Transcription
2022 Pennsylvania Special EducationLeadership AcademyConnecting Through Challenge,Change, and OpportunityJuly 19 - 21, 2022The 2022 Special Education Leadership Academy isoffered in a hybrid format – in-person at Seven SpringsMountain Resort, 777 Water Wheel Drive, Champion, PA15622 or online through Zoom.About the Leadership AcademyThe Special Education Leadership Academy is designed to increasethe knowledge and skills that are vital for special education leaders.This year's Academy, Connecting Through Challenge, Change,and Opportunity will provide leaders time to engage inconversations, learn from practitioners, and share effective practicesto improve results for students with disabilities and meet the targetsof the PA State Performance Plan. Session presenters from localeducation agencies will share their experiences of designing andimplementing practices, procedures, and policies to improve learningopportunities and, ultimately the independence of students withdisabilities.Credits OfferedAct 48 continuing education credits are offered for all keynote andbreakout sessions. Act 48 will be offered per day. Individualsattending this conference, both in-person and virtually must completethe conference evaluation survey with proper codes within one week ofthe conference to be eligible to receive Act 48 continuing educationcredit.July 19, 2022 - 4 hoursJuly 20, 2022 - 6 hoursJuly 21, 2022 - 3 hoursIn-Person Participation:To receive continuing education credit, individuals attending thisconference must arrive on time and stay the duration of theday(s)/session(s) for which they are requesting credit(s). Additionally,individuals must complete the conference evaluation survey withproper codes within one week of the conference to be eligible toreceive Act 48 continuing education credit.Virtual Participation:To receive continuing education credit, participants must login toZOOM on a computer individually. No credit will be awarded for thosewho attend by phone (audio alone). Additionally, individuals mustcomplete the conference evaluation survey with proper codes withinone week of the conference to be eligible to receive Act 48 continuingeducation credit.AgendaTuesday, July 19, 20221:00 PM - 2:30 PM2:30 PM – 2:45 PM2:45 PM - 3:45 PM3:45 PM – 4:00 PM4:00 PM - 5:30 PM5:45 PM - 7:00 PMOpening KeynoteBreakBreakout 1BreakBreakout 2ReceptionWednesday, July 20, 20228:30 AM - 9:30 AM9:30 AM - 9:45 AM9:45 AM - 10:45 AM10:45 AM - 11:00 AM11:00 AM - 12:00 PM12:00 PM - 1:00 PM1:00 PM - 2:00 PM2:00 PM - 2:15 PM2:15 PM - 3:15 PM3:15 PM - 3:30 PM3:30 PM - 4:45 PMBreakout 3BreakBreakout 4BreakBreakout 5LunchBreakout 6BreakBreakout 7BreakBreakout 8Thursday, July 21, 20228:30 AM - 9:30 AM9:30 AM - 9:45 AM9:45 AM - 10:45 AM10:45 AM -11:00 AM11:00 AM -12:00 PMBreakout 9BreakBreakout 10BreakClosing Keynote
Tuesday, July 19, 2022(1:00 PM – 5:30 PM)Opportunities for Best PracticeOpening Keynote (1:00 PM – 2:30 PM)KN1Change, Challenge and Opportunity: OneAdministrator’s Journey of Intentional Habitsthrough Difficult TimesOver the past thirty months, special education directorshave been challenged in ways they could have neverimagined. Rising up to embrace new opportunities whileaccepting challenges and changes in our professional andpersonal lives has potentially given us a “once in a career”opportunity to seize the moment. During this session, MikeLewis, will share how he has been able to keep positive,focused and driven to connect through challenge, changeand opportunity. If Mike can, then you can too!Mike Lewis, Quaker Valley School DistrictBreak (2:30 PM – 2:45 PM)Breakout Session 1 (2:45 PM – 3:45 PM)A-01 Fiscal TopicsThis session, presented by Dr. Del Hart, Chief for theDivision of Analysis and Financial Reporting, will focus onthe following topics: Federal Funds, SignificantDisproportionality and IDEA funds, ACT 16, Maintenanceof Effort and state/local funds, 4010 and 4011 students,and IDEA flow-through funding.Del Hart, Bureau of Special EducationA-02Confronting the Special Education TeacherShortage through Successful PartnershipsIn this session Dr. Marcy Stein will discuss how to engage inpartnerships to address the pervasive teacher shortage inspecial education. She will provide an overview of asuccessful partnership among higher education, stateeducation agencies, and local education agencies andhighlight critical components that contributed to thatpartnership’s success. Finally, she will providerecommendations for creating and maintaining partnershipsin order to successfully attract, prepare and retain specialeducation teachers.Marcy Stein, Professor Emeritus, University of Washington,TacomaBreak (3:45 PM – 4:00 PM)Breakout Session 2 (4:00 PM – 5:30 PM)B-01 How to Build Family and School Partnerships:Two Stories – IU Team Overcame Barriers andOpened Doors for Collaboration with FamiliesTwo stories, told from an intermediate unit (IU) executivedirector and