Professional Learning and Sustainability

Are you concerned about the current rate of suspensions and expulsions at your school or district? Do you feel students are losing valuable class time due to disruptions and other behavior problems? Are teachers struggling to be successful with classroom management? Are administrators spending too much time dealing with discipline issues? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you might find the solution in Multi-Tier Behavior Supports.

 Please share the following details about upcoming professional learning opportunities for general and special education teachers who teach algebra.

This workshop will focus on the process and procedures needed to establish a consistent school/district-wide approach to behavioral threat assessment and management utilizing a multidisciplinary team. Critical factors discussed will include: current statistics, legal cases, post-incident reviews, and early identification of warning signs, primary prevention strategies to "break the code of silence; an overview of threat and risk assessment models and tools; assessment procedures; and strategies for interventions, postventions, and working with difficult parents.  Case study examples and forms will be shared to illustrate the process.  

Please join us for the next episode of Thursday Afternoon LEarning Series, or TALES, on Thursday, September 17 from 3:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m., when leaders from the Arizona Association of School Psychologists (AASP) present, “Considerations for Completing Educational Evaluations as Schools Reopen.”

The ADE Math Team has scheduled office hours to allow educators to meet together to network, problem-solve, and develop solutions to allow all Arizona teachers and students to continue to feel supported and to be successful. 

Grade-band meetings are provided for all math teachers, including special education teachers! These grade-band meetings will include opportunities for networking, problem solving, and sharing different implementation models. Office hours are one hour long with an additional 30 minutes at the end for a Q & A session.

As the new school year begins and special educators are challenged to meet their students’ needs, we are excited to announce that we are continuing to offer virtual Literacy Office Hours for Special Education Teachers.

These virtual meetups are a chance for special educators across Arizona to learn from each other, celebrate successes, and share literacy resources to increase the learning outcomes for all students with disabilities. Join our virtual meet-ups and connect with your colleagues to learn from wherever you are in our state.

The ADE/ESS is pleased to present the opening of registration for Arizona’s 2020 IDEA Conference, Converging Ideas: Connections for Student Success! We are excited that the IDEA Virtual Conference is here and we are ready to open professional and personal development for this school year with rich and relevant learning opportunities. 

Please join us for the next episode of Thursday Afternoon LEarning Series, or TALES, on Thursday, August 20 from 2:30 p.m.—4:00 p.m., when STAR Autism Support presents, “Navigating a Socially-Distanced Classroom for Students with Significant Learning Needs.” Due to COVID-19 and related guidelines from state and local health officials, school staff are faced with the challenges of maintaining social distancing on campus for the 2021 school year. STAR trainer, Kara Magee-Arick, will discuss best practices and tips for navigating the new guidelines for students with significant learning needs, as well as creative, evidence-based practices for teaching students routines focused on social distancing, the importance of wearing a mask, and staying healthy through self-care routines. In addition to providing free visual supports and resources, Jennifer will also discuss ways to support families navigating new challenges at home. Participants will learn strategies and tools that can be used with students in pre-K through postsecondary classrooms.

The next school year is already here! The ADE Math Team will be starting Math Office Hours again this month. These meetings are designed to support general education and special education teachers individually as well as to problem-solve as colleagues on current issues faced in teaching and learning this fall. Please join us to learn and laugh with each other and to talk about what is working and how we can support each other and problem-solve together.

Special Education Directors,