Year-End Reminders, PD and Summer Employment, Outstanding Special Educators, Retirees, a Cool School, and a TSA Extraordinaire

TIMELINES & REMINDERS

1.  End of Year SCRAM Memo:  The End of Year SCRAM Detail Report has just been sent to all Resource Team Leaders, Cluster Leaders, and Principals.  Please review and respond to the memo immediately.  All completed SCRAM information must be returned to the Special Education Office no later than the end of the day on the following dates:

• Traditional School Deadline:  Friday, May 31, 2013
• Year-Round School Deadline:  Friday, June 7, 2013

2.  End-of-Year Checkout Memo:  The Year-End Checkout for Traditional Schools/Year-Round Schools memo has been sent to all Certified Special Education Staff and Principals.  Please review the memo for important details and due dates in preparation for the close of the 2012-13 school year.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

1.  Karen Erickson Literacy Training – Change in Location:   The USOE Special Education Services is offering a week-long training (July 29-August 2, 2013) for speech-language pathologists and teachers of students with significant cognitive disabilities.   This literacy training will be presented by Karen Erickson, Ph.D., Director of Professional Development for Dynamic Learning Maps Assessment (DLM).  The location of this training has been changed to the Cliff Lodge at Snowbird.

• For more information, click on this link:  Karen Erickson Literacy Training
• Contact Person:  Emily Bytheway (emily.bytheway@schools.utah.gov, 801-538-7963).

2.  Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Program:   The University of Utah will be offering courses for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst program, beginning Fall 2013.  If you would like more information about the BCBA program, please contact the Special Education Department at the University of Utah (801-581-8121).

SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

1.  Summer Item Writers Needed for the Dynamic Learning Maps Project:  The Center for Education Testing and Evaluation (CETE), at the University of Kansas is hiring temporary, full-time staff to assist in the development of English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics assessment items for Dynamic Learning Maps, an assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities.  The position begins June 3, 2013 and continues through July 26, 2013, with the potential to work an additional two weeks based on availability and performance.  The work location will be Southwest Middle School in Lawrence, Kansas.

• For more information, click on this link:  CETE Summer Employment Opportunity
• Contact Person:   Wendy Carver (wendy.carver@schools.utah.gov, 801-538-7639)

NEWS AND OTHER INFORMATION

1.  Jordan Education Foundation Honors Outstanding Special Educators:  Three of our special educators received Outstanding Special Educator Awards at the Jordan Education Foundation 20th Annual Awards Banquet on Wednesday, May 9, 2013!  We appreciate and congratulate the following special educators for their exemplary teaching and commitment to the success of students in Jordan School District:

• Alison Lavery:  Special Education Teacher, West Jordan High School
• Nancy Smith:  Teacher for Students with Visual Impairments, River’s Edge School
• Rebecca Day:  Physical Therapist, Kauri Sue Hamilton School

3.  Retirements:  We have a number of special educators who are retiring at the end of 2012-13 school year.  We will share more information about each of them in the next blog post, and as we become aware of other special educators who are retiring, we will include them, too.  For now, we’ll just say, Congratulations and Thank You, for your many years of dedicated service to our students in special education!

• Laurie Anderson:  Teacher Specialist, Special Education Department
• Sue Brack:  Special Education Teacher, Kauri Sue Hamilton School
• Julie Buckingham:  Principal, River’s Edge School
• Lance Hansen:  Special Education Teacher, Bingham High School
• Linda Jessie-Jones:  School Psychologist, Falcon Ridge and Monte Vista Elementary Schools
• Susan Johnston:  Special Education Teacher, Hayden Peak Elementary School
• Karrie Larabee:  Instructional Assistant, River’s Edge School
• Denise McClanahan:  Special Education Teacher, Preschool
• Geneie Sims:  Instructional Assistant, River’s Edge School
• Nancy Smith:  Special Education Teacher for Students with Visual Impairments, River’s Edge School
• Mel Springer:  Special Education Teacher-Woodshop, South Valley School
• Penny Uriarte:  Special Education Teacher, Kauri Sue Hamilton School
• Wendy Van de Kamp:  Special Education Teacher, Bingham High School
• Cissy Wolff:  Speech-Language Pathologist, Fox Hollow and West Jordan Elementary Schools

3.  End-of-Year Social:   Thanks to all who were able to attend the end-of-year social on Wednesday, May 15th!  It was great to be able to visit with everyone, and honor our special educators who will be retiring.  Our appreciation to Cindy Williams-Mitchell, Principal, for hosting this year’s social at South Valley School!

4.  South Valley School – Fox 13 News Cool School of the Week: Last week, Fox 13 News selected South Valley School as the “Cool School of the Week!”  Take a look at some of the wonderful things happening in this amazing school!

