Field Exp B Week 5 SPD 510
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School
Grand Canyon University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
SPD 510-05
Subject
Law
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
5
Uploaded by MinisterDiscovery16421
Reflection on Interviews- Week 5- SPD-510
As a future special educator, I will have a professional responsibility to be a self-directed
learner. This means I should always look for and locate information relevant and current to
issues and policies within the state and district I plan to work in.
A lifelong learner teacher is
strongly aware of the relationship between learning and real life, recognizes the need for lifelong
learning and is highly motivated to engage in the process, and has the necessary confidence and
learning skills (ICIEE, 2015).
Special education teachers have a professional and ethical
responsibility to have a vast amount of knowledge on policies, and procedures to stay current
in legislation. Understanding the way laws work, while helping students and families, guides
them in the right direction with positive enforcement.
Understanding their child is in a caring environment and receiving the appropriate services
makes everyone less stressed and that is helpful when it comes to serving the students’ needs.
As the recognized leader for special education professional standards, the Council for
Exceptional Children, CEC, develops standards, ethics and practices and guidelines to ensure
that individuals with exceptionalities and their families receive the free and appropriate
education they are entitle (UOH, 2023). As I learned through my interviews this week procedural
safeguards need to be in place and leaders like the CEC help guide this process and ensure rules
are being followed.
During the interviews I noticed how passionate each teacher was. I also noticed how
overwhelmed and busy they were. I live in a district that is very low on teachers in general and
even lower on special education teachers and support staff for those with disabilities. Each
teacher mentioned how important documentation is. The main consensus is following the law,
document everything, and take care of yourself by regrouping each night to be the best you can
be each day. The more I work with teachers and interview teachers I see a common theme of
burn out. It was sad to hear in one of the interviews that the lead teacher did not feel like she was
getting the support she needs within the district. If educators are burnt out all the time and
receive no support, then the children will likely suffer in ways we do not realize. I see the
teachers in my district doing the best they can with what they have now.
References
ICIEE. 2015. Teachers Becoming Lifelong Learners.
2015iciee_india46.pdf (cberuk.com)
UOH. 2023. At A Glance: CEC Standards.
Microsoft Word - At A Glance CEC Standards.doc
(weebly.com)
Field Experience
John Hedglen-Special Education Teacher Consultant-Monroe ISD-Jefferson Middle
School
1.
How do you stay current on special education issues and policies?
ISD runs professional development offerings provided either at ISD or webinar. Monthly staff
meetings to be monitored and if needed put together professional development and SPED
teams collaborate and see if anything is overlooked. Always review policies and see if changes
are needed in the practice.
2.
Do you attend regular board meetings or professional conferences? If so, which and
why?
No, I do not attend board meetings. They post the minutes to review and check them out when
needed. I am different as far as that goes and stay in my lane.
3.
Do you have an affiliation with any professional organizations outside of the school
district? What are the benefits of participating in a professional organization that
promotes special education?
No, we have all the resources needed inside the school.
4.
How do you relay current special education issues and policies to school employees?
We do training but they are more so best practices. We look at that opposed to the law because
best practices are being informed. EX para doesn’t need to know the law but how to handle it.
CPI training can involve the law depending on restraint or physical. Understanding kids with
anxiety and basic accommodations. 2
nd
nature but they don’t get. Trauma informed and
understanding how the brain works. How does the brain work to deal with the problems.
Training on autism because it is becoming more prevalent.
5.
What are the challenges in keeping all employees up-to-date regarding current special
education issues and policies?
Time to roll it out because when you have pro development times there’s always something
going on.
6.
What are some of the ramifications you have experienced when current special
education policies are not followed?
Out of compliance on IEP (example) transition monitoring, timeliness, exclusions do corrective
action and that results in PD rolled out to be retrained on how to do things properly. Corrective
action trainings
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Mediation had an advocate come in and reported to the state for no compliance responding to
referral and we had to go through process with a mediator.
7.
What was the best advice you received to help you become better in your
field/position?
Don’t take it home with you
You are always serving ppl it is better to serve than to be served. Helping ppl position it wears
on you and gets difficult, so you must keep it at. Plenty of self-care and renewing daily,
8.
What professional advice do you have for future special education teachers?
Same as above. Try not to be resistant to change and be willing to get out of your comfort zone
because teachers work on a schedule and become creatures of habit. Set a schedule you don’t
want to break but you can be refreshed if you are willing to change and adapt. New things
make you not as fearful and offer more rewards.
Field Experience
Hope Cousino-Lead Special Education Teacher-Jefferson Middle School
1.
How do you stay current on special education issues and policies?
Unfortunately, I have not stayed current. In the past I had to rely on my
employer/supervisor to bring my team the relevant issues.
2.
Do you attend regular board meetings or professional conferences? If so, which and
why?
I am new in this district and do not attend board meetings because I do not live in
this district, and it is a bit of a distance to drive back and forth. I have not had the
pleasure of attending professional conferences this year. I have not because the
district has not shared any professional conferences.
3.
Do you have an affiliation with any professional organizations outside of the school
district? What are the benefits of participating in a professional organization that
promotes special education?
The only professional organization I belong to is the union, JEA. They have
brought issues to the staff that are being "hidden" from the staff and the public.
4.
How do you relay current special education issues and policies to school employees?
When there are new special education issues and policies, a staff meeting is held
and shared with all the teaching staff.
5.
What are the challenges in keeping all employees up to date regarding current special
education issues and policies?
Getting the correct information from the local ISD is a big challenge currently. I
have discovered that getting information from the supervisor of the region is
difficult because does not agree with the staff of my school building and does not
attend regular meetings.
6.
What are some of the ramifications you have experienced when current special
education policies are not followed?
When policies are not followed, “corrective action" has to take place. This could
be a corrective IEP, hiring of new staff etc. I expect that the ramification will
depend on what policies are not followed. I am not aware that this has happened
at my current employer.
7.
What was the best advice you received to help you become better in your
field/position?
Take it one day at a time; work smarter not harder.
8.
What professional advice do you have for future special education teachers?
Cover your butt; document everything; don't give up; try different things; don't
take things personally; over prepare - it is better to have more than less; don't be
afraid to make mistakes.