Montgomery County Educational Service Center’s Post

Our local Board of Education recently adopted a new strategic plan. What will this plan seek to accomplish, and why is it important? That is the topic in today's Civic Capacity newsletter!

SLPs/OTs/Social Workers/Psychologists - Looking to expand your knowledge and meet a community of professionals who share in neurodiversity affirming values? I loved the virtual Learn Play Thrive Summit last year and joining again! It starts today and runs through Feb. Self-paced CEU courses are definitely a plus! #neurodiversity #continuedlearning #inclusiveeducation

Ari Broad and I are thrilled to announce the launch of Broad Spectrum Education! At least 1 in 5 students struggle in school due to challenges with executive function and emotional regulation - challenges that traditional classrooms are not always equipped to support. As a result, academic and professional outcomes for these students are significantly less positive - students tend to exit school early and are likely to be underemployed. Broad Spectrum Education partners with students, families, and school professionals to bridge this gap. Our unique, evidence-based Educational Therapy model provides accessible, targeted, affirming, and highly-impactful support that builds personal agency for students who are struggling to set and meet their most important academic, personal, and professional goals. Through tailored coursework, expert counseling, caregiver training, and multi-stakeholder advocacy, BSE's model is holistic, rigorous, high-tech, and high-touch. And perhaps most importantly, Broad Spectrum Education is FOUNDED, DESIGNED, and LED by neurodivergents. BSE's support is open to ALL students seeking to improve their learning and academic performance, and who wish to position themselves well for entry into the college and/or professional training programs of their choice. Applicants DO NOT NEED to demonstrate a medical diagnosis, Individualized Education Program or §504 plan to be eligible! For more information and fall 2024 cohort application, visit https://lnkd.in/gwxyd_p4 Feel free to contact me directly at education@broadspectrumeducation.org. Courses begin September 1! Some of our programs outcomes include: Enhance Emotional Regulation Skills: Utilize evidence-based psychotherapy techniques to improve emotional regulation and overall mental well-being. Understand and Train Executive Function Skills: Gain a comprehensive understanding of what executive function skills are and their importance in daily life, and learn how to harness and train these skills to work effectively toward individual needs and goals. Break Large Projects into Mini-Tasks: Discover techniques to structure large projects into manageable, dopamine-producing mini-tasks that enhance motivation, productivity, and self-efficacy. Set and Achieve S.M.A.R.T. Goals: Master the art of setting Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals and developing actionable plans to achieve them. Explore, Learn, Prepare: Therapeutic and Content courses, hosted on our virtual learning management systems, support students in growing both personally and academically, and prepare students for success in college and the workforce. Gary Gerst Lauren Hough Williams Florencia Ardon Joe Durney Kate Keresztes Vanessa Morales Rebecca McCabe Ari Broad Christina Van Ditto Ari Broad Amanda Ma

An excellent discussion earlier this morning on CBC/Radio-Canada The Current supporting the integration of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) including the use of Assistive Technology, audio recorded lectures, note taking services, alternate format to text (print materials) provisioning and more. Recommendations also include informed onboarding to help others better understand the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) legislation, regulations surrounding our "Duty to Accommodate" (in both education and the workplace), and the importance of delivering education in formats that enable ALL learners to be successful and achieve a positive outcome 😊 https://lnkd.in/eQsRn7t6

On point, Jennifer Mock, Adult Education programs have always been around serving adult learners returning to school for their most basic educational needs in order to obtain employment with sustainable wages. As adult learners, they come with very different challenges and needs than traditional students. It takes a different approach. Now that community colleges are seeing a decline in traditional college students, the increase of adult learners has gotten a lot of attention. Want meaningful dialog about #adultlearners, invite your #AdultEducation (College and Career Readiness) professionals to the table. Investment in #adultbasiceducation is an investment in our communities, our economy, our futures.

Conversations about education can serve as a foundation for system transformation - but will they? In the second part of this interview, Alma Harris and Carol Campbell share with me some of the lessons that many different communities can build on to start their own local and national discussions

What is Educational Therapy? Educational Therapy is a specialized practice focused on helping individuals to improve their academic performance and overall learning experience. Broad Spectrum Education's Educational Therapy model provides evidence-based, holistic education, support, and advocacy for students, caregivers, and school professionals that empowers our Scholars to achieve their most important academic goals. Broad Spectrum Education's Educational Counselors develop strong relationships with our Scholars. Our ECs leverage evidence-based instructional and therapeutic techniques to help our Scholars understand how their unique brains learn and process information. They work actively alongside Scholars and their caregivers to develop and implement personalized, high-impact, immediately-applicable strategies for success in the classroom. Further, our Caregiver Consultants (CCs) serve as independent experts for parents, guardians, and self-advocates. Caregiver Consultants empower clients with the knowledge and strategies to advocate effectively for their children and ensure that their needs are met in school. CCs build literacy for parents, guardians, and students surrounding Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), §504 plans, accessing accommodations and school-based related services, and best practices in advocating for yourself/your child. You can even bring us to meetings. While Educational Therapy is particularly helpful for neurodivergent students, students with disabilities, and those struggling with executive function and emotional regulation challenges, Broad Spectrum Education serves ALL students. A medical diagnosis, IEP, or §504 plan is NOT required to be eligible. If you or your child is struggling in school, book a free, 15-minute consultation with us here: https://lnkd.in/dY_GGmNA. We can help. https://lnkd.in/d_h_UqyX

https://lnkd.in/evZvpu84 It’s very important to engage educators in PD- in fact, half of PD is “professional”. Educators need treated as professionals in their craft when PD is developed and implemented.

"When you're with a group of children and they are dawning on knowledge, when knowledge is like they're all of a sudden going, 'Oh my gosh, I get it, it's really fun.' I would say that when you can work in an environment where children are having these experiences regularly, it's probably one of the best professions you could have." The NCSSLE Center spoke with GTL Center advisor Dr. Patricia Jennings to discuss ways in which systems can innovate and evolve to create conditions where students and educators can thrive, improving the wellbeing of educators. Take a listen here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gj42kBg8