him/her to become a life long learner.

Following graduation from Rutgers University I earned a Masters Degree in Psychology from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology and a Masters Degree in School Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. After earning these degrees, I began my career in special education as a school psychologist and from 1999-2008 worked in a total of 2 school districts case managing students pre-school to grade 12 in various programs. In 2008, I entered the world of administration, as I wanted to make a district-wide difference, and worked for two years as the Supervisor of Child Study Teams for a Bergen County district. In 2010, I obtained my first director position in a school district in Passaic County and worked there until coming to River Dell in September 2016.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding the special education process or your student's program.

Sincerely,

James Cooney, M.A.

(201) 599-7220

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