Presented by Mark Pederson, Educational Specialist and Expert Mentor, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (CA) and Modern Classroom; Madeline (Maddie) Richer, Ninth-Grade Special Education Teacher, NYC Department of Education; Cassie Fontaine, Special Education Teacher, Belchertown Public Schools (MA); and Toni Rose Deanon, Community Engagement Manager, The Modern Classrooms Project
Presented by Dr. A’Seret Dokubo, Managing Director of Fellowships, SELF
Teachers face many challenges in the classroom, with one of the biggest being how to work with students with IEPs and disabilities. During the edLeader Panel “Honoring All Learners: An Asset-Based Approach,” experts discussed classroom inclusion, asset-based perspectives, and helping students thrive.
Presented by David Flink, Co-Founder and Chief Empowerment Officer, Eye to Eye; Dr. Michael Maclin, Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, Special School District of St. Louis County (MO); Barbara Pape, Senior Director, Learner Variability Project, Digital Promise; and Kerri Larkin, Senior Education Advisor, Lexia Learning
Presented by Dr. Sarah Taylor Vanover, Policy and Research Director, Kentucky Youth Advocates
Moderated by Jennifer Lewis, President, Gryphon House, Inc.
Families are thirsty for information about inclusive technology that supports their children with disabilities. They want to understand and inform the tools schools use. They want to collaborate. Yet, while family engagement is essential—and promoted in the Every Student Succeeds Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act—it is often not operationalized.
Presented by Andrea Ruppar, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, University of Wisconsin–Madison; and Jennifer Kurth, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Special Education, University of Kansas
Presented by Dr. Dan Florell, Professor, Eastern Kentucky University; Tony Buckner, Director of Special Education, Newberg-Dundee Public Schools (OR); Kalyn Belsha, Senior Reporter, Chalkbeat; and Kate Eberle Walker, Chief Executive Officer, Presence
During the edLeader Panel “Inclusive Technology: Breaking Barriers and Empowering Learners,” prominent education leaders emphasized the critical role of integrating inclusive technology systems within schools. The discussion centered around the unveiling of the Center on Inclusive Technology & Education Systems (CITES) framework, an initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs.
Presented by Maggie Pickett, MA, CCC-SLP, Senior Technical Assistance Specialist, CAST; Dr. Angel Morgan, Assistant Instructional Professional, Arizona State University; and Erika Chapman, Parent Liaison, Program for Exceptional Children, Florence One School District (SC)