parents who lead the Colonial IU 20 ParentSupport T.E.A.M., will illustrate the importance of LEAP(Listen, Empathize, Agree, and Partner) to guide the workof school personnel and families. Learn how their schoolfamily partnerships increased a sense of shared power,belonging, access, and fun. These partnerships havecreated opportunities for the school entity to enhanceprograms and services for children and families. Thedoors are open, and collaboration is authentic.Caterina Campbell, ParentNikki Huggan, ParentChristopher Wolfel, Colonial Intermediate Unit 20B-02 Hot Topic RotationsDuring this session, participants will engage inconversations about “hot topics” in special educationadministration. Learn from others how they areprogramming for autism, emotional behavioral disorders,equity, least restrictive environment, and social emotionallearning in their districts. Regulatory details and resourceswill be shared at each hot topic “station” while groupsdiscuss questions posed by facilitators.PaTTAN ConsultantsReception (5:45 PM – 7:00 PM)Plan to relax with fellow colleagues, engage in various activitiesavailable on site and/or network around the concepts shared atthe Hot Topics session. Connect with special education leadersfrom across the commonwealth and enjoy the opportunity tomingle. A cash bar and refreshments will be available.
Wednesday, July 20, 2022(8:30 AM – 4:45 PM)Leading Through ChangeBreakout Session 3 (8:30 AM – 9:30 AM)C-01 Creating Opportunities for Agreement ThroughODR ServicesBreak (10:45 AM – 11:00 AM)Samantha Pudloski, Office for Dispute ResolutionBreakout Session 5 (11:00 AM – 12:00 PM)Breakout Session 4 (9:45 AM – 10:45 AM)Implementing an MTSS Approach to RelatedServices, Including Behavioral and Mental HealthWhile most educators are familiar with using an MTSSapproach for academic needs, the same problem-solvingmethodology can be applied to related services. Thissession will provide administrators with a practicalframework for designing and implementing an MTSSapproach in their district for related therapy services,behavioral health, and mental health concerns. Providingsupports to more students sooner, not only reduces referralsand special education identification, but enables districts tohelp more children at a lower cost overall.Pam Hackett, Pediatric Therapeutic Services, Inc.D-02High expectations are important for every student,including students with significant cognitive disabilities.However, there are significant environmental barriers tothis group of students accessing the general educationcurriculum in a way that supports their individual strengthsand needs. During this session, administrators will beprovided with questions they should consider whensupporting teachers of this group of students. Resources tosupport the development of inclusive environments,rigorous instruction, and academic and social engagementof students with significant cognitive disabilities will also beshared.While due process hearings are an important proceduralright, the Office for Dispute Resolution (ODR) also offersalternatives that can help schools and families reachagreement outside of a hearing. This session will providean overview of ODR trends and statistics, review ODRservices to support schools and families, and highlightcurrent ODR initiatives.Break (9:30 AM – 9:45 AM)D-01D-03 Programming for Students with SignificantCognitive Disabilities: What Do AdministratorsNeed to Know?Preparing for Upcoming Challenges and Changes inGifted Education with Promising Opportunities forUnderrepresented Diverse PopulationsEquity in education is a priority in Pennsylvania. Discussions willinclude the latest trends in gifted education; the essentialtraining for addressing equity in screening and evaluationpractices to ensure improved identification practices thatproportionally include culturally, linguistically, dually exceptional,and economic diverse populations; and we will discussrecommendations of data districts should consider collectingand analyzing to improve equity in identification.Amy Davis, Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3Shirley A Moyer, Bureau of Special EducationPatrice Semicek, Montgomery County Intermediate Unit 23Kristin Starosta, PaTTAN EastE-01 Interpreting the Challenge, Embracing Change,Finding OpportunitySpecial education leaders benefit from perspective. Achallenge; the necessary change; and beginning toenvision the future - all with the help of intentionalthinking. Perspective is a powerful skill within intentionalthinking that can be leveraged to improve leadershipcharacteristics, form supportive relationships, andinfluence partnerships across teams. This session willexplore and examine the impact of increasing yourcapacity to engage in perspective-taking and applyingseven principles promoted by John Martin in his book,Choose Your Perspective. This session is designed forspecial education leaders new to a