5.  Terri Smuin, Teacher Support Assistant Extraordinaire:  Special Education teachers and staff are faced with many challenging situations.   One way that the Special Education Department responds is to assign our Teacher Support Assistant (TSA) to help with short-term needs (i.e., testing coverage, class coverage while student behavior plans are developed and implemented, or directly assisting a student during program implementation).  As teachers and staff identify their needs, the Special Education Teacher Specialists meet and assign the TSA to assist where the need is greatest.  Once assigned, the TSA works under the direction of the teacher.

Terri Smuin is the TSA for the Special Education Department.  Throughout her 20+ years in Jordan School District, she has been extremely flexible in the way she approaches each teacher and student with whom she works.  Terri says that her role as a TSA works best when teachers are clear about behavior plans, have knowledge of their students’ needs, and communicate that information to her.  “Communication is a big deal.  If the teacher communicates the student’s needs to me, the things I can do to help will be much more effective.”

Terri has provided support to a countless number of teachers and students in resource settings, self-contained support classes, and special schools.  She enjoys the variety of her assignments, “It is fun to see how different teachers set up their classrooms, and learn how I can best support them and their students.  I am a lifelong learner and this job allows me to always be learning new things about helping students.”

We are very fortunate to have Terri’s assistance!  If you or a member of your team is in need of short-term support, please contact the Teacher Specialist assigned to your school.  Remember, the role of the TSA is to:

• Provide temporary support
• For short-term needs
• Under the direction of the teacher/staff in the school.

A Few New Pieces of News

TIMELINES & REMINDERS

1. End-of-Year Checkout Memo:  Certified special education staff and principals will soon be receiving the end-of-year checkout memo.  Please review the memo for important details and due dates in preparation for the close of the 2012-13 school year.

2.  Year-End Social and Retirement Celebration:  Please join us for the Special Education Department year-end social (a dessert & appetizer potluck), on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 from 3:15 p.m.-5:30 p.m., at South Valley School (8400 S. Redwood Road).  We will be honoring our co-workers who are retiring at the end of this school year.  We look forward to seeing you, so please mark your calendars and join us for a minute or two to relax and socialize!

3.  IEPs and 3 Year Re-evaluations Due Prior to October 15, 2013:   IEPs and 3 year re-evaluations that will be due before October 15, 2013, must be updated by the sending school before files are delivered to the receiving school.  Example:  If a 6th grade student has an IEP or re-evaluation that will be due after the end of this school year and before October 15th of next school year, the current IEP team must update these documents before delivering the student’s file to the receiving school. 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

1. Essential Elements Literacy Training:  The USOE Special Education Services is offering a week-long training (July 29-August 2, 2013) for speech-language pathologists and teachers of students with significant cognitive disabilities.   This literacy training will be presented by Karen Erickson, Ph.D., Director of Professional Development for Dynamic Learning Maps Assessment (DLM).  For more information, please click on the following flier:  Karen Erickson Literacy Training, or contact Emily Bytheway (emily.bytheway@schools.utah.gov, 801-538-7963).

OTHER INFORMATION & NEWS

1.  Thank You, School Nurses!  The week of May 6th-12th is National Nurses Week and Wednesday, May 8th was National School Nurses Day.  School Nurses Day was established in 1972 “to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting,” (schoolnurseday.org).  We thank all of our school nurses for the skilled care and support that you provide our students and their families.  As educators, we could not do our jobs without you!

2.  JSD is First to Enter all UAA Results Online!  Thanks to all school teams for the great efforts made to submit your UAA results by the due dates. Bekkah Friant in the Evaluation, Research and Accountability and Department, was able to enter all of our UAA information into the online system, making Jordan the first in Utah to complete this process!   Our thanks to Bekkah for helping us with this monumental task!

3.  TONI-4:  Thanks to all teams who have been working on the TONI-4 correction procedures.  Please contact the Teacher Specialist assigned to your school if you have questions.

4. Retirement Open House for Friends in Canyon School District (CSD):  The CSD Special Education Department is hosting a reception on May 10, 2013 (4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.) to honor special educators who are retiring.  Please click on the following flier for the details and names of retirees:  CSD Retirement Invitation.  Congratulations to all for their dedicated years of service!

Upcoming Events, Math, Essential Elements, UATT, and New Job Openings

TIMELINES & REMINDERS

1.  IEPs and 3 Year Re-evaluations:  All IEPs and 3 year re-evaluations due prior to October 15, 2013, must be updated by the sending school before files are delivered to the receiving school.  Example:  If a 6th grade student has an IEP or re-evaluation that will be due after the end of this school year and before October 15th of next school year, the current IEP team must update these documents before delivering the student’s file to the receiving school. 

