Jerri Roach Ostergard
Jerri Roach Ostergard is the district wide Transition Specialist for the Worcester
Public Schools. She has been working in the school system for the past 10
years, initially as a high school special education teacher. While working in a
self-contained classroom with students with significant disabilities, Ms. Ostergard
began to focus on supporting youth in more inclusive educational experiences.
For the past 8 years, she has supported transition-age youth with intellectual disabilities
using an individual support model to create access to inclusive postsecondary
education and employment options. In particular, Ms. Ostergard has used
her skills in person centered planning with youth to drive the development of
the individual services and supports that they need to be successful in inclusive
community-based opportunities. She has combined her background in special education
with her knowledge of adult services to enable a smoother transition for
youth as they move from high school to adulthood.