“She Belongs”: Chinook Team Supports Student with Care, Connection and Levy-funded Services 

Maddie's Highline Story

Beth Comfort says she and her husband, Adam, greatly appreciate the support their daughter, Maddie, receives from the Chinook Middle School special education staff. “They're one of the best teams that we've ever had for Madilyn,” Beth says. Maddie’s support team includes an LPN, a physical therapist (PT), an occupational therapist (OT) and a speech-language pathologist (SLP). 

The current Highline education levy helps fund special education teachers and paraeducators and provides training opportunities to better meet students’ needs. It also helps fund PTs, OTs and SLPs. 

Maddie is finishing eighth grade. Paraeducator Michele Larabee has supported her since sixth grade. “Her smile and her laugh are so infectious — that’s a big part of why I choose to do this job,” Michele says. “It’s rewarding to see her find joy each day and to see her growth.” 

Maddie has a rare seizure disorder called Lennox Gastaut Syndrome. LPN Kameron Wescott assists with Maddie’s g-tube feeding at school and monitors for seizures.  

Michele says Maddie has increased her eye contact with teachers and is tracking better with her eyes. “She is learning to catch a ball and throw it in P.E. We are working on high fives. She enjoys listening to books and participating in music class. She can’t verbalize it, but she acts genuinely happy to be at school every day based on her mood, her interactions with others and little improvements.” 

“It’s easy to assume Maddie is super fragile because of her health issues, but she is also strong in many ways,” Michele says. “Now, she can practice taking steps with our assistance after her dad demonstrated how at an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meeting with her teacher, Michelle Ebbesson, and her care team.” 

“Ms. Ebbesson has been a great teacher. She's very kind and loving, and I felt very comfortable with Maddie being in her class,” Beth says. “Ms. Larabee came with us to Chinook when Maddie transferred here, and she is going to move with her to ninth grade at Tyee. She's been an invaluable part of Maddie’s journey.” 

"I feel very comfortable with Madilyn being at school even though she's medically fragile. As a mother of a child with special needs, it has done my heart so much good to have peace about her experience in school.” 

“Parents of children with a disability must be able to trust the school team with their child — it’s pretty much everything to us,” Beth says. 

Beth shares that Maddie’s care team at Chinook knows her daughter by name, by strength and by need. “Her therapists, her teacher and the other paras in the class — they all know her strengths, and they try to play to her strengths by giving her opportunities to do things that they know she loves and excels at.” 

“She loves music. And she loves P.E. She's social. She likes being around all the kids, and she's always included in class activities,” Beth says. “Everybody knows her name, and I feel like she belongs.” 

Beth is wondering what high school will be like for Maddie when she attends the newly constructed Tyee High School in the fall. Students with special needs are included in general education classrooms at Tyee — as in most Highline schools — supported by a case manager, therapists, nurses and paraeducator support as needed. Chinook will transition to an inclusion program next year. 

While Beth feels apprehensive about the transition, she is comforted that Michele, Maddie’s paraeducator, will move with her to high school. 

Beth says she is thankful for the local levy funding and for voters who approved it in 2021 to help bridge the gap in state funding for paraeducators, teachers, therapists and other support staff. “Any time the public supports our families and kids with disabilities, it’s a good thing,” she says.