Special Education Directors,

Please see the information below from our colleagues with the Arizona Association of School Psychologists (AASP) regarding their upcoming all-day continuing education program on Behavioral Threat Assessment. Feel free to forward to your staff.

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(Annual Conference Series 1) Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM): Best Practices for K-12 Schools

When: 24 Sep 2020 9:00 AM, UTC-07:00
Where: Webinar

How to register: https://www.aasp-az.org/event-3938185

Dr. Melissa Reeves (Full-Day Training via Webinar) will be presenting from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm on “Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM): Best Practices for K-12 Schools” (6-hours NASP Approved CPD Session).

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.  

Participants will learn:

• how to establish a consistent school- or district-wide approach to behavioral threat assessment.
• the critical factors contributing to risk to include current statistics and early identification of warning signs
• best practice guidelines as established by prior legal cases and lessons learned reports
• primary prevention strategies to break the code of silence
• how to assess for risk using best practice guidelines and procedures established by the US Secret Service and US Dept of Education
• strategies for interventions and postvention
• strategies for working with difficult parents
• from case study examples and shared forms that illustrate the BTAM screening and full assessment process

Presenter Bio: Melissa Reeves, PhD, NCSP, LPC, is an Associate Professor at Winthrop University. She is the Past President of the National Association of School Psychologists (2016–2017), a nationally certified school psychologist, licensed professional counselor, and licensed special education teacher. She has over 19 years’ experience working in public schools, a private school, and day and residential treatment programs. Dr. Reeves is a coauthor of the PREPaRE Crisis Prevention and Intervention curriculum and travels both nationally and internationally training professionals in crisis prevention and intervention, threat and suicide assessment, trauma and PTSD, and cognitive–behavioral interventions. She recently joined Sigma Threat Management Associates as a senior consultant and is also an advisor for Safe and Sound Schools, an organization founded by two parents who lost their children in the Sandy Hook tragedy. She has coauthored multiple books and publications focusing on school safety and trauma.

This is a first in a series of four professional development days for the AASP Annual conference.

Technology Information

This event will be offered via a Zoom Webinar. This will include small group breakouts and interaction with Dr. Reeves. The workshop is all day with a one hour lunch break. Participants should ensure they have a reliable internet connection with speaker, microphone, and video capabilities.

Please note that you must be a current member of AASP at the time you register for the conference in order to obtain the member rate. It is recommended that you renew membership a week to ten days prior to registering for the conference event.

Registration on the AASP website allows for Purchase Order.

Special Education Directors,

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.”

As schools are working to support students’ safe return to school, they are also challenged with determining how to meet the needs of diverse learners, including identifying and making eligible those students who are in need of special education. Please join us as our presenters share considerations for completing initial and reevaluations as schools reopen after the COVID-19 school closure. Topics covered will include collecting additional data, SLD determination, and teleassessment.

Please click here to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Participant registration is first-come, first-served and is not limited to special educators – feel free to forward. Questions regarding this professional learning opportunity can be sent to Sherri Schwindt.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Converging Ideas: Connections for Student Success!

Special Education Stakeholders, 

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. 

Throughout the 2020—2021 school year, the conference will feature 24 sessions targeted to professionals in the education community, and 18 sessions targeted to youth and families. The youth and family sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 7:00—8:00 p.m., and the professional sessions will take place on Thursdays from 2:45—4:00 p.m. IDEA Virtual Conference professional learning opportunities will be provided to participants FREE for the entire school year!!

The IDEA Virtual Conference Kick Off begins next week! The youth and family strand kick off is Tuesday, September 1 – and the professional strand kick off is Thursday, September 3.

Please note: The IDEA Virtual Conference will host learning opportunities in a regular schedule throughout the year as follows:

• Professional sessions will be held on the 1^st, 2^nd, and 4^th Thursday of every month from 2:45 p.m.—4:00 p.m.
• Youth and Family sessions will be held on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of every month from 7:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m.

Information, session descriptions, dates, and registration information can all be found at /ideaconference. Session information will be made available approximately one month in advance on the website so that participants can reserve time in their busy schedules for important learning and connecting opportunities.

Please contact Aanya Rispoli for any questions related to the 2020 IDEA Virtual Conference. We appreciate all of the hard work being undertaken at the beginning of the school year and look forward to a productive year ahead. 

Special Education Directors,

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.

During this TALES session, participants will also learn about the resources provided by STAR Autism Support supported by ESS available during this unprecedented period of remote learning. All Arizona educators may now receive FREE access to The STAR Online Learning System (SOLS) through STAR Autism Support for 2021 school year. This free access includes:

• Leveled curriculum designed for students with autism and other developmental disabilities
• Extensive scripted lesson plans across three strands and eight curricular areas (greeting/circle, academic lessons, language, functional academics, natural communication, engaging in diverse activities, functional routines, independent work)
• Theme-based and routine-centered curriculum for primary and secondary students

Please click here to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Participant registration is first-come, first-served and is not limited to special educators – feel free to forward.

Questions regarding this professional learning opportunity can be sent to [email protected].

Special Education Directors,

Please share the following message about an upcoming professional learning opportunity with general and special education teachers who teach mathematics.

Happy new school year! We hope that you had a chance to recharge and rejuvenate this summer!

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.

Each meeting will be scheduled for 1 hour with an extra 30 minutes at the end for any questions or problems that did not get solved during Math Office Hours.

We hope to see you online, but we are also only an email away if you need anything.

The ADE Mathematics Team  

Suzi Mast – Director K-12 Math Standards 
Eboney McKinney – ESS Math Specialist 
Jenifer Hutchinson – ESS Math Specialist 

Grades K-2 AZ Math Office Hours 
When: August 18, 2020 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Arizona time, 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. – optional problem solving half hour.
Register in advance for the Grades K-2 meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

Grades 3-6 AZ Math Office Hours 
When: August 19, 2020 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Arizona time, 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. – optional problem solving half hour.
Register in advance for the Grades 3-6 meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

Grades 7- Algebra 2 AZ Math Office Hours 
When: Aug 20, 2020 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Arizona time, 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. – optional problem solving half hour.
Register in advance for the Algebra 2 meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

Special Education Directors,

The ADE/ESS is pleased to announce training for school personnel on how to recognize and intervene with commonly occurring behavioral health issues.

The National Council for Behavioral Health will deliver Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification Training to Arizona educators. The training will take place September 14 – 16, 2020 on an online platform using a synchronous format from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. with a break for lunch.

This 3-day interactive training will teach participants how to:

• Teach the Youth Mental Health First Aid course, which includes the 5-step action plan, evidence-supported treatment and self-help strategies, and prevalence data
• Present the program with fidelity to the tested core model
• Apply the program to a range of adult learning styles
• Tailor presentations to diverse audiences and learning environments

Upon the successful completion of the course requirements, as outlined by the National Council for Behavioral Health, participants will be certified to teach the standard Youth Mental Health First Aid course. Visit the Youth Mental Health First Aid Training website for more information.

The cost of the training is $50. Space in the trainings is extremely limited.

Please submit an application to participate in the training.

Special Education Directors,

Please join us for the next episode of Thursday Afternoon LEarning Series, or TALES, on Thursday, August 6 from 2:45 p.m.—4:00 p.m., when Tony Vincent presents, “Crafting a Class Brand Together.” Developing an inclusive community of learners is key to starting out a successful school year, especially when class takes place online. Tony Vincent has advice for making a strong personal connection with all learners by crafting a class brand together. The process begins with interesting activities for teachers and students to get to know each other. Afterward, students take what they have in common and determine what they collectively stand for. Then the class comes to a consensus on a class name, logo, and slogan. Tony notes that when students rally around an authentic brand, they feel a strong sense of community, work harder, and achieve more. See how Tony’s fifth graders put their brand into action, understand how it was developed, and consider how you might give your class, club, or group a unique identity this school year.

Please click here to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Participant registration is first-come, first-served and is not limited to special educators – feel free to forward. Questions regarding this professional learning opportunity can be sent to [email protected].

Special Education Directors,

The ADE/School Support & Improvement, in partnership with Ricky Robertson from Corwin Press, would like to invite you to participate in two FREE virtual Resiliency and Social Emotional Learning workshop series that will provide intentional professional learning on educator self-care, understanding behavior as communication, and trauma sensitive social emotional learning.

COVID-19 has changed our landscape, making this support for educators and students an essential first step to sustain academic achievement. The workshop series is for teachers, teacher teams, administrators, leadership teams, paraprofessionals, social workers, counselors and other support staff. School and district leaders can enroll their whole school teams for these sessions.

Please see the announcement for more information about the series and registration.

Special Education Directors,  

Please join us for the next episode of Thursday Afternoon LEarning Series, or TALES, on Thursday, July 23 from 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m., when we present, “Get a Move On!” Students with special needs may have difficulties attending, processing, and recalling information during distance learning. Research tells us that movement and brain breaks have great potential to help students learn and remember. Physical movement and brain breaks can have positive effects on executive function, attention, and recall and may also reduce stress. Yet, with distance learning extended through the middle of August, students may be spending time in front of monitors and screens and moving less than ever. In this session, an OT, a PT, and an SLP will be sharing no-cost ways to easily integrate movement activities, sensory experiences, and brain breaks in distance learning. Join us on July 23 and help your students get a move on! 

Please click here to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Participant registration is first-come, first-served and is not limited to special educators – feel free to forward. Questions regarding this professional learning opportunity can be sent to [email protected].

We look forward to seeing you there,

Margaret Egan, PT

Mitch Galbraith, MS, OTR/L

Mary Keeney, CCC-SLP

Special Education Directors,

Please see the available professional development opportunities below.

Dive Deep into AZ Math Standards

for

Special Education Teachers

We know that, as special education teachers, you are typically working across multiple grade levels and with students who have various strengths, and we are here to support you in making it all work!

Join us as we spend time diving into our math standards and supporting documents to consider the following:

• Where are the students coming from? We will delineate content from the previous grade level.
• What do they need to learn this year? We will discuss the major content standards of the current grade level and how we can embed previous year learnings.
• Where are they headed? We will look at connections across grade bands that will support student learning in subsequent years.

See the list of sessions below, and please feel free to sign up for the session(s) that are most relevant to you, based on the students that you support. These sessions are a repeat of the sessions offered in June, and we welcome teachers who are attending for the first time and those who wish to join us again!

Elementary Sessions

• Grades K-2:  July 21, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
• Grades 2-3: July 22, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
• Grades 3-5: July 23, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
• Grades 5-6: July 24, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Secondary Sessions

• 6^th Grade: July 21, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
• 7^th – 8^th Grade: July 22, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
• HS Algebra I/II: July 23, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
• HS Geometry: July 24, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.