2.  Year-End Social and Retirement Celebration:  Please join us for the Special Education Department year-end social (a dessert & appetizer potluck), on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 from 3:15 p.m.-5:30 p.m., at South Valley School (8400 S. Redwood Road).  We will be honoring our co-workers who are retiring at the end of this school year.  We look forward to seeing you, so please mark your calendars and join us for a minute or two to relax and socialize!

3.  Sport Day 2013:  The annual Sports Day event for elementary students in self-contained support classes, will be held on Friday, May 17, 2013 at Riverton High School. A VERY BIG THANKS to Laurie Larsen, Kami Cote, and Nancy Merrick, APE Specialists, for their dedicated efforts to plan, organize, and carry out this wonderful experience for our students!  Please direct questions to Laurie Larsen, Adaptive PE Specialist Team Leader (801-567-8667 or laurie.larsen@jordandistrict.org).

4.  Special Education Opening In-Service Meeting:  The opening in-service meeting for special education staff will be in the afternoon of Friday, August 23, 2013.  The location, meeting time, and details will be provided at a later time.

OTHER INFORMATION & NEWS

1. Math

• Upcoming Change in Middle School Mathematics Praxis:  The Praxis 0069 will change to the 5169 (0169 if paper and pencil accommodations are necessary) after July 2013.  The new test is more closely aligned to the Utah Core Standards and will serve the same purpose as the current 0069.  If a special educator passes either the 0069 or 5169 before the beginning of the 2014-15 school year, the special educator will be “grandfathered” for Highly Qualified to teach secondary math.  After that, special educators will need a math endorsement to teach secondary math.
• Co-Teaching Math in the Middle Grades:  The USOE’s Office of Special Education and Department of Secondary Math, and Utah Schools to Watch are offering a training for middle school teams that co-teach math.  An orientation for teachers and principals is scheduled for June 4, 2013.  Teachers will reconvene on August 8 & 9, 2013, with two more follow-up trainings during the school year, as well as on-site coaching.  Participation is at no-cost to schools.  Registration is available using OnTrack, Course #58534, Section #64168.  If you have questions, please contact Kim Fratto (kim.fratto@schools.utah.gov, 801-538-7716), or Lori Gardner, Utah Schools to Watch (lgardner@pcschools.us).

2. Essential Elements Summer Core Academy:  Essential Elements Summer Core Academy will be held on June 10, 2013, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., and will feature presenters on reading, math, and science for students with significant cognitive disabilities.  Participants will receive $150.00 worth of materials.  Individuals who attended last year’s Significant Disabilities Core Academy are not eligible to attend this workshop.  If you have questions, please contact Cathy Longstroth (cathyl@updc.org), or Christine Timothy (christine.timothy@schools.utah.gov).  Click on the following link to register:  Essential Elements Summer Core Academy Registration.

3.  UAAACT is now UATT:  The UAAACT project has changed its name to Utah Assistive Technology Teams (UATT) to better reflect the scope of team responsibilities.  Although UATT focuses on communication skills, it also provides various types of assistive technology to all students who may need to access the general curriculum, or accomplish a wide range of IEP goals.  Members of the UATT (team) in Jordan School District (JSD) are:  Judy Roberts (team leader), Jodilyn Beck, and Barbara Dillman (assistant).  If you have questions or need assistance regarding UATT, please call 801-567-8421.  Our thanks to Judy, Jodilyn, and Barbara for their countless efforts to serve all students in JSD who need assistive technology services!

4.  Special Education Department Job Openings:  The Special Education Department has openings for the following positions:

• Cluster Leader
• Teacher Specialist
• Placement Specialist
• Teacher for the Visually Impaired

Detailed information regarding job descriptions and qualifications for these positions are posted on the Special Education Department Web site, and Teachers-Teachers Web site.

End-of-Year Preps & Activities, Opening In-service, KSHS & Autism Awareness, Summer Internships, and Socrative – An Amazing App

TIMELINES & REMINDERS

1.  IEPs and 3 Year Re-evaluations:  All IEPs and 3 year re-evaluations due prior to October 15, 2013, must be updated by the sending school before files are delivered to the receiving school.  Example:  If a 6th grade student has an IEP or re-evaluation that will be due after the end of this school year and before October 15th of next school year, the current IEP team must update these documents before delivering the student’s file to the receiving school. 

2.  Year-End Social and Retirement Celebration:  Please join us for the Special Education Department year-end social (a dessert & appetizer potluck), on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 from 3:15 p.m.-5:30 p.m., at South Valley School (8400 S. Redwood Road).  We will be honoring our co-workers who are retiring at the end of this school year.  We look forward to seeing you, so please mark your calendars and join us for a minute, or two, or more!

