March, 2015 VOL 3, ISSUE 5

embRACE “Rising Above Challenging Exceptionalities” Exceptional Children’s Department Newsletter

“Embracing” Each Other… Allen Murray, EC Executive Director

I have a picture on the wall of my office of one of my heroes – Jackie Robinson. In the picture he is walking up the stairs out of the dugout – his head and shoulders are above ground and therefore bathed in light, while the rest of his body is still below ground level and therefore dark. It is titled, “Out of the Shadows”. The title works on so many levels. His walk into the sunshine, baseball as a sport that brings in spring, and of course his battle against the repression of his time.

After a cold, snowy, icy winter it feels good for all of us to be out of the shadows. The arrival of spring is always a time of hopefulness and optimism. And of course, no matter what the calendar says, the true first day of spring is always the opening day of baseball season.

Walking out of the shadows is important for all of the children in our Exceptional Children’s program as well. In my lifetime (and hey, I’m not that old!) I have seen movement from a time when children with disabilities were hidden away (they were all housed in a separate wing of the elementary school I attended), to a time when they were not “hidden” but still separate, to a time now when we attempt as much as possible to serve all children together.

But to truly walk out of the shadows is not enough – we need to celebrate our place on the team – to have public recognition and acclaim of our accomplishments and to be not just accepted, not just welcomed, but even better – barely noticed because our presence is so familiar.

From the students in our Project SEARCH program finding meaningful employment, to our first EC Family Conference, to our graduation celebrations for our separate setting students, to the now regular nomination of Special Education teachers as “teachers of the year” at many of our schools we have certainly walked out of the shadows. And that carries not just acclaim, but also responsibility. For now we also have the job to push our students even harder, to not allow them to do less than they might be able to “get away with” but instead to do all they can do and more than they thought they could do.

One of the best pieces of advice I ever got as a

beginning teacher was to “Never do for children anything that they can do for themselves”. Sometimes watching the struggle is hard – but the struggle is important. It is the struggle that brings us out of the shadows.

Some of the EC staff have been working hard for months on a project to both bring our EC presence out of the shadows and to help fully unify all of our students. As you will see in other places in the newsletter the EC Department is sponsoring a 5K race in April. This will be a great celebration of everyone in our community – both EC and General Education students, teachers, support staff, families, and community members. I encourage all of you to participate – not just as part of your “work” but as part of who you and a part of who you your students to be. But most importantly participate because of how you want our community to look when we are all in the light together.

“Our greatest strength as a human race is our ability to acknowledge our differences; our greatest weakness is our failure to embrace them.”

-Judith Henderson

EC Chair News! Please see below for the 2014-2015 meeting dates and times.

2014-2015 EC Chair Meetings

March 18th – 3:45-5:30 – Ray St. (Cafeteria)

April 22nd – 3:45-5:30 – Ray St. (Cafeteria)

May 20th – 3:45-5:30 – Ray St. (Cafeteria)

Level News! Jenny Enter, Stephanie Stephenson, Julie Bost, April Brantley, Karen Kazimir, & Leslie Ray, ECPS

Alamance-Burlington School System

8th Annual Transition Fair

Date: Friday, March 20th, 2015

Location: Graham Recreation & Parks Gym 311 College Street, Graham, NC

Time: 10:00-1:30

Students, Parents, & Educators are invited to come and visit with local Businesses, Community Support Agencies,

Residential Agencies, & NC Colleges responsive to students with disabilities.

Students will be attending during their assigned school time

slot. For more information contact:

April Brantley, Program Specialist for Exceptional Children april_brantley@abss.k12.nc.us or 336-438-4000 ext 37806

Schedule below:

Project SEARCH Updates! On February 6th, our Project SEARCH Team hosted a state-wide meeting for all of the Project SEARCH programs of North Carolina. All 10 teams had representatives present at the all-day meeting that was hosted by ARMC in the beautiful Cancer Center.

