The Bellevue Schools preschool program is located in Bellevue Elementary School.
The program has been awarded the highest Step Up To Quality rating – five stars. The five star rating reflects a commitment to providing young children with a high quality early learning experience to prepare them for success in school. The program:
- Has highly trained teachers
- Supports physical and social-emotional well-being
- Develops children’s school readiness skills
- Values relationships with families and the community
- Strives for continuous improvement
Center Based Classroom
The preschool program offers one morning class (9:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and one afternoon class (12:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.). Classes meet Monday-Friday. Children learn by actively playing and working with peers, adults, and interesting learning materials. They engage in a variety of study projects to learn more about their world. Parents are welcome to volunteer, join in field trips, and participate in the parent-teacher organization (PTO).
To apply for preschool, children must be residents of the Bellevue School District and be 3 years old by August 1st. Income eligibility requirements may apply. Tuition is determined on a sliding scale based on annual gross income and family size.
Itinerant Early Childhood Special Education Teachers
Itinerant Early Childhood Special Education (IECSE) teachers support young children with special needs in their daily environments. The goal is to increase their independence and success in their education. Parents
and teachers of young children with special needs, are aided through
direct service, consultation, teamwork, communication, providing information
and/or resources.
Direct services are individualized to target identified areas of need by focusing on Individualized Education Plans (IEP) goals and objectives. The service requirements include identification of children with a developmental delay or disability through a Multi-Factored Evaluation (MFE). Also included are minimum of four (4) hours per month in the least restricted environment for the child (example: preschool program, daycare, home, service provider location, etc.). Service time may include activities such as direct work with the child, small/large group activities, developing materials and environmental supports (e.g. activity centers, visual cues, room arrangement, etc.) home visits, observations, evaluations, and planning/consultation times.
Screening Services
The Bellevue Schools preschool team also offers evaluation and support services for young children who are experiencing developmental delays. Specialized teachers and therapists work with children in their home, day care, or preschool setting to build skills for daily living and learning. If you have concerns or questions about your child's development, please call the numbers below for more information about the resources available to support you and your child.
Early Childhood Coordinator
Pamela Veletean brings experience and excellence to the Early Childhood Department
Pamela Veletean
Early Childhood Coordinator
Bellevue Elementary School
Office: 419-484-5025
pamela.veletean@
Kristina Polachek
School Psychologist
Bellevue Elementary School
Office: 419-484-5004
kristina.polachek@
Jacquline Montgomery
Director of Pupil Services
Bellevue Board of Education Office
Office: 419-484-5003
jacquline.montgomery@
Get To Know Our Staff
Bethany Koch, M.A., CCC-SLP is the Speech-Language Pathologist who works with preschool and kindergarten students for Bellevue City Schools. Bethany received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from Bowling Green State University (2007). She then went to Kent State University to receive her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology (2009). Bethany has licensures from the Ohio Board of Speech and Hearing as well as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Her passion is helping Bellevue’s littlest learners develop meaningful communication skills. She has taken an additional 30+ hours of graduate classes since working for the district. Bethany is married with three children. She lives with her family in her hometown of Norwalk.
Deb Winke, OTR/L, is the Occupational Therapist for the Bellevue City Schools. She has worked with the preschool children for the past eight years, helping the boys and girls improve fine motor skills. Deb graduated from Eastern Michigan University with her Bachelor’s Degree. Her first job was with Fisher Titus Medical center where she stayed for 10 year before taking a job with North Point Educational Center and started working in the school system. Deb loves working with the children and the staff.
Deb also enjoys spending time at the lake and boating as well as taking family vacations to Lake Huron in Michigan. She loves watching her kids complete in the sports and also enjoys exercising with her two dogs.
Deb is marred and lives with her husband Craig, and son Cooper, who attends Bellevue Elementary. Her daughter-Sydni attends college at Ohio University.
Jessica Joseph is a 2009 graduate of Owens Community College with all 10 years of experience in the school setting through North Point ESC. Jessica has provided occupational therapy services in several districts throughout Erie, Huron, and Ottawa counties with the last two years at Bellevue.
Occupational therapy provides services with students Pre- K through high school with various focuses including but not limited to fine motor, handwriting, visual motor, visual perception, life skills, vocational skills, and sensory processing. Occupational therapy can work directly with students or on a consultative basis collaborating with staff to provide support in the educational setting.
Maggie Rickel began teaching for Bellevue City Schools in 1999 teaching children with special needs in Kindergarten and Preschool and transitioned into the Preschool classroom a few years later. Maggie is a 1994 graduate of Bellevue High School. She graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1994 with a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education, and attained her Early Education of the Handicapped from the University of Toledo.
Maggie is married to Nathan and has 4 children. Monica is 21 and attends BGSU Firelands, Malaina is 18 and attends Firelands, in the Inclusive Early Childhood Education Program, Macy is a Sophomore at Bellevue High School, and Liam is in 4rd grade at Bellevue Elementary.
Susan Myers is an Itinerant Early Childhood Special Education Teacher. She has been employed by the Bellevue City School District for 19 years. She also taught for North Point Educational Service Center in Huron County for 2 years. She has taught for a total of 21 years. She has a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education with a license in early childhood and special education. She also has a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Teaching. She attended Bowling Green State University to obtain her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She obtained her Intervention Specialist licensure from the University of Toledo.
Susan was born in Downers Grove, Illinois. Her father was transferred to Ohio with General Motors the summer before her freshman year of high school. She lived in Huron, Ohio. When she got married she moved to Sandusky, Ohio where she currently lives with her family.=
Susan is married with five children (twin sons – 15 years old; daughter – 19 years old; son – 25 years old; & step-son - 30 years old). Her 25 year old son is currently attending Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania for graduate school in the Physician Assistant (PA) Program, and he graduated with his bachelor degree from Bowling Green State University in Psychology. Her daughter will be attending in Bowling Green State University in the fall of 2019 to pursue a degree in Speech and Language Therapy. Her twin sons will be entering their freshman year of high school in the fall of 2019. All four of her children attended Sandusky Central Catholic Schools for elementary, middle and high school. Her step-son attended Perkins Local Schools and Bowling Green State University.
Brianne Barth is an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher. Previously she was a home visitor/parent coach for Early Head Start and Help Me Grow. This is her second year with Bellevue Preschool. Brianne graduated from Norwalk High School in 2004 and received her B.S. in Special Education (PK-12) from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Brianne and her twin were born in Cleveland, Ohio. She currently lives in Bellevue with her husband Greg and son Wesley. In her spare time, she enjoys watching Jeopardy, going on hikes, and spending time with her family.
Dana Seeholzer is a preschool Intervention Specialist/ Itinerant Teacher. This is her first year at Bellevue Elementary School. She previously worked for North Point Educational Service Center for 4 years as a preschool Intervention Specialist/Itinerant Teacher for multiple districts.
Dana graduated from Huron High School in 2005, where she played volleyball, basketball, and ran track. She attended the Teacher Academy her senior year of high school at Bowling Green State University Firelands Campus. After graduating high school, she attended Bowling Green State University Firelands Campus and Cleveland University where Dana graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education (Pre-3). She continued her education to complete graduate classes through Toledo University and received her Early Childhood Intervention Specialist (Pre-3) License.
Dana was born In Sandusky, Ohio and grew up in Huron, Ohio with her parents and two sisters. She has a close bond with her family. She currently lives in Sandusky with her boyfriend, their daughter, Ava, who is 6 months and their dog, Sophie. Her hobbies include family vacations, boating, spending time with family and friends, being outside, and being active.