Helen C. Graham

623-445-7452

mailto:helen.graham@dvusd.org

Special Education Teacher Grades 4, 5 and 6

Hello and welcome! I’m Ms. Helen Graham and I will be providing special education instruction and support for grades 4th, 5th and 6th.  I have been teaching Special Education for 5 years after retiring from the fire service.  I received my BS from UCLA in Biology, and received my Post Baccalaureate teaching certification through Rio Salado College.  I also continue to teach Fire Science courses at the Maricopa Community Colleges.

My classroom expectations include the following::

• Be Respectful
• Demonstrate Responsibility and Accountability
• Communicate respectfully with teachers and peers
• Contribute to a safe and supportive learning environment
   

Please feel free to reach out anytime. I welcome all communication and opportunities to collaborate to ensure your student's academic success.

 

 

 

Jaime Lavit

Hello!! My name is Jaime Lavit and I'm the School Psychologist for Gavilan Peak. I happy to be a part of Gavilan Peak School community. This is my 5th year in the Deer Valley Unified School District and as a School Psychologist. I graduated from Ottawa University with an Education Specialist (Ed.S) degree in School Psychology and received my Bachelors degree within University Studies, emphasis in Education from the University of New Mexico (Go Lobos!). I am originally from Grants, New Mexico and have lived in Washington state, California, Rhode Island, and now call Arizona my home. I have lived in Arizona for 15 years and absolutely love it! I am married and the proud mom of three children; two daughters and one son. Some of my hobbies include running and hiking and I enjoy spending time with family, watching movies, and I'm a coffee lover!! Please feel to reach out to me with any questions, I am here to support you, your student, and our community!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community.

What Do School Psychologists Do? School psychologists provide direct support and interventions to students, consult with teachers, families, and other school-employed mental health professionals (i.e., school counselors, school social workers) to improve support strategies, work with school administrators to improve school-wide practices and policies, and collaborate with community providers to coordinate needed services. They help schools successfully:

Improve Academic Achievement

• Promote student motivation and engagement
• Conduct psychological and academic assessments
• Individualize instruction and interventions
• Manage student and classroom behavior
• Monitor student progress
• Collect and interpret student and classroom data
• Reduce inappropriate referrals to special education

Promote Positive Behavior and Mental Health

• Improve students communication and social skills
• Assess student emotional and behavioral needs
• Provide individual and group counseling
• Promote problem solving, anger management and conflict resolution
• Reinforce positive coping skills and resilience
• Promote positive peer relationships and social problem solving
• Make referrals to and help coordinate community services provided in school

Support Diverse Learners

• Assess diverse learning needs
• Provide culturally responsive services to students and families from diverse backgrounds
• Plan appropriate Individualized Education Programs for students with disabilities
• Modify and adapt curricula and instruction
• Adjust classroom facilities and routines to improve student engagement and learning
• Monitor and effectively communicate with parents about student progress

Create Safe, Positive School Climates

• Prevent bullying and other forms of violence
• Support social-emotional learning
• Assess school climate and improve school connectedness
• Implement and promote positive discipline and restorative justice
• Implement school-wide positive behavioral supports
• Identify at risk students and school vulnerabilities
• Provide crisis prevention and intervention services

Strengthen Family-School Partnerships

• Help families understand their child's learning and mental health needs
• Assist in navigating special education processes
• Connect families with community service providers when necessary
• Help effectively engage families with teachers and other school staff
• Enhance staff understanding and responsiveness to diverse cultures and backgrounds
• Help students transition between school and community learning environments, such as residential treatment or juvenile justice programs

Improve School-Wide Assessment and Accountability Monitor individual student progress in academics and behavior

• Generate and interpret useful student and school outcome data
• Collect and analyze data on risk and protective factors related to student outcomes
• Plan services at the district, building, classroom, and individual levels

Why Do Children Need School Psychologists? All children and youth can face problems from time to time related to learning; social relationships; making difficult decisions; or managing emotions such as feeling depressed, anxious, worried, or isolated. School psychologists help students, families, educators, and members of the community understand and resolve both long-term, chronic problems and short-term issues that students may face. They are a highly skilled and ready resource in the effort to ensure that all children and youth thrive in school, at home, and in life.

Thank you,
Jaime L. Lavit, Ed.S
School Psychologist
Deer Valley Unified School District
Gavilan Peak School - 623.445.7417
Email: jaime.lavit@dvusd.org
Together, We're Extraordinary
Psychologist Mission Statement: "Our mission is to provide psychological support and services promoting extraordinary educational opportunities for each learner."

mailto: hollie.mccoy@dvusd.org

Debra Noble

debra.noble@dvusd.org

My name is Debra Noble and I am a recent transplant to New River, Az. I was a middle school counselor in Washington State for over 20+ years, and this is my 3rd year in the Deer Valley School District.  I am honored to be working with the fabulous staff and students at Gavilan Peak this year.

My husband and I have 2 beautiful daughters, and many fur babies.  We have really enjoyed traveling around Arizona and seeing all it has to offer.

The counseling program at Gavilan Peak offers many services, from 1-1 counseling, group counseling, classroom presentations and peer mediation.  Please feel free to reach out if any services are needed.

Mrs. Supplee

Hello, firebirds! 

My name is Kristen Supplee, and I am proud to be GP's self-contained teacher with our wonderful SPED department. I grew up in Arizona and attended public schools within the Washington Elementary School District and Glendale Union. I attended Northern Arizona University where I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Special Education.

I truly believe that all children deserve the opportunity to learn and grow! I have a passion for being part of helping children realize their potential and being successful.

I will be promoting independence and the development of meaning by making the world predictable and less confusing. I will be putting an emphasis on modifying the environment and teaching skills based on the students' strengths.  

 

If you need to contact me, please use the information below. Email is preferred. Thank you! 

Kristen Supplee

Service Coordinator

Email: Kristen.supplee@dvusd.org

Phone: 623-445-7459

Mrs. Jennifer Tapley

jennifer.tapley@dvusd.org

623.445-7425

This is my 16th year at Gavilan Peak and my 17th year in Deer Valley Unified School District. I earned my undergraduate degree from Northern Arizona University and my Masters in Speech-Language Pathology from East Carolina University. I grew up in Ventura, California, spent 7 years living in Alaska, and have called Anthem home since 2009. I’m married and have one daughter who is a proud Gavilan Peak alumna. Our family includes three kitties and a new puppy who keeps us busy and entertained!

 

In my free time, I enjoy gardening, needlepoint, going to concerts and movies, and traveling. For the past four summers, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to supervise graduate SLP students in Belize through a study abroad program, where we provide speech and language services to both children and adults.

 

I truly love what I do and feel so grateful to be part of the amazing Gavilan Peak community. Helping students find their voice and supporting their growth over the years is both a privilege and a joy!

 

What Do School Speech-Language Pathologists Do?

School Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) work with students to improve their ability to communicate effectively, which supports learning, peer interactions, and overall academic success. SLPs provide direct therapy, assess and identify speech and language challenges, collaborate with teachers, families, and other professionals, and support students in both general education and special education settings.

 

Why Do Children Need School Speech-Language Pathologists?

All children deserve the ability to express themselves, understand others, and participate fully in school and social life. Some students face difficulties with speech, language, or social communication that affect their learning, behavior, and relationships. School-based SLPs are highly trained professionals who help students overcome these challenges, build confidence, and thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally.