Special Education Directors,

Please share the following in-person math professional learning opportunities with general and special education teachers who teach mathematics.

Count Me In: Foundations for Fluency is a one-day professional learning opportunity that will focus on the key components of fluency. Participants will make connections across mathematics standards that specify fluency as the intended, end-of-year outcome in each grade level from K–6. Additionally, educators will explore instructional routines, strategies, and games that help all students develop the flexibility to solve contextual and mathematical problems involving whole numbers. We strongly encourage school teams of special education and general education teachers who teach mathematics in Kindergarten through Grade 6 to register.

Tucson | June 24, 2022, from 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 

Register for Foundations for Fluency on June 24 in Tucson 

Prescott | June 30, 2022, from 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 

Register for Foundations for Fluency on June 30 in Prescott 

 Phoenix | July 20, 2022, from 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 

Register for Foundations for Fluency on July 20 in Phoenix 

Count Me In: Hands on Algebra is a two-day professional learning opportunity that will focus on inclusive practices for teaching mathematics for middle and high school students with learning disabilities. Teachers will walk away with a conceptual understanding of the learning progressions within algebraic reasoning. Teachers will also experience collaboration strategies that will support all students in meeting the High School Algebra standards. We strongly encourage school teams of special education and general education teachers who teach mathematics in Grade 6 through High School Algebra to register. Participants will be required to attend both in-person training days.

Tucson | June 22–23, 2022, from 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 

Register for Hands on Algebra on June 22–23 in Tucson 

Prescott | June 28–29, 2022, from 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 

Register for Hands on Algebra on June 28–29 in Prescott 

 Phoenix | July 18–19, 2022, from 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 

Register for Hands on Algebra on July 18–19 in Phoenix 

The cost of each event is $25 (lunch is not provided). Parking at the University of Arizona campus costs $8 per day. 

Please email Sherri Schwindt with any questions about registration. Please email Jenifer Fernandez or email Rob Hilliker with any questions about the training. 

Special Education Administrators,

The ADE/ESS is pleased to announce that registration for Teach Camp is now open!

Teach Camp is a year-long support system that includes professional learning specifically designed for beginning special educators. The goal of Teach Camp is to increase retention of special educators by providing our newest special education teachers with the tools they need to survive and thrive during their first years in the classroom.

Teach Camp is designed for special education teachers who will begin their first, second, or third year of teaching special education in the fall of 2022. Recent graduates from traditional teacher preparation programs, alternative certified teachers, and veteran general education teachers transitioning to special education are all welcome.

Teach Camp will be in person this summer! The cost is $175 per teacher and includes:

• 3-day summer “camp” to be held June 27–29, 2022 in Phoenix* (breakfast and lunch provided)
• Two 1-hour, virtual, after-school sessions, one in the fall and one in the spring, with national speakers
• A copy of The Survival Guide for New Special Education Teachers
• A one-year membership to the Council for Exceptional Children
• Additional valuable resources

*Information regarding travel reimbursement for participants from eligible PEAs will be provided once registration is completed.

Registration for Teach Camp is open until June 6, 2022, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Register for Teach Camp!

Please email the ESS Recruitment and Retention Inbox with any questions about Teach Camp. For more information about Teach Camp, pleasevisit the ESS Teach Camp webpage.

Special Education Directors,

Are you looking for Speech-Language Pathologists, Speech-Language Technicians, or SLPAs for the next school year? Or still looking for this school year?

This Friday and Saturday, ADE/ESS will be recruiting speech personnel on behalf of all Arizona school districts and charter schools at the Arizona Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ArSHA) Annual Convention. We will have a booth in the exhibit hall where we will promote the advantages of working in a school setting, and we will distribute information about all current speech vacancies that our PEAs have posted on our free job board.  

If you would like us to promote your speech opening(s) at ArSHA, please post them on our job board this week.

See the list of current speech vacancies and add new speech vacancies on the Job Board website.

For additional information, please email the Recruitment and Retention Inbox.

Special Education Directors:

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.

Multi-Tier Behavior Supports (MTBS) is a three-year training series that will assist district, charter, or school teams with the development of a school-wide approach for positive behavior management practices. This training is based on School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (SW-PBIS) evidence-based elements.

