Michele Halligan-Foley

Halligan-Foley wanted to do something to help the families of children with special needs at Barrington Elementary School. Her "Learning Together" program does just that, giving those families access to resources and tools they can use at home to reinforce what their children are learning at school. Foley's program provides a lending library of materials and take-home packets for families to use. The lending library includes books, videos and interactive resources. The information and activities included in the packets address a variety of learning needs and developmental levels, are engaging to use and extend the children's skills development. The take-home packets also fulfill a practical need. Barrington is a rural community with neighborhoods scattered over a 50-mile area making access to public libraries or recreational facilities limited. The "Learning Together" program also gives families the opportunity to attend informative workshops and encourages parent support groups throughout the year. The goal is that the program will not only benefit Barrington's special-needs students and their families, but also the entire school population as students begin to understand the learning needs of their peers. Halligan-Foley is a resident of Strafford.