supervisory role with0-3 years of experience.Matt Thomas, Westmoreland Intermediate Unit 7Amy Woomer, Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8E-02 Sustaining Effort, Enhancing Relationships,Navigating the AdvocacyOpportunities will be provided for veteran specialeducation leaders to reflect on impactful strategies thatkeep them energized during turbulent times. Practicalsuggestions will be offered for maintaining and growingessential relationships, even when circumstanceschallenge us to let our best selves shine. Time will bespent underscoring the importance of engaging ourlocal and federal legislators to impact change. This willbe coupled with recommendations and resources forhigher levels of advocacy. This session is designed forseasoned special education leaders with 4 years ofexperience.Lenny Greaney, Bucks County Intermediate Unit 22Michele Hammersla-Quick, Central Intermediate Unit 10Sherry Zubeck, Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13
Lunch (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)Breakout Session 6 (1:00 PM – 2:00 PM)F-01Making Connections Across the State PerformancePlan Indicators: Why These Connections Matter toSchool LeadersThis interactive session will challenge special educationleaders to articulate and connect services and activities to the17 Indicators of compliance and results that supportsuccessful implementation of the IDEA. Leaders will beencouraged to identify their program's strengths and needsas they relate to meeting the requirements of IDEA, and mostimportantly, individual student outcomes. Additionally, thepresenters will facilitate a more meaningful and substantialunderstanding of the State Performance Plan/AnnualPerformance Report and its relationship to Local EducationAgency's special education programs.John Cica, The Sigma Management GroupBarb Mozina, Bureau of Special EducationBreak (2:00 PM – 2:15 PM)Breakout Session 7 (2:15 PM – 3:15 PM)G-01Data Doesn’t Lie Do We? Using Data to DetectPatterns of Disproportionality in Special EducationIn order to engage in equitable practices, it is imperative thatdata is used to drive decisions and guide prevention efforts,including the use of Comprehensive Coordinated EarlyIntervening Services. During this session, presenters willdiscuss how to address processes for determining who is inneed of support, the efficacy of core programs andinterventions, staff utilization patterns, discipline, andeligibility for special education services. Participants will bewalked through an example of how to extract data from astudent information management system and analyze it forpatterns of disproportionality in both academics and disciplineto a proactively intervene.Jason Pedersen, Derry Township School DistrictAngie Persing, Derry Township School DistrictKirsten Scheurich, Derry Township School DistrictG-02Grant Journeys: Highlights and ObstaclesThis session will feature two LEAs that participated inPaTTAN grant opportunities. The LEAs will share theirexperiences and key learnings from their efforts to implementa Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) model and theprinciples of Universal Design for Learning (UDL).Participants will gain an understanding of the PracticalAssessment Exploration System (PAES) lab through the lensof a Work Discovery program. They will also learn of anLEA’s UDL journey from inception to creation of a multi-yearimplementation plan. Program highlights and obstacles willbe shared to visualize the journeys.Daniel Clara, Southmoreland School DistrictTracey Kuchar, Southmoreland School DistrictJason Stragand, Westmoreland Intermediate Unit 7G-03 From Information to Implementation:Pennsylvania’s Plan to Reduce the Shortage ofSpecial Educators across the StateThis session will provide a brief overview ofPennsylvania’s current educator shortage whilefocusing on both short- and long-term efforts toAttract – Prepare – Retain (APR) special educationpersonnel. Highlights will include upcomingopportunities and resources including the APRRepository.Christine Moon, PaTTAN WestBreak (3:15 PM – 3:30 PM)Breakout Session 8 (3:30 PM – 4:45 PM)H-01 Morning Mayhem: Difficult Legal Issues AwaitYou – Now, What to Do?This interactive presentation with a special educationattorney and special education administrator will focuson common scenarios encountered in the field. Onceparticipants submit their input via a polling platform, theattorney will provide the legal parameters of thepossible responses while the special educationadministrator adds to the realities of each scenario.Practical solutions and best practices will be discussedto give participants the tools needed to face trickysituations with renewed confidence. Bring a device tobe an active and engaged learner!Shawn Lochinger, Sweet, Stevens, Katz, and Williams,Hershey OfficeDenise Sedlacek, Plum Borough School DistrictThursday, July 21, 2022(8:30 AM – 12:00 PM)Turning Challenges