Presenter: Kristi Jordan, Ph.D., Special Education Evaluation Consultant

Room: Maple (Second Floor)

This session provides comprehensive guidance on conducting special education reevaluations in compliance with Federal and Texas state regulations and best practices. Participants will gain an understanding of the reevaluation process, sources of data collection, legal requirements, and collaboration with key stakeholders. Overall, this workshop will equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to conduct effective special education reevaluations in compliance with Texas state regulations and best practices. 

No handouts will be provided 

Presenter: Jessica Kelley, M.S., CCC/SLP, Speech & Language Pathologist

Room: Maverick/Real (First Floor)

Are you wanting to train your staff on proactive best practices to meet student communication needs and support a positive school climate? Join us as we explore the Response to Intervention (RTI) process for Special Education, Speech and Language referrals through the multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework. During this session one will gain knowledge of the benefits of applying RTI for early identification and support of students with communication difficulties in the classroom. Attend this session to receive an overview of Response to Intervention (RTI), multi-tier educational approach for Speech and Language. We will review the foundational components that make up Response to Intervention (RTI) including the different tiers and considerations for implementing it with students who show communication difficulties. Participants will review speech and language developmental norms, intervention strategies, and the special education referral process. Participants will learn how data collection, progress monitoring, and collaboration can be useful components in identifying speech impairments for eligible students. This session is appropriate for Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs), general education teachers, special education teachers, administrators, and anyone else interested in learning more about the Response to Intervention (RTI) process for Speech and Language. 

Resources: Handout 

Presenter: Janet Enriquez, Ph.D., Consultant, Autism

Room: La Salle/Medina (First Floor)

During this session, participants will review various strategies and procedures for delivering effective, high-quality instruction for learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The focus will be on evidence-based interventions that include addressing the core areas of ASD, namely communication and social-related skills. Specific procedures to improve instructional engagement skills will be emphasized, as well as instructional procedures for both individual and small group sessions. 

No handouts will be provided for session 

Presenters: Shelly Bybee, Consultant, Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Amanda Gonzales, Consultant, School Safety

Room: Mesquite (Second Floor)

Safety is a priority for schools across the state and nation. Critical to school safety is an organized and practiced response to any incident that may occur. When planning for emergency management, schools need to take an inclusive and equitable approach which means considering the needs of the most vulnerable populations first. For students with disabilities including students with limited communication access and/or verbal capabilities as well as for students who have full communication abilities (as different situations call for different ways to communicate), it is imperative to have multiple layers of communication to meet the needs of ALL students. In this session we will discuss considerations when planning for school preparedness as well as instructional strategies to assist special (and general) populations to remain safe when presented with incidences and emergencies. Participants will have a chance to draft ideas about creating safety protocols to account for varying levels of communication and situations. 

Resources: Slides and Handouts 

Presenter: Janie Watteau, Statewide Special Education Liaison and Erika Guerrero, Statewide Special Education Liaison  

Room: Riverwalk (Ground Floor)  

Do you feel like you are always trying to solve a problem with a bandaid solution? In this session, you were learn how to solve a problem through a root cause analysis approach and not a bandaid approach. It is known as design thinking. Design Thinking is a non-linear, iterative process that teams use to understand users, challenge assumptions, redefine problems and create innovative solutions to prototype and test. Come join us for a one hour session as design thinkers. 

Resources provided during session 

Presenter: Goldie Tappan, Consultant, Dyslexia and Related Disorders

Room: Wilson, Uvalde, Zavala (First Floor)

Participants will take a dive into the lesson cycle of one of the more commonly used curriculums to have a better understanding of what proficient implementation looks like.

Resources: Slides

Presenter: Ravin Masker, Consultant, Inclusive Practices 

Room: La Villita/ Fiesta (Ground Floor)

Join us as we review Annual, Review and Dismissal (ARD) expectations and learning to navigate through contentious ARDS. Participants will learn the intricacies of ARD facilitation from foundational principles to legal authorities and collaborate with peers through a series of case study examples. 

No handouts will be provided