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 Behavior Network and Trauma Informed Practices, please contact Amy

Erin Stewart, Program Director • estewart@psesd.org • 425-917-7826

For questions regarding OSSI, BEST Mentor and Disproportionality Network, please contact Erin

aNDREW MITCHELL, Program Manager • aMITCHELL@psesd.org • 425-917-7707

For questions regarding Charter School support, Assistive Technology Lending Library and para-educator training, please contact Andrew

Keely Hogan, Program coordinator • khogan@psesd.org• 425-917-7627

For questions regarding workshop registration, event flyers, pdenroller, clock hours, facilities and schedules, please contact Keely

Laura Matson, Program Director • lmatson@psesd.org• 425-917-7823

For questions regarding Special Education Leaders' Network and Section 504, please contact Laura

Abby Smith, Program Manager • asmith@psesd.org • 425-917-7712

For questions regarding ESSA, Post Secondary Transition Planning and Transition Network, please contact Abby

COURTNEY O'CATHERINE, PROMGRAM MANAGER • COCATHERINE@PSESD.ORG • 425-917-7823

For questions regarding Special Education Early Childhood and Early Childhood Network, please contact Courtney

2020-2021 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. Special Services Workshops will be held virtually via Zoom until we have been cleared to return to our in-person Renton location. 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

Network Meetings

Special Services 2020-2021 Network Meetings & Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)

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.

For the beginning of the 2020-2021 School Year we will be holding shortened virtual meetings with hopes we will be able to meet in person again soon! This year we will be moving off of Schoology and onto our PSESD Canvas site to share and store resources and materials. Please email KHogan@psesd.org for the correct link to join our Canvas Platform. Clock hours are available.

View the PDF version of the Network and PLC Schedule HERE

Special Education Leaders’ Network

Designed to support district special education leaders, this network provides opportunities to stay current with special education trends, practices and requirements through presentations, discussions, updates and collaboration with community agencies.

Monthly communication containing timely and pertinent information is emailed to our contact list through the Constant Contact Platform. If you would like to be added to this list, please email khogan@psesd.org

Register to attend this network monthly from 9-10:30am virtually on Zoom HERE

2020/’21 Meeting Dates: Sept. 10, 2020 • Oct. 8, 2020 • Nov. 12, 2020 • Jan. 21, 2021 • Feb. 18, 2021 • March 18, 2021 • April 15, 2021 • May 20, 2021

Special Education Early Childhood 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.

Register to attend this network from 12:30-2pm virtually on Zoom HERE

2020/’21 Meeting Dates: Sept. 24, 2020 • Nov. 12, 2020 • Feb. 25, 2021 • April 22, 2021

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.

Register to attend this network from 9-10:30am virtually on Zoom HERE

2020/’21 Meeting Dates: Oct. 2, 2020 • Dec. 4, 2020 • Feb. 5, 2021 • April 2, 2021

Behavior Network

Designed to support district behavior specialists and those who supervise special education behavior services, this network 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.

Register to attend this network from 9-10:30am virtually on Zoom HERE

2020/’21 Meeting Dates: Nov.9, 2020 • Feb. 8, 2021 • May 10, 2021

Disproportionality Network

This network is designed to support school and special education leaders with implementing practices to effectively address the disproportionate representation and outcomes for children of color. Participants will have an opportunity to deepen their learning and knowledge related to the reduction of special education disproportionality, focus on identifying policy/practice root causes, and develop an action plan to address systemic and structural changes.

Register to attend this network from 1-2:30pm virtually on Zoom HERE

2020/’21 Meeting Dates: Oct. 22, 2020 • Dec. 3, 2020 • March 25, 2021

ESA PLC

PSESD is excited to provide a collaborative space for educational staff associates (ESAs) focused on providing services to and on behalf of students with disabilities, to meet during the 2020-21 school year. This virtual space is offered through Zoom for school-based professionals to identify commonalities and challenges they face in our current context. They may choose to focus on specific topics for new learning or use problems of practice improving their skills and knowledge by engaging in collaborative exchange of resources and professional dialogue.

Register to attend this PLC from 3-4pm virtually on Zoom HERE

2020/’21 Meeting Dates: Oct. 28, 2020 • Jan. 27, 2021 • March 31, 2021 • May 26, 2021

Transition Practices for Teachers PLC

PSESD is excited to provide a collaborative space for middle and high school classroom staff around practices related to designing and providing Post-Secondary Transition Services for students with disabilities. This virtual space, offered through Zoom, will provide participants with opportunities to discuss practices, share resources and learn from others. Topics discussed will be guided by the PSESD Special Services 2020-2021 theme of CALM: Center the student, Apply Health and Safety Guidelines, Lead with equity and Maximize meaningful family participation, as well as the Transition Services Flowchart from the Center for Change in Transition Services (CCTS). The CCTS flowchart includes transition practices related to Age Appropriate Transition Assessments, Measurable Post-Secondary Goals, Transition Services and Course of Study.

Register to attend this PLC from 3:30-4:30pm virtually on Zoom HERE

2020/’21 Meeting Dates: Nov. 9, 2020 • Jan. 11, 2021 • March 8, 2021 • May 10, 2021

Regional PLC for Educators Working with Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

This virtual professional learning community will provide educators the opportunity to collaborate, share resources, and learn from other job-alike colleagues. The focus is implementing instruction for students with significant cognitive disabilities within the context of continuous learning. The hour-long sessions will provide structure for educators to engage in discussions with colleagues about instructional design and delivery, partnering with families, collaborating with staff, and progress monitoring. You do not need to participate in all sessions. Please join when it is convenient for you and share with others who may be interested.

Register to attend this PLC from 3:30-4:30pm virtually on Zoom HERE

2020/’21 Meeting Dates: Sept. 29, 2020 • Nov. 17, 2020 • Jan. 26, 2021 • March 16, 2021 • May 25, 2021

AT Lending Library

Assistive Technology Lending Library

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

ESA Certification

ESA Certification Course

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. This is NOT the correct ESA track to becoming a School Counselor.

Puget Sound ESD provides four 15-hour 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. 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. However, we will be offering this training virtually through Zoom during the COVID19 pandemic. Participants should plant to participate and be fully engaged, as if they were in person, during the entire 15 hour online training.

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 Nora at nvralsted-thomas@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:

SPRING 2021: June 4, 11 & 18; 8am-1pm (must attend all three days)

register HERE

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

Resources

Special Services Resources