Special Education Live Online Discussion

A Seat at the Table: The Benefits and Challenges of Special Education: How to Help All Students Succeed

This event occurred on November 16, 2021 3:00 PM EST, but is available to view on-demand.
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Special education has a long and troubled history in the United States – only in the last 50 years have students with learning differences had protections under federal laws. And while most students in special education programs are no longer isolated from their peers the way they once were, the debates over special education and inclusion leave many young people feeling ostracized and unsuccessful.

How can we help educators support students with learning differences? And how can we help students with learning differences feel like they are equal to their peers?

Peter DeWitt will be joined by Superintendent Chaunté Garrett, and other guests to explore these questions and others.

Speaker
Chaunté Garrett
Empowering Learners and Leaders to Excel
Garrett is the superintendent of Rocky Mount Preparatory School, a K-12 campus in North Carolina. Under her leadership, the school has focused on academic growth across content areas and with all subgroups of students by creating equitable learning opportunities. Her school uses a “whole child” approach in which it emphasizes high-quality instruction, STEM learning opportunities, social-emotional learning and services, and college and career preparation.
Lanya (Lane) McKittrick
Senior Research Analyst Center on Reinventing Public Education,
Lanya (Lane) McKittrick is a senior research analyst at the Center on Reinventing Public Education, where she leads projects related to special education and families. She completed her Ph.D. in special education at the University of Northern Colorado and her master’s in organizational leadership at Gonzaga University. Her primary research interests are collaboration and family-professional partnerships. Her research is rooted in her personal experience as a mom to four sons, including two who are deafblind and one with learning disabilities and ADHD. Lane is actively involved in helping families of children with low-incidence disabilities navigate the IEP process.
Mercedes Muñoz
Special Education teacher & Oregon 2020 Teacher of the Year
Mercedes Muñoz is a licensed special education teacher for Portland, Ore., public schools. In 2020, she was named Oregon’s Teacher of the Year. She has taught at Franklin High School since 2013 as an instructional lead, push-in specialist, and a learning center and intensive skills center teacher. Her expertise in the field of education has been recognized by the National Education Association Foundation, World Arts Foundation, Portland Public Schools Excellence in Education Award, and the Oregon Alliance of Black School Educators.
Moderator
Peter DeWitt
Opinion Contributor, Education Week
A former K-5 public school principal turned author, presenter, and leadership coach, Peter DeWitt provides insights and advice for education leaders. He pens an opinion blog for Education Week, Finding Common Ground and is the host of A Seat at the Table.

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