Linda Emery, Project SEARCH Consultant from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, joined the teams for the day and led the discussion of what is going well in the different programs as well as challenges they face. Our team was proud to be able to host the meeting in our first year and highlight the strength of our program. The best part of the day, by all accounts, was when our interns came in to speak with the group about their experiences in the internship. They took questions from the audience and did a great job representing our team. LeAnn Wooten (PS Teacher) and Breten Christopher (Business Liaison) did a wonderful job planning the event.

Congratulations to two of our Interns! David McMasters is now employed with Chili’s in Burlington. He is a part-time silver ware roller. He is doing a great job and loves working there!

Dustin Tulloch was recently hired at ARMC through Aramark Dining Services. He will be working part-time in a relief position. He will fill in when someone calls out sick or takes vacation. He has trained in this area and is very excited to become hired in this department.

Time

10:00-10:50 Schools SAHS & SMS Ray Street WWHS & TMS 11:00-11:50 Schools GHS & GMS CHS & BMS Hawfields Middle

12:00-12:30 Lunch Break For Vendors

12:30-1:30 Schools Alamance- Burlington Middle

College (ABMC)

EAHS & Woodlawn

Middle

WAHS & WAMS

is limited.

Alamance County Mayors’ Committee for Person with Disabilities Scholarship Opportunity!

The Jane D. McPherson Scholarship information went out to all High School Guidance Counselors and EC Teachers. Applications are due by April 30th, 2015 to Crystal Smith in the EC office. If you have questions please contact April Brantley 336-4000 ext.37806.

Announcing the 7th Annual OCS Employability Seminar

Monday, April 27th 2015 The Paramount Theater

Event Schedule: 9:20 - 9:30 – Welcome 9:30 - 10:15 – Business Panel

The Business Panel will consist of local business representatives. Students from each school will be given a chance to address the panel members and ask employment related questions.

10:15-10:30 – Break 10:30-11:30 - School Duel

The School Duel is a time for students to show what they have learned through the Occupational Preparation courses. Each school will have a team of 4-6 members to represent them in this part of the competition. The team will have questions presented to them that relate to employment. They have 15 seconds to give an answer or ask the audience for help. They earn points based on their correct answers.

11:30- 12:00 – Awards

SEPTA/EPAC News! Heather Ouzts, Parent Liaison & Stephanie Stephenson, ECPS

EC Parent Advisory Council (ECPAC) Meeting: Thursday, March 26th at 6pm at the ABSS Administrative Offices, 1712 Vaughn Rd, Burlington.

SURROGATE PARENTS

Alamance-Burlington School System needs volunteers!

There are students in the school system that need someone to be their “voice” in developing their special education plans. These students do not have an available legal parent/guardian to attend meetings and to make sure that the student’s best interest is the priority of the plan. Surrogate Parents fill this role at the meetings for these students. Training is provided to all surrogate parent volunteers. They are only responsible for attending meetings that are regarding the student’s special education services.

(*Volunteers cannot be employed by the school system or the State of North Carolina, due to conflict of interest.) If you know of a parent or other community member that would make a good advocate for our students, please share this information with them and have them contact me at heather_ouzts@abss.k12.nc.us or 336-438-4000 ext. 37840 or send me their contact information. Heather Ouzts, Parent Liaison

EmbRACE 5k Run News! Sara Kesler, MTSS Program Specialist

1st Annual

embRACE 5k Run “Rising Above Challenging Exceptionalities”

(Family Fun Day & 1 Mile Fun Run)

Saturday, April 25th Southern Alamance High School 631 Southern High School Road

Graham, NC 27253

5k & 1 Mile Fun Run

$25.00

1 Mile Fun Run ONLY

$10.00

All proceeds go to Alamance County Mayors’ Committee for Persons with Disabilities

Register Now! - http://goo.gl/forms/TAfHvkkfYy

Website - http://www.abss.k12.nc.us/Page/31574

Family Fun Day lasts until 12:00 & includes: Live Entertainment, Children’s Activities & Games, a

Restaurant Row, and Community & Business Vendors!

