Weekly Update (1.19.2017)
TEA Information
TEA launches #IAmTXEd
New social media campaign spotlights Texas educator success stories
Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced the official launch of #IAmTXEd, a new social media campaign intended to share the ongoing success stories of Texas teachers in the classroom.
The #IAmTXEd campaign collects and shares the stories of Texas educators whose work is leading to greater student outcomes and achievements. The social media posts are shared statewide each week via Texas Education Agency (TEA) Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
“There is no shortage of great work taking place in classrooms all across our state every school day,” said Commissioner Morath. “Each week, this social media campaign allows everyone to see just how rigorous the teaching profession can be and how our educators are working hard to secure the future of Texas.”
Stories from the campaign will feature teachers providing rigorous and rewarding academic experiences; highlight the critical role that educators play in students’ lives; showcase teachers driving student achievement, a love of learning and personal growth; and/or exhibit instances in which educators go above and beyond to provide meaningful learning experiences inside and outside the classroom.
The first #IAmTXEd stories have highlighted the work of educators in the Presidio, Duncanville, Lubbock and Northwest independent school districts. Their stories reached approximately 40,000 people via social media.
TEA has solicited submissions to the #IAmTXEd campaign directly from school districts and charters and plans to publish stories from every region of the state. To see submissions and to learn more about the #IAmTXEd campaign, visit TEA on social media. For questions regarding the campaign or to submit a story, please email
For Your Information
Intervention IDEAs Information Briefs
OSERS' Office of Special Education Programs is pleased to announce the release of three documents as part of the new Intervention IDEAs information brief series.
"Our best chances will be when we work across disciplines and share the best of what we know. Exposure to lead, opioids, and alcohol may result in significant developmental and learning and behavioral challenges that affect the medical and educational communities," said Sue Swenson, Deputy Assistant Secretary, delegated the authority to perform the functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary forOSERS. "We needed to highlight the best we know for parents, providers and educators to ensure that we are giving every child the future opportunities he or she deserves."
These documents provide information on interventions to address academic and behavioral challenges in infants, toddlers, children, and youth impacted by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), lead exposure, and opioids. Each brief includes a description of the issue, examples of practices associated with the interventions, quality indicators, or measures of the positive impacts that may occur as a result of the intervention, and links to additional resources.
The briefs offer links to resources from numerous federal agencies, such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They also cite data and statistics from nationally recognized researchers on these topics.
Alvin ISD Networking Meeting Opportunity
Maximizing our Resources! Alvin ISD will be hosting aSpecial Education Instructional Networking Meeting onFriday, January 27, 2017, from1:00 PM to 4:00 PMat Shadow Creek High School (11850 Broadway, Pearland, TX 77584). Topic of discussion will be what tools various districts are using to prepare students for online testing. Participants will share information, strategies and resources with area districts in order to maximize our collective resources. There will be an elementary and secondary break out session. If you would like to send one or more people from your district, please RSVP to Wanda Pettijohn .
Joint Statement on Collaboration and Coordination of the MIECHV and IDEA Part C Programs:
Creating a high-quality system of services and supports for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families
The purpose of this joint statementfrom the U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Health and Human Services (HHS)(the Departments), is to set a vision for stronger partnerships, collaboration, and coordination between awardees of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C Program (IDEA Part C Program). Specifically, this joint statement provides recommendations to states, territories, and tribal entities to identify and enhance opportunities for collaboration and coordination between MIECHV and the IDEA Part C Program.
Effective collaboration and coordination across MIECHV and the IDEA Part C Program can create a high-quality system of services and supports for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. It is the position of both Departments that all infants and toddlers and their families should have access to coordinated, comprehensive services that support overall health, development, and wellness. This joint ED and HHS statement aims to advance this position by:
· Providing an overview of the MIECHV and the IDEA Part C Programs;
· Emphasizing the potential for collaboration and coordination between MIECHV awardees and the IDEA Part C State programs;
· Highlighting existing opportunities for partnerships between MIECHV awardees and the IDEA Part C State programs; and
· Providing recommendations to states, territories, tribal entities, and local programs for identifying and increasing opportunities for collaboration and coordination.
Download:
Joint Policy Statement on Collaboration and Coordination of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part C Programs(PDF, 1.0MB)
Region 4 Upcoming Professional Development
Autism and Self-Determination: Teaching Skills across the Life Span
Join this session to learn more about the development of self-determination skills in individuals with autism. Most students leave high school with self-determination skills that are sufficient to help them continue their education and attain employment. However, many students with autism do not develop these skills resulting in limited future opportunities. In this session, participants will learn 1) what self-determination is and why it is important, 2) how to assess self-determination skills, and 3) how to promote self-determination starting at an early age and continuing into adulthood.
