Learning Resource Collaborative FAQs

The Learning Resource Collaborative (LRC) is a partnership of professionals at Sandy Spring Friends School committed to the competency, success, and joy of all learners in the SSFS community. It is a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary student support system that serves as an expanded program for supporting student learning in both the day and residential programs to empower students for college and beyond. The LRC is comprised of five cross-divisional Learning Specialists.

Depending on your child’s division, SSFS provides small class sizes, academic help and tutorial times built into the daily academic schedule, advisory groups, licensed counselors in each division and in the dorm, learning specialists in each division, peer writing center, in-class accommodations, support for standardized testing accommodations, and multifaceted, individualized college counseling support.

The Learning Resource Collaborative provides the following core services to all SSFS students and their families:

• Consultation with parents, students, teachers, and outside professionals about learning needs
• Assistance with the identification of learning differences
• Development of strategies with students to help them adapt to their learning styles
• Referrals to outside resources (tutors, speech and language therapists, psycho/educational testing services, etc.) as needed
• Support for teachers for implementing recommendations and accommodations
• Ongoing faculty/student workshops and training on how students learn and study

Regardless of division, it is always best to start with your child’s teacher or advisor (middle/upper school). They will share their observations with you and help you decide whether or not to call/email the Learning Specialist. 
Contact information for each division’s Learning Specialist is listed below.

• Learning Specialist (all divisions): Ebe Behnia, ebe.behnia@ssfs.org, 301.774.7455 x173
• Lower School Learning Specialist: Beverley DiTusa, beverley.ditusa@ssfs.org, 301.774.7455 x176     
• Lower School Reading & Learning Specialist: Courtney Benson, courtney.benson@ssfs.org, 301.774.7455 x311
• Middle School Learning Specialist: Patti Lemere, patti.lemere@ssfs.org, 301.774.7455 ext. 116
• Upper School Learning Specialist: Shannon Needham, shannon.needham@ssfs.org, 301.774.7455 ext. 122
• Administrative Assistant to Learning Specialists: Jenai Bell, jenai.bell@ssfs.org

Please contact the Learning Specialist to determine which accommodations are routinely provided at SSFS. The Learning Specialist will most likely want to meet with you about the information and discuss setting up an Accommodation Plan (Upper School) or Learning Profile (Lower and Middle School) to make sure your child’s needs are met during the school day.