Want to Volunteer? - http://goo.gl/forms/tiyYn6DkyI

Questions/Comments? Contact Sara Kesler @ Sara_Kesler@abss.k12.nc.us

www.webaddress.com

VOL 1 ISSUE 1

AT News! Pat Byers, Assistive Technology

It's time for the 2015 Annual AAC/AT Special Topics Institute!

You won't want to miss these 2 days, at a very reasonable cost, with national speaker Linda Burkhart!

Topic: Multi-modal Communication and Learning Strategies for

Students who Face Significant Challenges

Dates: April 16-17, 2015 9:00-4:30 (1.2 CEU)

Location: Hillsong Church

201 Culbreth Rd Chapel Hill, NC

www.hillsong.org

Registration: http://tinyurl.com/k8ns7ww

COST: $150 If paying by check, please remit by April 6th to:

CIDD, UNC-CH CB# 7255

Chapel Hill, NC 27599 (attn: Becky Pretzel)

Check out the AT webpage! http://www.abss.k12.nc.us/at

It is filled with resources for classroom teachers, SLP's, OT's AND parents!

Lots of new items have been added to the folder 'Apps for Exceptional Children.' Included are apps for all academic areas as well as AAC, Vision, Pre-K, Autism and Apps in Spanish.

Check out the new folder entitled, 'Parents Page.' This includes links to information on how to make low-tech equipment at home using everyday items, how to help your student register to vote and tips for parenting a child with a disability. Please tell your parents about the AT webpage!

Tech Talk! Julie Bost, ECPS

Interested in free Web Tools to help meet the needs of all learners in your classroom? Check out the three Web Tools below by reading the description and/or clicking on the link directly to explore. Questions or have a tool to share? Contact julie_bost@abss.k12.nc.us

Educanon (www.educanon.com/login)

Take a preexisting video (YouTube, Kahn Academy, math TV, Teacher Tube, shmoop, school tube, etc.) or make your own. Drag and drop the video, and then you place questions you create at various points in the video. This allows you to check for understanding throughout instead of waiting until the end. Also, it ensures mastery by not letting the student continue with the video until they get the question correct. Students can login with their Gmail account and then you can track it on the smartboard or your computer. This also allows teacher to know which small group or individual student needs immediate assistance

Popplet (http://popplet.com/)

Tool for capturing ideas through creative graphic organizers and concept mapping

Rewordify (http://rewordify.com/)

Allows you to copy and paste a reading passage into a text box. It replaces hard to understand words with easier to understand language. It can also read the word to the student, including the word that was replaced so they still have access to the original vocabulary. You can scaffold the rewording level by choosing different levels and meet various needs in the classroom. Works with Google Docs and includes stats about the text (lexile, Flesch reading ease, Flesch-Kincaid grade level, word count, etc.). Also includes activities you can use in the classroom like vocabulary lists, test/assessments (on different levels), and cloze activities.

Co-Teaching Corner! Julie Bost, ECPS

Self- Assessment: “Are We Really Co-Teachers?” Check “Yes” or “No” for each of the following to determine your

Collaborative/Co-Teaching Score. It is okay if you do not check “yes” for every item! Use this tool to identify

strengths in your co-teaching partnership along with opportunities for growth.

Questions about this or co-teaching in general? Contact julie_bost@abss.k12.nc.us

Yes No In our Collaborative/Co-Teaching Partnership…

1. We decide which Collaborative/Co-Teaching model we are going to use in a lesson based

on the benefits to the students and co-teachers.

2. We share ideas, information, and materials.

3. We identify the resources and talents of the co-teachers.

4. We teach different groups of students at the same time.

5. We are aware of what our co-teachers are doing even when we are not directly in one

another’s presence.

