S11 E15 The Power of Reflection: How One School District Transformed Education for All Learners: Otter Voice Meeting Notes

S11 E15 The Power of Reflection: How One School District Transformed Education for All Learners

Tim Villegas1h 12min

Tim Villegas

00:03

Hi friends, it's Tim Villegas from the Maryland Coalition for inclusive education. And you've hit play on our podcast called think inclusive, where we have conversations about inclusive education, and what inclusion looks like in the real world. We often get asked about how school districts become inclusive. Was it because of a group of families that got together and advocated for change? Did it start because of a directive from the State Department of Education, or perhaps it was a school leader who made a commitment to move toward inclusive practices. On this week's episode of thinking cluesive We made two individuals, a researcher and a school leader who are here to tell you about how one school district and Maryland made a commitment to include each and every learner.

Tim Villegas

01:11

Dr. Kristen Burnett is an assistant professor of special education at East Carolina University. She has 17 years of experience working with students with extensive support needs and 11 years of classroom experience. She completed her PhD at the University of North Carolina Greensboro focusing on inclusive education for students with extensive support needs. During her doctoral program, she served as a graduate assistant for the tide center, the OSF National Technical Assistance Center that focused on inclusive education and systemic change. Christine Bechdel is the supervisor of special education for Carroll County Public Schools in Maryland, and has been in the field of special education for 28 years. Mrs. Bechdel is dedicated to equity particularly for students with disabilities, earning a post baccalaureate certification in equity and excellence in education from McDaniel College in 2019. Among many other roles within CCPs Mrs. Bechdel currently serves as the chair of CCPs is district inclusion team. In this week's episode, Kristen and Christine discuss their experience with systems change work in inclusive education. They highlight the importance of reflection and action planning and creating sustainable change. They emphasize the need for multiple layers of leadership and collaboration between general and special education teachers, and they share the stories of students benefiting from inclusive practices and the positive impact on school culture. Do you believe that all children with and without disabilities deserve to reach their potential through inclusive education? If so, you will love Brooks publishing the premier publisher of books and tools on early childhood, special education, communication and language and more. Brooks publishing has been partnering with top experts for over 40 years to bring you the best resources for your classroom, clinic or home. To learn more, visit Brooks publishing.com. To browse their catalogue, read their blog, explore their free resource library and sign up for their newsletter. Brooks publishing, helping you make a difference in the lives of all children. And just for thinking cluesive listeners visit bi T dot L y slash Brooks dash giveaway dash 0124 to put your name in to win a copy of the educators handbook for inclusive school practices by Julie Causton. And Chelsea P Tracy Bronson. We will be taking names until the end of the month. I know I say this a lot. But I am so very excited for you to listen to our guests stories. After a short break my interview with Kristin brunette, and Christine Bechdel. And for free time this week, I'm sharing my conversation with Dr. Burnett students from East Carolina University about what it was like seeing inclusive practices in real life.

Tim Villegas

04:45

Kristen Burnett and Christine Bechdel. Welcome to think inclusive.

Unknown Speaker

04:51

Thank you.

Unknown Speaker

04:51

Thanks for having me, sir. Thanks for having us. Of

Tim Villegas

04:54

course. All right, so Kristin, I saw a I saw your presentation at TASH in December of 2022. And it was fantastic. And I remember I ran after you after you it was done. And I said, Kristen, can you like, can you tell me what district it was in Maryland? And you're like, No, I can't. And I'm like, oh, okay, well, the reason why is because I'd love to have you on, think inclusive and talk about your research and just some takeaways, because, you know, people are really interested in how we do this whole systems change work. And so then you connect me with Christine. So thank you for being here. And so I would love to ask a few questions about, you know, what your experience was in this work, and how we can start replicating it in other districts across the country. So thanks, again. Yeah. So could each of you explain your role in either the research or the process. So and I don't know who wants to go first. But just like, what your what your role was? Sure.

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