Teachers Nominated to Attend Five-Day Special Education Academy

March 8, 2011

Some of the over two dozen teachers who are attending the academy listen during a presentation.

In an effort to improve student achievement, Heartland is providing 28 special education teachers the opportunity to attend a five-day teacher academy that focuses on enhancing the teachers’ knowledge, understanding and implementation of research-based instructional practices and data-based decision making.

The first session of the academy was held on February 11 and the remaining sessions will be held throughout March and April.

“The focus is on effective instructional practices matched to student need in reading, written expression, math, behavior and assistive technology,” said Sue Severson (Program Assistant, Special Education & Transition Consultants/JO), who along with Cheryl Risen (Program Assistant, External Professional Development/JO) organized the academy. “Case review also provides teachers the opportunity to troubleshoot identified students who are not making adequate progress.”

The 28 teachers represent 28 districts within Heartland’s service area, and each one was nominated to attend the academy by his/her district’s leaders, based on rigorous selection criteria. The academy, which is being paid for by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Part B funds, is designed to provide skills and support to teachers so they can be leaders in their districts by supporting and coaching other teachers who provide special education services.

“Special education data indicates we are not closing the gap for students who receive special education services,” Severson said. “Research shows there must be a match between student need and effective teaching practices to impact student learning. Teachers can make a difference when they provide instruction that has the highest probability for success.”

District administrators also met with Severson and Risen to gain a better understanding of what the teachers were learning and how to support that learning back in their districts.

Heartland staff who are lending their expertise to present during the academy are Tim Blakeslee (Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant – Intensive Student Needs/ JO), Wendy Robinson (Assistant Director of Learning Development & Support/JO), Kathy Scebold (Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant – Regional/AM) and Amy Garrett (Assistive Technology Specialist/Physical Disabilities Consultant/JO).

Deanna Means, a resource teacher at Collins-Maxwell Elementary, and Darci Maas, a special education teacher at Adair-Casey Elementary, were selected to attend the academy and are happy to have the opportunity to learn new strategies to assist their students.

“I was very excited to be selected for the special ed teacher academy,” Means said. “I had just attended the training for supporting the student with intensive instructional needs in reading and was very excited to continue my training. It is great to be surrounded by my colleagues to share ideas. The training is being taught by some of the most knowledgeable professionals in the field. The more knowledge, tools, materials, strategies, etc. I have, the more I can help my students. We are not working with a one size fits all model. We have IEPs for a reason—they are individualized. This class is going to help me plan better for all of my students.”

"I love the set up of the academy – learn some theory and strategy; return to the students to implement; return to class for trouble-shooting and more learning," Maas said. "I believe it will allow me to be more focused; therefore, more effective for my students. I am a firm believer that we, educators, have a large impact on student achievement, and because of that, we are responsible to build our 'bag of strategies' to increase their learning. The more I learn from this academy and other classes offered through professional development, the better teacher I can be for my students and my own children."

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Heartland AEA is an intermediate education agency serving 11 counties and 136,000 students in Central Iowa. The Agency is committed every day to helping people grow, develop and learn.