Success For Each Child & Eliminate the Opportunity Gap by Leading with Racial Equity

Special Services

Special Services Team

Your Special Services PSESD Team

| Special Education | SPED | Student Support Services | Learning Support Services |

(from left to right: Amy Okeze, Erin Stewart, Andrew Mitchell, Keely Hogan, Laura Matson, Abby Smith)
Amy Okeze,  Program Director • aokeze@psesd.org • 425-917-7804
  • For questions regarding Charter School supports, UDL Training, Behavior Network, Trauma
    Informed Practices, please contact Amy
Erin Stewart, Program Director • estewart@psesd.org • 425-917-7826
  • For questions regarding the ARC program, Early Childhood Network, Early Childhood Pre-Literacy
    Project, SPED State Assessment/WA-AIM or Grow your Own: teacher certification models, please contact Erin
aNDREW MITCHELL, Program Manager • aMITCHELL@psesd.org • 425-917-7707
  •  For questions regarding Charter Schools or the Assistive Technology Lending Library, please contact Andrew
Keely Hogan, Program coordinator • khogan@psesd.org• 425-917-7627
  • For questions regarding ESA certification, workshop registration, event flyers,
    pdenroller, clock hours, facilities or schedules, please contact Keely
Laura Matson, Program Director • lmatson@psesd.org• 425-917-7823
  • For questions regarding SPED Directors Network, SPED program reviews, section 504 training,
    or fee for service district training, please contact Laura
​​​​​​​Abby Smith, Program Manager • asmith@psesd.org • 425-917-7712
  •  For questions regarding ESSA/OSSI or Transition Network, please contact Abby
  Erin Stewart, Director Amy    Okeze,  Director Laura Matson, Director Abby    Smith,    Manager

Andrew Mitchell, Manager

 Keely    Hogan,  Prg. Coor.
Special Education Services (K-12)      x      x       x       x       x  
Early Childhood Special Education      x      x        
Special Education Director Network (LEA)      x      x       x      
Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator Network      x      x        
Behavior Network      x      x        
Transition Network            x       x    
Disproportionality PLC      x      x             
Newer Directors PLC and Mentoring           x      
Professional Development/ Fee for Service/ Program Reviews      x      x       x          x
Charter Schools: Targeted Services & Supports        x           x  
Special Education OSSI/ESSA           x       x        
Special Education State Assessments and WA-AIM      x          
Trauma Informed Practices        x        
Alternative Routes to Candidacy (ARC)      x          
Grow Your Own: Teacher Certification            
Assistive Technology Lending Library        x          x      x
Section 504 Training and Technical Support      x         x      
Para-Educator Certification      x          
Graduation Pathways              x       x    
PDenroller registration & Clock Hours                 x
ESA Certification            x                 x
Schedules and Flyers                 x

Workshops

2019-2020 Special Services Workshops & Professional Development Opportunities

 

Special Services offers a continuously changing variety of professional development opportunities to meet the current needs of educators and administrators of students with disabilities.  All Special Services Workshops are held at Puget Sound ESD in Renton, WA (unless otherwise noted). Clock hours are available online at the conclusion of each workshop for an additional fee.

Questions about upcoming PD's? Contact Keely at KHogan@psesd.org

Register on PdEnroller.org                 Claim & Purchase Clock Hours

  • Conflict Engagement Series w/ Greg Abell • Nov. 7 / Nov. 20 / Dec. 9, 2019 / Jan. 13 / Jan. 22 / April 1, 2020 • information and registration HERE
  • Universal Design for Learning: Responding to Learner Variability w/ Amy Okeze • Nov. 18, 2019 • information and registration HERE
  • WA-AIM Training w/ Toni Wheeler • Nov. 20, 2019 • information and registration HERE 
  • Providing Specially Designed Instruction in Inclusive Settings w/ Laura Matson • Nov. 25, 2019 • information and registration HERE
  • Discipline Policy Updates and Proactive Approaches for Positive Behavior w/ Lee Collyer and Joshua Lynch • Dec. 4, 2019 • information and registration HERE
  • Best Practices in Literacy Instruction w/ Jorge Preciado • Feb. 25, 2020
  • Co-Teaching 101 w/ Laura Matson and Leslie Nielsen • Feb. 26, 2020
  • Spring Data Dive w/ Scott Raub • March 31, 2020
  • Disproportionality Summit • Aug. 4-5, 2020

 

 

Network Meetings

Special Services '19/'20 Network Meetings

Creating strong communities of professionals who support and assist one another to improve services for students with special needs is a critical service provided by our program.  We hope you will consider attending the Network Meeting that best fits your needs! If you would like more information about any of our network meetings, please contact Keely at KHogan@psesd.org.

LEA Special Education Directors’ Network

Designed to support district special education directors and administrators, this network provides leaders with opportunities to stay current with special education trends, practices and requirements through presentations, discussions, updates and collaboration with community agencies.  These meetings are typically scheduled for the 3rd Thursday of the month from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm in the Cedar/Duwamish rooms. Remote access to these meetings are also available via zoom and monthly resources can be found on Schoology.  Please email khogan@psesd.org if you would like to be added to the email list.

