Turnbough Named Director of Special Education

Wendy Turnbough Named SDOW Director of Special Education
Posted on 06/10/2019
Wendy TurnboughWendy Turnbough has been named the new Director of Special Education for the School District of Washington.

Turnbough is replacing Elizabeth Mades, who is taking another position outside of the district.

Turnbough currently works for the Sullivan School District, where’s she’s been for the last seven years. She currently serves as the Special Education Process Coordinator for the Sullivan Primary School. In that capacity, she facilitates the special education processes and procedures, and works hand in hand with the preschool program. The position allows Turnbough to collaborate with teachers, parents, and outside agencies in order to ensure that each student received the highest quality individualized education.

“I am so very excited to begin my new position with the School District of Washington,” Turnbough said. “I have heard so many positive things regarding the school district and the whole community. I am very humbled to have been chosen for this position.”

Turnbough has a number of other responsibilities for her job duties in Sullivan, including creating agendas and holding bi-weekly special education team meetings in the building for grades K-2 and for ECSE, serves as the LEA Representative for all building Diagnostic and IEP meetings, oversees and schedules staff for all DIAL-4 screenings in the district, facilitates the staffing needs and scheduling of students for all in-coming kindergarten students, and scores all of the DIAL-4 screenings to determine which students are most at risk to place in the title preschool program.

This past year, Turnbough also served as an Administrative Intern for the Sullivan Primary School. She was the administrator when the building principal and assistant principal were out of the building.

Previously in her educational career, Turnbough has worn many hats. She has been an English and a second language teacher and program coordinator, kindergarten teacher, special education teacher, and a special education process coordinator at the middle school level.

“All of those experiences have allowed me to grow professionally and personally,” Turnbough said.

“We are very excited to welcome Mrs. Turnbough to our team. She brings excellent special education experience through her previous work in public education and much enthusiasm to the position,” said School District of Washington Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rachael Franssen. “Her special education network, legal expertise in the area of special education, and collaborative, team approach will be of great value to the District.”

Turnbough graduated with a Master’s Degree in Elementary and Middle School Administration in September of 2014 and received her Special Education Administration Degree in June 2015 from Missouri Baptist University. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the Director of Special Education for the School District of Washington. The district has a reputation for ensuring that all students receive a high quality education,” Turnbough said. “I’m eager to begin this next chapter and look forward to collaborating with the administrative team, teachers, parents, and community agencies in order to continue with the high standards of student achievement that the School District of Washington has been providing its students for many years. My passion in special education is to include all students, no matter what their disability may be.”

Wendy and her husband, Trent, have one son, Luke, who is two years old. Trent has worked within the Washington community for several years as an Applications Engineer at Texwrap powered by ProMach. They currently live in Rosebud and enjoy participating in small town activities. They are members of St. Paul’s UCC, in Gerald.

Wendy Turnbough
Wendy Turnbough