Session ID: 1260235
Dates: January 23, 2017
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $35
Contact information: Cathy Williams, , 713.744.6801
Structured Teaching: It's More Than Just Work Systems, A 3-Day Series
Join this 3-day series to gain in-depth information on creating a structured classroom to support the learning and behavior of students with autism and other disabilities. During this professional development series, participants will learn 1) the principles and research base for structured teaching; 2) how to apply structured teaching principles to support students of varying ages and ability levels; 3) how to implement structured teaching in a variety of settings including special education classrooms, general education classrooms, and the community; 4) how to teach students to use structured teaching components; and 5) how to “re-structure” systems when students are not responding positively. Participants will also create materials, use these materials to practice implementing structured teaching in their classrooms through “homework” assignments, and receive feedback.
Session ID: 1224374
Dates: January 24, February 7, and February 28, 2017
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $105
Contact information: Cathy Williams, , 713.744.6801
Verbal Behavior: Teaching Communication Skills to Children with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities
Join this session, presented by Dr. Vincent Carbone, to learn more about the behavioral approach to teaching communication skills to children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Participants in the workshop will learn how to 1) conduct a Behavioral Language Assessment, 2) select the most appropriate form of communication for a child (vocal, signing, pointing to or exchanging pictures, or activating an augmentative device), and 3) select the communication responses and supporting skills that should be taught first.The workshop includes the recommended teaching procedures for those children who have no formal communication skills to those who are near conversational speakers. Dr. Carbone will also describe and demonstrate errorless teaching, specific quick-transfer (prompting and fading) procedures, and the use of both discrete trial training in the natural environment and during intensive teaching sessions. Many video tape demonstrations are provided to illustrate the methods to increase spontaneous language and to develop conversation.
Session ID: 1225548
Dates: March 7 & 8, 2017
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $70
Contact information: Cathy Williams, , 713.744.6801
Region 4 Autism Symposium
Join this 3-day symposium to gain the most recent information on autism research and issues related to autism from birth to transition. Keynote speaker, Temple Grandin, Ph.D., will share her personal experiences as an individual with autism. Additionally, leaders in the field, Celine Saulnier, Ph.D., Paula Kluth, Ph.D., and Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D. will provide information regarding research on the etiology and early identification of autism, strategies to support students with autism in the classroom, and issues related to adolescence and early adulthood.
Session ID: 1143551
Dates: August 1, 2, & 3, 2017
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $200
Contact information: Cathy Williams, , 713.744.6801
Maximizing Auditory Potential in Total Communication Classrooms
Explore the concept of auditory access and its implications for students who are deaf and hard of hearingin the Total Communication classroom. Learn to identify the stages of auditory development, as well as what formal and informal assessments are available for listening, language, and speech. Participants will discuss the implementation of auditory teaching strategies, including potential challenges, within the Total Communication classroom.
Session ID: 1233585
Date: 03/08/2017
Time: 8:30a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Region 4
Fee: $45
Contact information: Marina McCormick, , 713.744.6329
Administrative Overview of Co-Teaching Series: Increasing Instructional Intensity
Assist your teachers in obtaining increased instructional intensity in the co-teach classroom by gaining knowledge of highly effective co-teach components. Perform observations and discuss with colleagues the positives and challenges within a co-teaching classroom. Leave with common planning tools for teachers as well as a classroom walk-through tool to enhance co-teach practices.
Session ID: 1238450
Date: 2/16/17
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Region 4 Education Service Center
Fee: $35
Special Education Scheduling (½ day’s am/pm each day)
Learn a data collection process to analyze your student data. In addition, templates will be shared with participants that will provide a hand scheduling process in order to accurately and efficiently schedule a campus special education population as well as evaluate the needs of campus staffing needs. Participants will be provided a one elementary or secondary master scheduling board. Session and materials costs are partially funded through state or federal grants.
Session ID: 1238466 Session ID: 1238467
Date: 3/8/16 Date: 3/8/16
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. or Time: 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Region 4 Location: Region 4
Fee: $25 Fee: $25
Special Education Scheduling (½ day’s am/pm each day)
Learn a data collection process to analyze your student data. In addition, templates will be shared with participants that will provide a hand scheduling process in order to accurately and efficiently schedule a campus special education population as well as evaluate the needs of campus staffing needs. Participants will be provided a one elementary or secondary master scheduling board. Session and materials costs are partially funded through state or federal grants.
Session ID: 1238471 Session ID: 1249682
Date: 4/4/16 Date: 4/4/16
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. or Time: 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Region 4 Location: Region 4
Fee: $25 Fee: $25
Paraprofessionals: Supporting Classroom Management and Behavior
Learn to assist teachers in establishing effective instruction and maintaining classroom routines and procedures. Explore proactive strategies to support the management of the classroom, the students, and the learning environment. Session and materials costs are partially funded through state or federal grants.
Session ID: 1240457
Time: 8:30 a.m. –3:30 p.m.
Date: February 1, 2017
Registration Fee: $35 Location: Region 4 Education Service Center
Contact Information: Cynthia Barrett, Ph.D.,, 713.744.6343