Transcript Collaboration

The Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) and the
Elementary and Middle Schools Technical
Assistance Center (EMSTAC) Present:
Collaboration: Teaming to Provide
Technical Assistance to Local
School Districts
Collaboration
A Group Definition
Collaboration
Characterized by:
mutual respect
trust
open communication
pooling of personal resources and expertise
joint ownership
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit
Our Mission
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit is an
educational service agency and regional
partner providing customized programs and
services to advance the quality of life for all
learners.
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit
Our Vision
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit is an
educational service agency dedicated to
success for all learners. We champion best
practices and innovative approaches in
teaching and learning. Through partnerships
and collaborative leadership, we enhance the
capacity of schools and communities to
support all children and families.
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit
Our Home
Forty-two school districts in Allegheny
County, PA
Range of Services
The Office of Special Education Programs
(OSEP) and Technical Assistance
OSEP has long funded  Clearinghouse
technical assistance  Regional Resource
Center
and dissemination
 Topical Center:
projects. Currently
Early Childhood
40 different centers
Transition
across the country
Inclusion
are operating.
Families
EMSTAC is one of
Technology
these centers.
Behavior
Reading
The EMSTAC Team
Barbara Acosta Keith Berman Brad Carl Shirley Cole
Miriam Gerver
Christina Diamond
Jim Hamilton Tony Johnson Lydia Killos Jessica Margolin
Maury McInerney Eric Mesmer Laurel Nishi Christine Paulsen Suzanne Ritter
Kristin Ruedel Jessica Saunders Amanda Schwartz Muna Shami Michael Smith
Caroline Sunshine Judy Wald Charity Welch
Martha Young Aashti Zaidi
Darren Woodruff
Elementary and Middle Schools
Technical Assistance Center
EMSTAC’s mission is to
develop a
comprehensive
approach to technical
assistance that can be
used nationwide to
improve results for
children with disabilities
EMSTAC
Elementary & Middle Schools
Technical Assistance Center
Our Goal: Positive Outcomes
for Children
 Identify and Team with
Local Advocates
 Develop Collaborative
Communication Networks
 Promote Knowledge
Exchange
 Supporting Linking Agents
in their efforts to implement
research-based practices
Outcomes for
Students with
Disabilities
Technical Assistance (TA)
 Involves helping local school
districts build their capacity to
improve educational services &
outcomes for children with
disabilities and their families.
 Some examples of EMSTAC TA
efforts include
school-wide behavioral interventions
reading instruction
inclusion of students with disabilities
into general education programs
disproportionate representation of
minorities in special education
A Variety of Supports for Schools
Technical Assistance Liaisons
Local Linking Agents
National Network of Educators and
Resources (e.g. CASE, CCSSO, MPRRC)
Comprehensive Website:
www.emstac.org
Online Training
Technical Assistance
Liaisons (TA Liaisons)
 TA Liaisons are AIU and
EMSTAC staff who work
with the Linking Agent to
support his/her role.
 TA Liaisons consult with
Linking Agents, provide
guidance and problemsolving assistance, and
connect Linking Agents to
research.
Linking Agents
 “Linking Agent” is a term to
describe individuals in
school systems that
promote school
improvement by helping
districts implement
research-based practices.
 Linking Agents are
problem-solvers,
connectors to research,
and facilitators of change in
their school district.
Recent EMSTAC Chat Events
• Reducing
Behavioral Referrals, Suspensions, and Expulsions: The Use
of Social Skills Training and Other Behavioral Interventions in the
Classroom
• Using Co-Teaching and Teaming Strategies to Facilitate Inclusion for
Students with Disabilities
• PAM: Prereferral Assessment Model
• Literacy Interventions for Elementary and Middle Schools
• Behavioral Interventions and Strategies
• Spring Forward: First Steps as a New Linking Agent
• Life as an EMSTAC Linking Agent
• Conducting a Needs Assessment at the Local Level
• Instructional Strategies for English Language Learners
EMSTAC Products
 Reading Instruction for Students with Disabilities
 Literacy Instruction for Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
 English Language Development/English as a Second Language
 Social Skills Instruction and Schoolwide Discipline
 Selecting an Intervention or Program: A Guide for Education Personnel
 Addressing the Challenges of Autism: Research Findings and Promising
Practices
 Study Skills: Information and Strategies for Education Professionals
 Everyone Wins: Accessing the General Education Curriculum in Various
Settings (in press)
 Addressing the Challenges of Disproportionality: Research Findings and
Promising Practices (in press)
 Strategies to Help Districts Collect Evaluation Data (in press)
 A Qualitative Description of Collaborative Teams in Today’s Classroom (in
press)
 The "A-ha" Guide to Maximizing School Resources: Tips and Suggestions (in
press)
How Does the Change Process Fit In?
As interventions are
brought into schools,
change will occur.
If Linking Agents
understand the process
of change and can help
the school district work
through change, they
are more likely to be
successful.
The Change Process
The Collaboration
(or, How AIU and EMSTAC Met)
CEC Conference 1999
Complementary Missions
Getting the Ball Rolling
Visiting AIU
Recruiting school districts
Training Linking Agents
Moving the process along
AIU-EMSTAC
Collaboration Model
National-Level
Resources and
Networking
State-Level
Resources and
Networking
EMSTAC
(Technical Assistance Liaison)
School District
A (Linking
Agent)
AIU
(Technical Assistance Liaison)
School District
B (Linking
Agent)
School District
C (Linking
Agent)
Benefits of the Partnership
Increased network opportunities
Additional resources for districts
Recognition for the Intermediate Unit
Research based practices
Improved outcomes for students
Keys to Successful School
District Improvement
• District Leadership
• Building-Level Leadership
• Internal Collaboration
• Internal Locus of Change
• History with Past Initiatives
• External Support
Challenges
Administrative support
Internal governance issues
District demographics and characteristics
The role of the Linking Agent
Distinction between AIU and EMSTAC
What’s Next?
Retaining School Districts
Projections for school districts with which we
are currently working
Utilizing videoconferencing capabilities
Extending Collaboration
Recruiting More School Districts
Wrap Up
Discussion,
questions, and
feedback
Thank you!