3.  Sport Day 2013:  Every year in Jordan School District, the Adaptive PE (APE) Specialists plan a very important track and field day.  On the morning of Friday, May 17, 2013, students in the elementary self-contained support classes will gather at Riverton High School to compete in track and field events.  A VERY BIG THANKS to Laurie Larsen, Kami Cote, and Nancy Merrick, APE Specialists, for their dedicated efforts to plan, organize, and carry out this wonderful experience for our students!  Please direct questions to Laurie Larsen, Adaptive PE Specialist Team Leader (801-567-8667 or laurie.larsen@jordandistrict.org).

4.  Special Education Opening In-Service Meeting:  The opening in-service meeting for special education staff will be in the afternoon of Friday, August 23, 2013.  The location, meeting time, and details will be provided at a later time.

OTHER INFORMATION & NEWS

1.  Kauri Sue Hamilton School Honors Autism Awareness Month:  The students and faculty at Kauri Sue Hamilton School are often headlining the news with details of their involvement in thoughtful school and community activities.  Their latest creative adventure honored Autism Awareness Month and was featured on the Jordan School District Blog:  Homemade Planes Launched in Honor of Autism Awareness.  Thank you, everyone at Kauri Sue Hamilton School,  for helping us reflect on our students and their families who live with autism.

2.  Summer Internship with the National Ability Center:   The Utah State Office of Education Special Education Services has informed us that summer internships with the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah are available for students with a disability, ages 16-22.   This opportunity is part of a new program called the COACH program, “designed to create a structured and successful continuum of growth and learning for young adults with disabilities that enables them to transition from school to work.”  For more information about the internship, please click on the COACH Program Internship information sheet, and direct any questions to Tracy Meier, Training and Education Manager (TracyM@DiscoverNAC.org).

3.  An Amazing App:  Socrative is a smart student response system that empowers teachers to engage their classrooms through a series of educational exercises and games via smartphones, laptops, and tablets.  Click on the following links for more information:

• Create a free teacher account at Socrative
• Install free app:  Socrative Teacher Clicker
• Install free app:  Socrative Student Clicker
• Socrative Teacher and Student Response (Bonnie Muir and Deanna Taylor, JSD Curriculum Technology Specialists)
• Socrative Quiz Template (Deanna Taylor, JSD Curriculum Technology Specialist)
• Three Good Ways to Use Socrative in Your Classroom (Richard Byrne, Free Technology for Teachers)

Numeracy Project, UAA Timeline, SLP Meeting, We Have a Winner, and Year End Social – Save the Date!

TIMELINES & REMINDERS

1.  Numeracy Project:  The Utah State Office of Education, Special Education Department is accepting applications for middle school teachers who are interested in participating in a numeracy project with a focus on improving math content and pedagogy skills related to the Utah Math Core Standards.  If you are interested in this professional development opportunity, applications are due by Friday, May 19, 2013.  Please click on the following links for detailed information:

Numeracy Project Announcement 2013-14

Numeracy Project Application 2013-14

2.  UAA Timeline:  All student UAA task data must be recorded on the excel spreadsheet provided by Bekkah Friant, and returned to her in the Evaluation, Research and Accountability Department by Tuesday, April 23, 2013.  If you do not have access to the spreadsheet, please contact your testing coordinator or principal.  If you have questions related to the UAA, please contact the Teacher Specialist assigned to your school.

3.  Professional Development for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs):  The next professional development meeting for SLPs will be Friday, May 3, 2013, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m., at the Auxiliary Services Building (ASB) Auditorium.  The topic will be “Augmentative Communication.”

OTHER INFORMATION & NEWS

1.  Agency Fair:  Thank you for inviting students and parents to the annual Agency Fair on Thursday, April 11, 2013 at Murray High School!   Those who were able to attend, had access to over 60 community agencies that offer services and supports to people with disabilities.  A special thanks goes to the dedicated staff in our Health Services Department – Kris Johnson, Azure Thompson, Terrie Bouck, who were busy answering questions and providing timely information for many parents who visited their display table!  

And, an added bonus for educators who attended was an opportunity to enter a drawing for an amazing, goodie-filled basket of gardening supplies.  Congratulations to our winner:   Jackie Hale, School Psychologist at Butterfield Canyon and Riverside Elementary!  

2.  End-of-Year Social – Save the Date!   The Special Education Department invites you to attend a potluck Dessert & Appetizer Buffet on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at South Valley School, from 3:15 p.m.-5:30 p.m.  This is a time when Jordan School District special educators gather to visit and honor our 2012-13 retirees.  Please save the date, and start thinking about a tasty little treat that you would like to bring to the buffet!   We look forward to seeing you there!