Professional development programs
I will work with schools to determine their specific professional development needs in special education. I will develop specialized training courses and implement them over a period of time. I particularly favour seminar-type training (instruction) combined with on site (in participants' classrooms) follow-up and consultation. This approach of instruction combined with direct feedback to the participants as they apply the knowledge learned in the seminars enhances skill acquisition.
Key benefits of a comprehensive PD program
- Identification of an area for training enables a school to focus energy in that direction
- Impact of targeted PD is more pronounced
- Teachers are aware of the PD initiative and goals and understand the need to demonstrate the benefits of training in the everyday performance of their duties
- Targeted training focuses on increasing the knowledge and skills of teachers and other staff to a functional level so transfer to daily activities is enhanced
- Follow-up and consultation with participants individually enhances their confidence in utilizing new skills.
Examples of training for organizations include:
- Training program in behaviour management for special education teachers in a school district
- Developed and implemented a training program for staff of residential unit for youth with serious social-emotional and behavioural difficulties
- Designed an Interdisciplinary Training Program for Paraprofessionals working with children, adolescents and adults with disabilities
- Developed and piloted protocol for the evaluation of Educational Assistants
- Designed and implemented training in how to conduct learning support resource team meetings
- Conducted training in the development of Learning Support Plans (IEPs or IPPs)