Special Education Services

Customizable Training

Work with us on these powerful practices and design a customized training program for your teachers and leaders.

Paraprofessional Series
Each module represents one training session that can be customized for the time that you have available. Additional modules or more in-depth experiences can be designed and customized in collaboration with district leadership based on goals and needs.
1. Legal Overview - IDEA, ADA
2. Legal Overview - State laws and regulations
3. Roles and Responsibilities of a Paraeducator
4. Characteristics of Disability Categories and the IEP Part One
5. Characteristics of Disability Categories and the IEP Part Two
6. Accommodations and Modifications
7. Social Emotional Learning
8. Accessing community supports, Working Collaboratively with and for Families
9. Data Tracking and Management Part 1
10. Data Tracking and Management Part 2
11. Assistive Technology
12. Positive Behavior Supports & Interventions
13. Managing Stress at Work and Improving Communication and Collaboration (with Team Members)
14. Student Self–Determination and Self-Advocacy
15. Creating Possibilities
The Paraprofessional Toolkit
Paraprofessionals are every schools’ VIPs. The role of teaching assistants and paraprofessionals is varied, supporting students with the most complex needs. It can be different in every school and every classroom depending on the students’ needs and the teachers’ needs. Because of this it is important to have a toolkit of effective strategies to support students’ academic, emotional, behavioral and social needs. This series will examine effective strategies for you to draw on as you work with your students.
1. Characteristics of Disabilities: This module will define the 13 categories of Learning Disabilities and discuss the eligibility for services for each. This includes a look at Student Support Teams, Student Support Specialists, and their roles as well as the differences between the IEP and 504.
2. Autism Spectrum: This module will examine the autistic spectrum. We will share the criteria to be met and the major components of autism. We will also look at social/communication/academics strategies, modifications/accommodations and reinforcements used to support students on the spectrum.
3. Roles & Responsibilities: What are the roles and responsibilities of a paraprofessional? They are vast and varied. We will discuss these roles and share strategies used to guide and support the day to day academic, social, and emotional needs of our students.
4. Accomodations, Modifications & Interventions: We will distinguish these three supports for student needs, and examples of each will be shared. Common issues that can arise will be discussed. Scaffolding and how to mix it altogether is included in this module.
5. Classroom Practices: How do you establish a relationship and culture with your students? Let's examine how well you know your students and what you can do to use what you know to support them. Inclusive practices and effective management strategies will be included in our module, as well as the causes of disruptive behavior and inattentiveness.
Building Relationships and Decreasing Conflict (for paraprofessionals)

One of the most important skill sets for paraprofessionals is the ability to quickly adjust to the emerging needs of students - students who may well be the ones who have the most challenges. In addition, the changing nature of their daily experiences can be extremely unpredictable. Paraprofessionals may be called upon to work with different students, teachers and classrooms and are often asked to be completely flexible in their roles and responsibilities.

This very interactive workshop will present an assortment of tools for building relationships and decreasing conflict. Participants will have time with their peers to share relevant stories and practice using new strategies and tools including: understanding how conflict escalates; building a menu of de-escalating strategies; making explicit the ways to foster good relationships with students, teachers and colleagues; and honing skills for active listening.

At the end of the workshop, paraprofessionals will feel more confident in their ability to support students while they handle the next set of unpredictable situations.
Co-Teaching

Description coming soon.
Tier I Interventions

Description coming soon.
Understanding and Using the New IEP

Description coming soon.

Special Education Program Reviews

Program reviews offer insight and recommendations around curriculum, instruction, special populations and personnel.

Work with us to examine your Special Education program across multiple grade levels to better understand your strengths and areas for growth.

We believe that knowledge is power.

Through on-site visitations, we observe special education services and interview school and district staff. In addition, we examine relevant documents, work samples, programs, processes, personnel assignments and performance data.

By examining various aspects of the Special Education program, we identify strengths and gaps. Based on our findings, we make recommendations to impact student achievement and growth.

We believe in the benefits of a comprehensive & focused review.

Focus Areas

Programming & Processes
Curriculum
Assessment
Pedagogy
Rigor
Data Collection & Progress Monitoring
Personnel
Scheduling
Culture & Climate
Belief Systems of Professional Staff
Professional Development

We believe it's essential to conduct a multi-faceted examination.

As part of the review, we collect information using multiple methods and sources.

Interviews of special education staff including teachers, specialists, teaching assistants, paraprofessionals, team chairs, principals, administrators, program directors.
Observations of push-in and pull-out services.
Examination of program descriptions, entrance/exit criteria, staff training and certifications, personnel assignments, case-loads.
Examination of curriculum documents, IEP samples, student work.
Analysis of performance data and progress monitoring practices.

Leadership Development and Coaching

Sharpen your skills, dive deeper into key responsibilities, face new challenges, expand your toolkit, and grow your wisdom while working alongside other special education leaders around this critical part of your job.

IEP Team Chair Job-Alike Institute

In your role as team chair, have you struggled to create a climate of trust where everyone feels safe and validated? Do you wonder how to navigate legal obligations, ethics, and relationships in what can be an emotionally charged environment? Are you looking for tools to communicate data and critical information in a way that engages stakeholders and moves the meeting forward? Are you searching for ways to properly prepare for and run the meeting? In this program, you will learn to lead meetings where everyone recognizes that they have shared goals, how to navigate the demands from each stakeholder, and to leverage your daily interactions into opportunities for growth.

Administrator Coaching

Everyone deserves a coach - someone who has been there, who understands, and is singularly focused on your goals. We work collaboratively with you to identify your goals and provide coaching experiences that increase your effectiveness. Our trained and experienced coaches are ready to guide you.

Meet Our Special Education Specialists