When we hear the term “mentor,” most of us conjure up an image of an older, wiser person who has positively impacted our lives. For me, it was Art Nierenberg, founder of Breakthrough Disability. He was twenty years older than me and so much wiser! He organized breakthrough workshops that were amazing opportunities to learn how to have a bigger impact in the lives and conditions of individuals with disabilities.

Are your students in charge of their own success?

Who is responsible for your students’ success?

Over the last ten years, as I’ve been in hundreds of classrooms as an Inclusion Coach, I’ve talked with teachers and watched their student interactions.

If you really want to learn, find a coach!

Does your school use coaching services to support professional learning?

I have worked with several districts that employ instructional coaches, literacy coaches, and math coaches. Recently, I’ve started to ask, “Why not Inclusion Coaches?”

In Search of the special hearted….

I’m looking for courageous educators committed to transforming large-scale special education systems.

Which do you see?

I discovered this drawing on social media and stopped to reflect. Pause a moment to notice what each sees in the other.

Which do you empower?

We all look toward the future and ask “What if?” But the thinking behind the question makes a huge difference in our outcomes.

What message would YOU give to families of transitioning youth?

Who says you can’t go back?

Last Saturday, I was the keynote speaker at the Baltimore County Transition Expo in Timonium. It’s been 20 years since their last Transition Expo, and I was probably there. Deja vu!

Last weekend I attended a Women’s Leadership Summit with the theme “The time is now!” The spirit of stepping forward to lead has stayed with me, haunting my thoughts and inspiring me to action.

Can we be honest?

Special education services in this country aren’t working.

Do you ever get tired of keeping going? You know that you’re onto something that could make a difference, but you’re not sure if others get it? You know you can’t accomplish your mission if you’re doing it alone, but where are the others going to come from?

“The IEP must be reasonably calculated to enable the child to make appropriate progress in light of the child’s circumstances. ”

— Endrew F Supreme Court ruling, March 2017

Have you heard about the Endrew F. vs. Douglas County Supreme Court ruling? Get ready for a tsunami of change.