2022-2024 Developing Future Special Educators Grant

21ST CENTURY SPECIAL EDUCATOR

East Stroudsburg University, Northampton Community College, and Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 collaborated to create this video.

The video provides a glance at the history of special education through the Individuals with Disabilities Education (IDEA) law, providing insight for what the law means today for students with disabilities and their families. It highlights the role of special educators and the excitement of future teachers as the they prepare for their work in the field of education.

Credit to Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, PA

Robin Cunconan-Lahr. MS., J.D. Associate Professor & Coordinator, Special Education

WE NEED YOU BECAUSE...

Pocono Mountain School District, in collaboration with Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, and East Stroudsburg University created this video to highlight the important work special education personnel do and the impact they have on students.

Credit to Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, Easton, PA - Dr. Jacquelyn Bartek, East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA - Dr. Gina Scala, and Pocono Mountain School District, Swiftwater, PA - Dr. Marsha Kloss

In July, 2022, forty six Local Education Agencies and Institutes of Higher Education were awarded funds from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education to inspire the next generation of special educators.

Over the next two years, the outcomes of the Developing Future Special Educators Grant include:

The establishment or expansion of experiential learning opportunities aligned to special education career pathways with purposeful recruitment and marketing to future special educators.
The support of current educators in advancing future special educators' knowledge and understanding of the varied opportunities within the field of special education and how to address the social-emotional, behavioral, and/or learning of students with disabilities.
The increased interest of secondary/postsecondary students in pursuing a career as a special educator by providing experiential learning that supports the success of students with disabilities.

Penn State Harrisburg Peer Mentors (January, 2023)

Riverview Jr/Sr High School (December, 2022)

North Allegheny Unified Bocce match (January, 2023)

Follow The Progress of the Grantees

The tables below house information about the Developing Future Special Educator Grantees. Each table includes the names of the grant coordinators (linked to their email addresses), the titles of their Experiential Learning Opportunities (ELOs), and a letter code. The code represents the category for which each ELO is associated. Click on the links to go to the ELO category pages to learn what each of the grantees are planning to implement.

Charter Schools

Agora Cyber Charter School Morgan Witman RISE - Recruiting Innovative Special Educators (Agora to CCP & Widener): C

RISE - Recruiting Innovative Special Educators (CCP to Agora): SO

RISE - Recruiting Innovative Special Educators (sign on bonuses): I

Global Leadership Academy Dashay Love Regular Internship: I

Southwest at Huey Summer Internship: SU

Institutes of Higher Education

Carlow University Crystal Rose Classroom Engagement with Special Education Students: I

DeSales University Danielle Kerns-Sixsmith DeSales Univ. Education Department: I

East Stoudsburg University Gina Scala We Need You...A Media Campaign: C

The 21st Century Special Educator Expo and Video: C

Making Connections WE Need YOU!: C

Eastern University Nicole McKeown Developing Future Special Educators in EDU 201 & 384: I

Holy Family University Maria Agnew Sensory Based Experience - Winter Theme: I

Immaculata University Laura Eisemann Academic Development: I

Partnerships and Outreach: I

Pre-Field Experience Events: SO

Best Buddies Activities: SO

Pennsylvania State University Linda Rhen Attracting (Future) Special Educators - Peer Buddies: SO

Attracting (Future) Special Educators - Careers: C

Robert Morris University Vicki Donne Careers in Special Education: C

Career Path Admission: C

Field Visits: J

Learning Collaborative: I

Intermediate Units

ARIN IU #28 Amy Filipovich Peer Tutoring: I

End of Day Social Skills Supports: SO

Job Shadow: J

Career Exploration: C

Field Trips: C

Capital Area IU #15 Kelli Custer Snack Shack Planning Meetings, Menu Development, Restaurant Depot Field Trip: J

Snack Shack Soft Start and Operations: J

Chester County IU #24 Andrea Vaughn Accommodations Practice Techniques in Action: I

