Empowering Special Education Professionals Through the Responsible Use of AI: From IEPs to Insights

“Learn how the responsible use of AI can reduce administrative workload, strengthen professional  decision-making, and create more time to support students.”

Guiding Belief

Artificial Intelligence should enhance, not replace, the professional expertise, judgment, and relationships that are at  the heart of Special Education. When used thoughtfully, ethically, and responsibly, AI allows educators to spend less  time managing paperwork and more time supporting students

Participants will:

1. Explain how the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence can enhance professional practice while maintaining  educator expertise, ethical decision-making, and individualized student support.

2. Evaluate AI tools that responsibly support IEP development, progress monitoring, instructional planning,  communication, and time management.

3. Write and refine effective prompts that generate accurate, efficient, and useful responses for common Special  Education tasks.

4. Use AI to support differentiation, accommodations, modifications, and instructional planning.

 5. Apply ethical, legal, and privacy considerations to ensure the responsible use of AI in Special Education.

 6. Critically evaluate AI-generated content for accuracy, bias, compliance, appropriateness, and educational value. 7. Develop an implementation plan for responsibly integrating AI into daily Special Education workflows while maintaining professional judgment and individualized decision-making

The key components of the training are:

1. Introduction to the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Special Education

2. Understanding strengths, limitations, and responsible AI use

3. AI-supported IEP writing and goal development

4. Progress monitoring and student data analysis

5. Instructional planning, accommodations, and differentiation

6. Scheduling, organization, communication, and workflow management

7. Prompt writing for Special Education tasks.

8. Ethical, Legal, and Responsible AI Use (IDEA, FERPA, and Professional Judgment)

9. Hands-on AI exploration and guided practice

10. Reflection, implementation planning, and next steps 

Presented by Stephanie Lester 

Stephanie Lester brings over 40 years of experience in education as a preschool and elementary teacher, professional development  presenter, author, Child Development college instructor, and educational leader. Her experience includes teaching a Project-Based  Learning multiage K–1 program and serving as an Assistant Principal, Director of Early Childhood Education, and Director of  Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. 

As the owner of S.L. Lester Educational Consulting, LLC, Stephanie partners with schools, districts, Head Start programs, and  educational agencies across Montana and nationwide. She provides customized professional learning, classroom modeling,  individual and team coaching, observation and feedback, administrator support, and collaborative planning. Her consulting helps  educators connect research to practice, use assessment data to guide instruction, develop implementation plans, and monitor  progress through continuous improvement cycles. 

Her areas of expertise include early childhood education, kindergarten readiness, Science of Reading, oral language and literacy, writing,  differentiation, effective instructional practices, MTSS, classroom management, positive behavior supports, executive functioning, mathematics,  science, STEM, Project-Based Learning, paraeducator development, family engagement, and instructional leadership. Stephanie also provides practical training on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in education, including applications for Special Education,  instructional planning, assessment, communication, and educator productivity. She emphasizes professional judgment, student privacy, and  thoughtful implementation. 

Stephanie believes children learn best when they are engaged, supported, and experiencing success. She is the author of Year-Round Project-Based  Activities for STEM and Science Through the Year. She holds a master’s degree in education focused on Curriculum and Instruction, an Administrative  Credential, a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, CLAD and CLASS certifications, and a Program Director Child Development Permit. Outside her consulting work, Stephanie enjoys time with her grandchildren, traveling, gardening, birdwatching, and playing with her dog, Grizzly.