Several free informational webinars are being offered to outline additional details about the MTBS model, the three-year training sequence, the readiness requirements, and the process for applying.  Attendance at one of the informational webinars is the first readiness requirement necessary for participation in the training series.

If you are interested in learning more and/or starting the readiness process, review this flyer and register to attend one of the following free webinars:

Register for March 31 from 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Register for April 14 from 9:00–10:00 a.m.

Register for April 14 from 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Directions for applying for the training series will be provided during the webinar. Registration is limited to 10 teams and only one team from each district. Applications earning the highest scores in the evaluation process will be approved until all seats are filled. Completed applications must be submitted by May 6, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

The special education director is required to attend the readiness webinar for a PEA/district team. The principal is required to attend the readiness webinar for a school team.

For information regarding MTBS, please contact Celeste Nameth.

Special Education Directors,

Please see the announcement below for an exciting professional learning opportunity.

Announcing the Arizona Professional Learning Series

An Opportunity for Public Education Agencies

The ADE/ESS Arizona Professional Learning Series (AZPLS) provides district and school teams with a systemic method for achieving systems change in aligning state, district, and school site efforts to impact literacy achievement for all students and to close the literacy achievement gap for students with specific learning disabilities. 

The AZPLS provides districts and schools with:

• Six inclusive professional learning modules for K-8 general education teachers, special education teachers, school site leadership, and coaches.
• Six accompanying, interactive professional learning modules for parents and students.
• Leadership coaching from a national presenter to build site capacity in facilitating module professional learning, coach with a focus, collect and analyze data through an inquiry cycle, and sustain implementation.
• Collaborative team structure inspiring shared leadership and decision making from all stakeholders.
• A coaching framework designed for job-embedded professional learning focused on collaborative teams and teacher instructional planning/delivery.
• Web-based data tools and reporting to support targeted needs throughout implementation.

Required AZPLS team members include the district special education director, curriculum director, a school site administrator, two or three general education teachers from different grade levels/content areas, one special education teacher who works closely with general education teachers, and one school site coach.

To indicate your interest in learning more about the series, please sign up at this link by March 15, 2022.

If you have any questions, please email Stacy Riccio.

Special Education Directors, please see the following information:

Research Opportunity: Elementary Self- and Career-Awareness Study

Future Quest Island-Explorations (FQI-E) is a free online game-based curriculum that promotes college and career awareness, SEL, and self-concept for 3rd to 5th graders. FQI-E is universally designed and accessible to students with disabilities; it uses the evidence-based possible selves framework to help all students understand themselves, set goals, and plan expansive futures.

Program developers are currently enrolling schools in a study to test the effectiveness of FQI-E and get recommendations for program improvements. Participating educators receive early access to the game, coaching on using it in the classroom, and a gift card.

Study participation involves helping distribute and collect parent consent forms (electronic and/or paper), administering 20 minute electronic student pre- and post-surveys, implementing the curriculum (6-10 hours, self-paced), and potentially participating in a focus group. 

Interested? Fill out this form to learn more. The study and the Future Quest Island - Explorations program are funded through a grant from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).

Special Education Directors,

ADE ESS and Assessment are excited to announce a new professional learning opportunity for educators.

Empower Students to Use Universal Tools in the 2022 State Assessments Platform (Grades 3–8)

Wednesday, March 2, 2022, 4:00–5:30 p.m.

Digital tools are not just for assessment; they can help students to achieve success in the classroom and beyond. This school year, your learners will take Arizona’s Academic Standards Assessment (AASA) for the first time on the TestNav platform. AASA assesses the Arizona Standards adopted by the Arizona State Board of Education in 2016. At the Arizona Department of Education, we want to help you to empower your students to use the universal assessment tools that are embedded in the AASA platform so that they can readily showcase their knowledge and understanding.

Join us to learn more about the universal tools and accommodations that are available for the AASA for grades 3–8. You will also engage with instructional resources that you can use every day to provide rich learning for students as they familiarize themselves with digital tools that help them express their understanding. During the session, there will be guided, hands-on time with these universal tools and instructional resources.

Register in advance for this session. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Note: accommodations (e.g., ASL interpreting services) for participants in this webinar must be requested at least one week in advance of the webinar.

Please email Rob Hilliker with any questions.

Special Education Directors,

The ADE/ESS Professional Learning and Sustainability unit is pleased to announce two “grow your own” opportunities for educators in Arizona public schools.