6. We share responsibility for deciding what to teach.

7. We agree on the curriculum standards that will be addressed in a lesson.

8. We share responsibility for deciding how to teach.

9. We share responsibility for deciding who teaches which part of a lesson.

10. We are flexible and make changes as needed during a lesson.

11. We identify student strengths and needs.

12. We share responsibility for differentiating instruction.

13. We include other people when their expertise or experience is needed.

14. We share responsibility for how student learning is assessed.

15. We can show that students are learning when we collaborate/co-teach.

16. We agree on discipline procedures and are both responsible for their implementation.

17. We give feedback to one another on what goes on in the classroom.

18. We make improvements in our lessons based on what happens in the classroom.

19. We communicate our concerns freely.

20. We have a process for resolving our disagreements when faced with problems and conflicts.

21. We celebrate the process of collaboration/co-teaching and the outcomes and successes.

22. We have fun with the students and with each other when we collaborate/co- teach.

23. We have regularly scheduled times to meet and discuss our work.

24. We use our meeting time productively.

25. We both work with all learners regardless of their disability/ labels.

26. We explain the benefits of collaboration/co-teaching to the students and their families.

27. We model collaboration and teamwork for our students.

28. We are both viewed by our students as their teacher.

29. We include students in the collaboration/co-teaching role.

30. We depend on one another to follow through on tasks and responsibilities.

31. We seek & enjoy additional professional development opportunities to improve our

collaboration/co-teaching.

32. We are mentors to others who want to collaborate/co-teach more effectively.

33. We use a variety of collaborative/co-teaching approaches (parallel, stations, alternative

and teaming) and do not rely solely on one teach/ one support.

34. We communicate our need for logistical support & resources to our administrators.

Total

Adapted & modified from A Guide to Co-Teaching: Practical Tips for Facilitating Student Learning, by Richard A. Villa,

Jacqueline S. Thousand, and Ann I. Nevin. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, 2004

CASE Hybrid Conference! Julie Bost, ECPS

In spite of the ice and snow, thirty-seven people from across our district including Special Education Teachers, General Education Teachers, Principals, Assistant Principals, and Program Specialists joined Elon University Faculty and students to participate in the 2015 CASE Winter Hybrid Conference. CASE (Council for Administrators of Special Education) is an international professional educational organization affiliated with the Council for Exceptional Children whose mission is to provide leadership and support to members by shaping policies and practices which impact the quality of education for all students.

This year's conference theme was Results Driven Accountability: Actualizing the Promise through Practice. Day 1 (February 19) was entitled Special Education Legal Issues: Actualizing the Promise. Day 2 (February 20) was entitled Leading by Convening: Actualizing the Promise.

This Conference takes place face-to-face in Phoenix, Arizona but was provided virtually across the country in 46 virtual sites with 27 states participating. Our site was the only one in North Carolina! This virtual conference approach allows participants to access a National Conference without leaving the state and was made possible through a partnership with Elon University's School of Education. A BIG thanks to Dr. Deborah Long, Interim Dean of School of Education and Dr. Stephen Byrd, Professor in the Special Education Department at Elon University. We are SO appreciative of their partnership and allowing us to use Johnston Hall for this event. Want more information about CASE? Visit their website: http://www.casecec.org/ Or contact julie_bost@abss.k12.nc.us

Trainings, Updates, & Additional News!

CPI Refresher & Initial Trainings:

CPI Training in Non-Violent Physical Crisis Intervention Three Hour Refresher Training

(required each year to maintain certification) ***Some dates have been changed due to make-up days for inclement weather. Once all dates, times, and locations are confirmed an email will be sent out and all dates will be posted on the staff development website.

All participants must register on-line for CPI trainings as space is limited.

Please check out our complete list of our trainings & upcoming events…2014-2015 EC Department Trainings

Look who’s “Rising” above…

Pictures form the CASE Hybrid Conference!

Pictures from the Project Search Statewide meeting!