Insights to Behavior and Special Education: I

Higher Ed Special Education Meet & Greet Field Trip: C

Sensory Path Project: I

Colonial IU #20 Jacquelyn Bartek Exploratory Trips for Secondary Students to Tour ESU: SO

Future Special Educators Professional Learning Opportunities: I

Special Education Exploration, Observation, & Career Opportunities: C

We Need You Because...Attract & Recruit Video: C

Intermediate Unit #1 Kristin Szewczyk Peer Volunteer Opportunities: SU

Disability Awareness Summit: C

School Districts: Central Region

Bellefonte Area Jennifer Butterworth Sunny Nook Greenhouse: J

Central Cambria Melissa Shaffer Educating the Present for a Better Future: C

Unified Champion Sports: EC

Keystone Central Elizabeth Barnhart Future Special Educators Club: EC

Northern Tioga Kierstan Le Special Education Internship Opportunity: I

Palmyra Area Kathy Setlock Exploring the Field of Special Education: SO

Reading Area Andrew Ogot Aspiring Special Educators Club: EC

School Districts: Eastern Region

Central Bucks Meghann Campbell Connect with a Coach: J

Unified Physical Education: SO

Chester Upland Dontae Wilson CUSD Special Education Experiential Learning Opportunity: I

Daniel Boone Shelly Mieczkowski Dual Credit Classes: I

Job Shadowing and Internships: C

School Districts: Western Region

Baldwin Whitehall Marissa Gallagher IGNITE - Special Education Pathway: I

Bethel Park Julie Hernandez Student Teaching Peer Assistant: SO

Best Buddies Club Activities/Community Outreach: SO

Copy Center: J

Replicated Reality - PAES Lab: I

Deer Lakes Lindsay McGaughey Bring Students In: SO

Coffee Shop: J

Information and Training: C

Develop Job Readiness Skills: SU

Dubois Area Robert Kriner The Next Step Program: C

College Connection: C

Learning Lab: I

Gateway Don Holl Unified Bocce Team: EC

General McLane Michael Cannata FSE Education Academy: I

Unified Sports: EC

Grove City Area Jennifer Connelly High School Students as Future Education Leaders: SO

Highlands Cathleen Cubelic Building Future Educators Through Inclusion: C

Indiana Area Justin Zahorchak Special Education Mentoring: SO

Ligonier Valley Edward Moran Creation of a Bocce Unified Sports Program: EC

North Allegheny Joseph Sciullo Unified Sports: EC

North Hills Kevin McKiernan Partners in PE: SO

Unified Sports: EC

Pittsburgh Public School Hope Warner Career Pathway Presentation and Toolkit: C

Enhanced Student Recruitment: C

Student Job Shadowing Opportunities: C

Student Teaching Collaborative for Special Education: C

River Valley Kathy Monko Developing Future Special Educators: I

Riverside Beaver County Emily Smith Rising Riverside Educators: I

Riverview Michael MacConnell Inclusive Leaders Club: SO

Student Farm Market: J

Unified Bocce: EC

Upper Saint Clair Cassandra Doggrell Showing How Opportunity Pays at Ft Couch (SHOP@Ft.Couch): J

SHOP@USC Storefront: J

Extended School Year Volunteer Teacher Assistant Program: SU

Future Teachers of America (FTA) Club: C

Community Based Learning: Special Education: C

West Allegheny Tammy Adams West A Café: J

Future Teachers Club: C

Unified Sports: EC

Experiental Learning Opportunity (ELO) Categories

Click on the icons to view the work of the grantees within each ELO category.

Career Exploration (C)

Extra Curricular (EC)

Instructional (I)

Job Related (J)

Social (S)

Summer (SU)

Grantee Workshops

Engaging in professional development is a requirement for grantees. The purpose is to pass along key concepts to the students participating in the experiential learning opportunities so they have successful and productive interactions with students with disabilities. During the 2022-2023 school year, workshop topics include: