Walker School’s RISE program incorporates music therapy for enhanced student engagement
Students in the RISE program at Walker School are participating in music therapy sessions designed to support social interaction and communication. The therapy uses musical instruments and sensory exploration to help students, particularly those with limited verbal skills, express themselves more effectively.
The initiative is led by Jaime Sciacotta, Walker School’s music teacher. According to the school, Sciacotta has been proactive in integrating music therapy into the program and is seeking further professional development in this area. "Her dedication to finding innovative ways to support student needs is commendable, and she has already scheduled a time of professional development for herself with this organization. We are incredibly lucky to have Jaime at Walker School and appreciate her work in sharing these wonderful moments of student engagement with the district," reads a statement from the school.
Walker School is part of Hinsdale Community Consolidated School District 181, which includes several schools across DuPage and Cook counties such as Clarendon Hills Middle School, Elm Elementary School, Hinsdale Middle School, Madison Elementary School, Monroe Elementary School, Oak Elementary School, Prospect Elementary School, The Lane Elementary School, and Walker itself (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
According to data from the Illinois State Board of Education, District 181 employs 282 teachers who earn an average salary of $94,227 before pension contributions; about 90 percent are women while 10 percent are men. The district reports that none of its teachers had more than ten absences during a school year (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
Demographically, District 181's student body is composed of approximately 69.8 percent White students, 1.1 percent Black students, 6.8 percent Hispanic students, and 15.4 percent Asian students (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In terms of spending, the district allocated $31,308 per student in 2020 for a total expenditure of $117 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
Music therapy continues to be used as a resource for engaging RISE program students at Walker School.