• The General Education Teacher to Special Education Teacher (GETSET) program provides tuition reimbursement to certified general education teachers who want to pursue a career change to become certified in an area of special education. 

• The Special Education Teacher Tuition Assistance (SETTA) program provides tuition reimbursement to paraprofessionals and educational interpreters that leads to special education teaching certification.

Certifications that satisfy the application requirements:

1. Mild/Moderate Disabilities, K–12
2. Moderate/Severe Disabilities, K–12
3. Early Childhood Special Education, Birth–Grade 3/Age 8
4. Hearing Impaired Special Education, Birth–Grade 12
5. Visually Impaired Special Education, Birth–Grade 12

 Application materials are below. PEAs have an opportunity to submit an application for one candidate per program. Applications earning the highest scores in the evaluation process will be approved until the funding that is set aside for the program is depleted. Applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 15, 2022.

• General Education Teacher to Special Education Teacher (GETSET) Application
• Special Education Teacher Tuition Assistance (SETTA) Application

Please note:

• Applicant must have been employed by the PEA for two full school years as of June 30, 2022.
• Applicant agrees to two full years of teaching in a special education capacity at the PEA once special education certification is achieved.
• Educational interpreters are eligible to apply for the SETTA program.
• GETSET and SETTA are tuition reimbursement programs. Potential expenses are pre-approved, and reimbursement is provided after each semester is completed and program requirements are met.

For additional information, please email the Recruitment and Retention Inbox.

Special Education Directors,

The following is a free professional learning opportunity available to you and your staff.

The Power of Strengths-Based IEPs with Carol Kosnitsky

Thursday, March 3, 2022, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

The dilemma: how do you write an appropriate IEP that provides both insights into the student’s disability and needs as well as the student’s strengths, interests, preferences, and personal accomplishments? It’s hard to look at many IEP requirements and not to think that the focus is on deficits. We can remain true to IEP requirements and incorporate all we have learned about the power of language, high expectations, growth mindsets, and Universal Design for Learning.  Rarely do these big ideas make their way into students’ IEPs, but you can change that! This session will explore some of the self-defeating and student-limiting practices common in IEP writing and provide alternative strengths-based models that can change our conversations, our expectations, and our IEPs.

Carol Kosnitsky is the nationally recognized and popular author of IEP Goals That Make a Difference: An Administrator’s Guide to Improving the Process (2018, LRP Publications). This book is used widely by teachers as well as administrators. As a distinguished special education consultant with more than 35 years in the field, Carol provides consultation and professional development services across the country, traveling from her home base in New England.

Her work focuses on improving outcomes for students with disabilities through increased access to the general education curriculum.

She is particularly sought after for her expertise regarding the development of relevant and measurable IEPs, the aligning of IEPs with the Common Core, and the collaboration between general and special education to improve education for all students. Ms. Kosnitsky was a special education director for 20 years in New Hampshire, served as President of the New Hampshire Association for Special Education Administrators, and developed the New Hampshire Academy for Special Education Directors.

Register in advance for this event.

If you are a special education teacher or related service provider, the presenter requests that you bring a current IEP with you to the training. Please be ready to examine your own IEP in relation to the content of the session and remember that all student information needs to remain confidential. This session is for training purposes and does not replace the technical assistance provided by the ADE.

Questions regarding this professional learning opportunity can be sent to the ESS Recruitment and Retention Inbox.

Special Education Directors,

ADE/ESS, in partnership with the Neurosequential Model Network led by Dr. Bruce Perry, is pleased to announce two exciting training opportunities for Arizona’s schools: the Neurosequential Model in Education and the Neurosequential Model in Therapeutics training programs. This train-the-trainer, capacity-building process provides educators and therapists with a comprehensive introduction to key concepts related to the developmental impact of trauma on the brain as well as examples and practical application of these concepts in educational settings.

Please join us for a free informational session on March 3, 2022, from 12:00–1:00 p.m. to learn more about these professional learning opportunities. This session will review key information including training content and requirements. Admission into the training series will require attendance at the webinar (or viewing of the recorded webinar) and an application process. The cost of the training program is $250 per participant. These documents provide further information about each training program:

• Neurosequential Model in Therapeutics
• Neurosequential Model in Education

Please register for the informational session. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

If you have questions, please email Lauren Blocher.