and Ideas into ActionBreakout Session 9 (8:30 AM – 9:30 AM)I-01 In the Know: New and Updated Resources inPennsylvaniaThis session will provide leaders with information onupdated special education forms and resources. Theupdated forms include: Prior Written Notice for aReevaluation and Request for Consent, CommunicationPlan, and their annotated counterparts. The updatedresources include the Common Questions and Answersfor Leaders of Special Education (formerly titled theSpecial Education Question and Answer Compendium).A new resource replacing the Supplementary Aids andServices Toolkit will also be shared.Jeanette Alexander, Bureau of Special EducationCecil Crouch, PaTTAN WestTim Krushinski, Bureau of Special EducationLisa Russo, PaTTAN East
Break (9:30 AM – 9:45 AM)Breakout Session 10 (9:45 AM – 10:45 AM)J-01Attracting the Educators of Tomorrow Throughthe Lessons of Today: Pathways Toward theSpecial Educator PipelinePennsylvania continues to address the efforts ofAttract – Prepare – Retain at both state and local levels.Hear from LEAs across the commonwealth as they sharestrategies used to increase the local educator pipeline.Christine Moon, PaTTAN WestLocal Education Agencies Across PAJ-02Impact, Opportunity & Outcomes: National,State, & Local PerspectivesEveryday practices, policies, and procedures areimpacted from a variety of perspectives. This session willfeature resources from the national, state, and locallevels that will strengthen the daily practices of specialeducation administrators to build upon their opportunitiesto address professional development and/or technicalassistance needs. Furthermore, as special educationadministrators, we will examine our role as a changeagent in developing proactive skills and actions to meetthe needs of students with disabilities, families, andcommunities.Jennifer Anderson, Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8Nichole Kopco, PaTTAN CentralGina Scala, East Stroudsburg UniversityBreak (10:45 AM – 11:00 AM)Closing Keynote (11:00 AM – 12:00 PM)KN2A New Squeeze on Special EducationConnecting through challenge, change, and opportunity,participants will hold an active role in the journey of twospecial education professionals who have usedchallenges thrown their way to not only continue on, butto rise above! Focusing on the importance of usingevidence, instructional data, research, and professionalknowledge to inform practice; Dr. Mollie Anzinger andMrs. Sarah Schreiber will share their experiences ofleading with positivity. Not immune to the trickling effectsof not only the pandemic, but the stressors placed on theworld of education through the evolving patterns of legalinvolvement, these special education administrators willexplain how they have overcome barriers and squeezedopportunities out of the challenges along the way. Afterthis session, get ready to use Challenge, Change, andOpportunity to take action and squeeze the day!Mollie Anzinger, St. Marys Area School DistrictSarah Schreiber, St. Marys Area School DistrictGeneral InformationIn-Person Registration Fee:The registration fee is 150.00. Payment must be made withcheck or purchase order. No credit cards will be accepted.Please submit your registration fee by June 30, 2022.Virtual Registration Fee:The virtual registration fee is 75.00. Payment must bemade with check or purchase order. No credit cards will beaccepted. Payment must be received prior to June 30,2022 to ensure access to the virtual platform. Onlineaccess to the conference will not be available toparticipants who have not submitted payment.Registration Payment:Make checks/purchase orders payable to INTERMEDIATEUNIT 1 and send them to the attention of the Business Office,PaTTAN West, 3190 William Pitt Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15238.Email purchase orders to billing@pattanpgh.net.Checks/purchase orders must be submitted on or before June30, 2022 and must include registrants(s) full name(s).Cancellations:If you are unable to attend the conference you must cancelyour registration by June 30, 2022, by contacting KarenWeaver via email at kweaver@pattanpgh.net, or yourregistration fee will not be refunded.Conference Registration:All participants should register for this PaTTAN-sponsoredevent by visiting our website at: http://www.pattan.net. Clicktraining calendar and locate the event for the day(s) in July forwhich you will attend.For questions regarding registration, contact:PaTTAN West: Karen Weaver, kweaver@pattanpgh.netFor questions regarding content, contact:PaTTAN East: Tracy Ficca, tficca@pattan.netPaTTAN Central: Nichole Kopco, nkopco@pattan.net
The 2022 Special Education Leadership Academy is offered in a hybrid format - in-person at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, 777 Water Wheel Drive, Champion, PA 15622 or online through Zoom. About the Leadership Academy The Special Education Leadership Academy is designed to increase
