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Neurodiversity in the School Building: Intersecting Special Education with the Science of Reading
Thursday, October 10, 2024 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EDT
Presented by Kerri Larkin, Senior Education Advisor, Lexia; Jesse Sanchez, Managing Director of Programs, The Neurodiversity Alliance; Lily Eisele, Student, Personnel Director, Student Senate Leadership, University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire; Dr. Nancy Nelson, Assistant Professor of Special Education, Boston University, and Deputy Director, National Center on Improving Literacy; and Davis FitzGerald, Master’s Student in Special Education, George Washington University
Hosted by Cassandra Wheeler, Director, LETRS State Success, Lexia
Sponsored by Lexia Learning
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This panel discussion explores how the Science of Reading can transform the educational experience for neurodiverse students, including those with dyslexia and IEPs. School administrators gain insights into how evidence-based literacy instruction can reduce disproportionality in special education and foster a more equitable, inclusive environment.
This session feature perspectives from neurodiverse leaders and students, offering first-hand accounts of their journeys in educational settings. Viewers leave with actionable strategies for applying the Science of Reading to support neurodiverse learners and build a school culture that celebrates and leverages the unique strengths of every student.
This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-12 school and district leaders.
This edWebinar is part of Literacy Leader Week: Dyslexia, Equity, Inclusion, and the Science of Reading.
About the Presenters
Kerri Larkin brings more than 20 years of special education experience to her role as Senior Education Advisor. Kerri began her career teaching secondary language arts and special education at Anacostia High School in Washington, DC Public Schools (DCPS). She left the classroom to become the director of her teacher preparation program, which prepared and evaluated special education teachers in partnership with the George Washington University. Based on her leadership in teacher preparation, Kerri was hired back into DCPS by Michelle Rhee through the Master Educator program. From there, Kerri led special education as the Director for Academic Programs and then Senior Deputy Chief of Specialized Instruction until March 2021. Kerri leverages her experience in partnership with other district leaders to increase educational equity through meaningful inclusion, evidence-based practice, and sustained professional learning. She is a passionate anti-racism advocate with an emphasis on meaningful inclusion and systemic change.
Jesse Sanchez is Managing Director of Programs at the Neurodiversity Alliance. He began his career working in Eye to Eye’s program team after graduating from UC Berkeley in 2011. He then embarked on a decade-long career in the high-tech industry, contributing to companies like Google, LinkedIn, and multiple early-stage technology startups. In these roles, Jesse helped leaders with people and culture transformation initiatives.
Jesse designed and founded the original Eye to Eye Alumni Board where he served the organization from 2016 – 2019 and later joined the Board of Directors from 2020 – 2023, where he served on the Program and Development Committees. In 2024, Jesse answered the call to work full time leading a neurodiversity program organization. When Jesse is not working he enjoys spending time with his family in the outdoors.
Originally from Eagan, Minnesota, Lily Eisele is currently a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire studying Organizational Communication with a minor in Kinesiology. She first became involved with Eye to Eye as a mentor her freshman year of college and became a Chapter Leader a year later. Self-advocacy is a skill and value that Lily was taught at a young age and is grateful to be able to share her experiences with younger students. Along with being active in the Art Room, Lily wanted to continue her lifelong advocacy and education of the disability and neurodiverse communities by being a Neurodiversity Ambassador. She currently works as the Student Personnel Director at UWEC, as well as being a TRIO AIM mentor for freshmen. In her free time, she enjoys photography, playing hockey, watching movies with her family, and taking walks outside. Lily’s favorite parts of being an Ambassador is being able to interact with the neurodiverse community and traveling to new places.
Dr. Nancy J. Nelson is an assistant professor of special education at Boston University and deputy director of the National Center on Improving Literacy and the Lead for Literacy Center. Dr. Nelson is a former special education teacher and school psychologist, and a principal investigator on more than a dozen federally funded projects to develop or test the efficacy of reading and math interventions for students with or at risk for learning disabilities. She regularly works with state, regional, and local education agencies to provide technical assistance related to the effective implementation of assessment and instruction in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support.
J. Davis FitzGerald is a dedicated special education teacher working with middle school students with behavioral and emotional challenges. A graduate of Vassar College with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Philosophy, Davis is now pursuing his M.A. in Special Education at George Washington University. Davis has demonstrated a strong commitment to advocacy and mentorship for students with learning differences throughout his academic and professional journey. As a former Chapter Leader for Project Eye to Eye at Vassar College and a member of the Young Adult Guiding Coalition, he has worked tirelessly to combat the stigma surrounding learning disabilities and ADHD. Davis’s experience in leadership roles, including his presidency of the NSO Student Association at Vassar, has honed his skills in organization, event planning, and community engagement – all of which inform his current work as an educator dedicated to fostering inclusive and supportive learning environments.
About the Host
Cassandra Wheeler is a proud “Poet” of the 1990 graduating class at Sidney Lanier High School of Montgomery Public Schools (MPS) in Alabama. In 1994, following undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education, Cassandra returned home to MPS and began her career as an educator at Morningview Elementary School. After earning her master’s degree and administrative certification, Cassandra joined the Alabama Reading Initiative, where she authored Alabama’s Reading First Initiative grant and managed Alabama’s statewide DIBELS pilot. In 2004, after serving the children of Alabama for ten years, Cassandra expanded her outreach to impact the life trajectories of students everywhere by joining the (then) Voyager Expanded Learning organization. Now, at Lexia, Cassandra serves the organization as Director of LETRS State Success.
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Lexia®, a Cambium Learning Group company, is the Structured Literacy expert. For nearly 40 years, the company has focused solely on literacy, and today provides Science-of-Reading-based solutions for both students and educators. With robust offerings for differentiated instruction, personalized learning, assessment, and professional learning, Lexia helps more learners read, write, and speak with confidence. For more information, visit www.lexialearning.com.