The New Special Education Directors Leadership Institute

The New Special Education Directors Leadership Two Year-Long Institute is a great opportunity for Directors of Special Education and/or Student Services who are new to their roles!

This newly expanded program will provide 2 years of support that exposes participants to new research and approaches in special education. Participants will develop and strengthen proactive management and leadership skills to implement a responsive and legally compliant special education service delivery system in their districts. A mentor will be assigned to help guide you through your learning opportunities. Additionally, you will meet fellow new Directors and create lasting bonds and friendships.  

 

The syllabus for the two year-long program includes content on social emotional learning, cultural proficiency, conflict resolution, addressing equity issues in education, state & federal mandates, data analysis, continuous improvement cycles and the program provides many opportunities for discussion and collaborative problem-solving. Because navigating the role and substantial responsibilities of a Director of Special Education is a highly complex and political undertaking, requiring the leader to develop and strengthen both leadership and management skills, while also staying up-to-date on best practices and compliance, our syllabus weaves four strands throughout this multi session, two year-long experience.

 

  • Leadership – Strengthening administrative leadership to improve teaching and learning and get the most out of your staff;
  • Nuts and Bolts – Efficient operational and compliance oversight to improve outcomes of students with IEPs and protect the rights of students and their families;
  • Equity – Identifying, understanding and improving the equity gap in education through systemic analysis of data and educational practices. We are all part of the solution.
  • Capstone/Mentoring and Small Group Problems of Practice – Put theory into action! Using a Results Driven Accountability (RDA) approach, and the DESE Planning for Success Model, directors will identify a ‘problem of practice’, a targeted area for improvement, chosen by each director based on an ‘equity gap’ unique to your district.

The format of the institute will be a combination of in-person meetings, virtual meetings, mentoring time and asynchronous online time.  

 

Required In Person SUMMER Dates for the Institute: July 17, July 18 and August 24, 2023; 8:00am – 4:00pm

 

Additional dates will be added after the registration period as ended.

 

Location is TBD

 

Please contact Dana Mullaley for more information: [email protected]