2019/’20 Meeting Dates: Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 21, Jan. 16, Feb. 20, March 19, April 16 and May 20

 

Disproportionality PLC

New this year following select LEA meetings from 12 - 2:30pm in the Snoqualmie Room, our Disporportionality PLC will utilize the book, Solving Disproportionality and Achieving Equity: A Leader’s Guide to Using Data to Change Hearts and Minds, as we work to support district leaders in identifying policy and practice root causes for disproportionality and develop action plans to address systemic and structural changes across districts. Lunch is provided. No cost for this PLC however registration is required through pdenroller. Space is limited, please register HERE

2019/’20 PLC Dates:  Oct. 17, Nov. 21, Jan. 16 and March, 19

 

Early Childhood Special Education Coordinators’ Network  

Designed to support district special education staff who supervise and coordinate special education preschool services, this network provides leaders with opportunities for facilitated discussions, sharing of current practices, review of evidence based practices and compliance requirements.  These meeting are typically scheduled for the 4th Thursday of the month from 12:30-3:00 pm in the Puyallup room.  This network uses an online collaboration tool, Schoology, for ongoing resources and the ability to join remotely via Zoom. Registration not required to attend. 

2019/’20 Meeting Dates: Sept. 26, Oct. 31, Jan. 23, Feb. 27, March 26, April 23, May 28

 

Behavior Network

Designed to support district behavior specialists and those who supervise special education behavior services, this network meets three times per year, typically on Tuesdays from 9am-12pm in the Cedar Room, and provides leaders with opportunities to deepen their knowledge and professional practices related to the design, coaching and delivery of positive behavior supports in the classroom and school setting. This network also uses the online collaboration tool, Schoology, for ongoing discussions and file sharing.  Registration not required to attend.

2019/’20 Meeting Dates:  Oct. 22, Jan.14 and May 12

 

Transition Network  

Designed for district transition specialists and those who supervise special education transition services, this network provides leaders with opportunities to deepen their knowledge and professional practices related to the design and delivery of services that support students with disabilities to successfully transition from the public school setting to post-secondary education and/or training, employment and independent living. This network provides opportunities for networking with representatives from community agencies that can assist with students’ successful post-secondary transition.  The network meets four times per year on Fridays from 9-12pm in the Cedar/Duwamish Rooms and uses the online collaboration tool, Schoology, for ongoing discussions and file sharing. Registration not required to attend.

2019/’20 Meeting Dates:  Nov. 1, Jan. 24, March 6, May 8

 

Newer Sped Director PLC  

Designed to support administrators who are new (less than 5 years) to their role as a special education administrator, this informal Professional Learning Group meets three times a year to learn from more experienced administrators about topics such as Advocacy and Collaboration, Finances and Budgets, and Instructional Leadership. Meetings are from 9am-11am in the Snoqualmie Room. Please register on pdenroller HERE

2019/’20 Meeting Dates: Dec. 20, March 13, June 5

 

Resources

Special Services Resources

Section 504 Resources and Support The Section 504 Manual is a document to assist school districts in serving their students with disabilities in a way that assures a quality education that is in compliance with state and federal laws.

Special Education Resources: Find resources and links related to special education below: Developmental Disabilities and Autism

Dyslexia

Early Childhood/Special Education Birth-3 Services

Early Childhood Outcomes Project

Family Resource Coordinator Training and Information

General

Preschool Inclusion

Response to Intervention (Response to Intervention (RTI)

Sensory Disabilities

Transition

Washington State

ESA Certification

ESA Certification Course

SPRING ESA REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

WINTER ESA REGISTRATION WAITLIST ONLY 

FALL REGISTRATION IS NOW FULL & CLOSED

The Initial ESA Certification Course is intended for those who already have a certification in either nursing, social work, audiology, speech language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy or behavior analysis and want to take their profession into the public school setting.

Puget Sound ESD provides three, Spring, Winter and Fall, 15-hour in-person ESA Certification courses each year that meet Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction's (OSPI) requirements to become ESA certified in WA State (Formerly 30 hours). Attending in person allows you the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals and gain hands-on experience and knowledge from leaders in the field. 

NorthEast Washington ESD 101 out of Spokane also offers an ONLINE version of this training, generally fall, winter and summer, you will need to contact Tracy at tpoindexter-canton@esd101.net  for additional information and registration instructions. 

PLEASE NOTE:
All certification questions should be addressed to OSPI, as we ONLY provide the course necessary to meet the requirements. Once you have completed the course you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Completion to OSPI to obtain your certificate. At OSPI's discretion, they can grant a temporary ESA certification with proof of enrollment in a certification course. 

Please check OSPI’s website for the ESA application process and additional ESA certification requirements.

Upcoming Courses:

FALL 2019 ESA •  Nov. 22 & 23 • 8am-4pm  each day • $250 • FULL

WINTER 2020 ESA • Jan. 31 & Feb. 1 • 8am-4pm each day • $250 • Join Waitlist Here

SPRING 2020 ESA •  May 1 & 2 • 8am-4pm  each day • $250 • Register HERE 

If you have additional questions regarding registration for the ESA Course, please contact Keely at KHogan@PSESD.org

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LENDING LIBRARY

http://WWW.PSESDATLIBRARY.MYTURN.COM

PSESD is committed to supporting student's access to their educational environments and instruction. Assistive technology is defined as any item or equipment that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability.  The Special Services AT Lending Library makes assistive technology equipment and tools available for checkout to school district and educational agency personnel in our region for a trial period.

Ranging from simple time-keepers to iPads complete with AAC technology, these devices may be borrowed and used directly with students to support them in classroom and other educational settings.

How it Works

-After completing an initial opt-in form, equipment may be requested from the online library. Please email ssatlibrary@psesd.org to request the opt-in form. 

-Equipment is made available for pick at the PSESD and is returned at the conclusion of the trial period.

Visit the online library at psesdatlibrary.myturn.com