Special Education Guest Lecture Series
A new event in North Texas is supporting teachers who support some of the region's most vulnerable individuals: students with disabilities.
The University of Texas at Arlington College of Education is launching a Special Education Guest Lecture Series specifically for educators in the field.
"Special educators don't get a chance very often to attend a custom-fitted, professional development event that's geared toward their students," said Dr. Bree Jimenez, a UTA associate professor of special education. "They're always kind of retrofitted in. We have an opportunity to speak to their needsin serving students."
The event is free and takes place from 6-7 p.m. Nov. 1 in the University Center (Rio Grande B), located at 300 W. 1st St., Arlington, TX on the UTA campus. Registration is available at https://forms.office.com/r/DwpYuFNQ2Y. Attendees will be eligible to receive two professional development credits.
A former K-12 teacher who was one of only two special ed teachers in her school, Jimenez knows the challenges firsthand.
"They could have been teaching for 10 years and know they want to learn more to better serve their students, but they're not sure where to get help,” she said. “UTA is committed to creating that space.”
The inaugural guest speaker is Dr. Ginevra Courtade, chair of the Department of Special Education at the University of Louisville Kentucky and one of the nation's top authorities instructing future and current teachers to work with learners with intellectual disabilities. Her talk, "Aligning ARDs to TEKS for Students with Extensive Support Needs," will explore the linkage between state and federal requirements, state standards, and general education curriculum. Additionally, it will show how academic areas can be access while address the student's goals. A clear framework for aligning the goals for a student's individualized education program, assessment, and academic content for students with moderate or severe intellectual or developmental disability will also be discussed.
"Dr. Courtade practically wrote the book in special education on aligning student goals to the state curriculum," said Jimenez. "Our hope is that this event will prompt discussions that resonate with the classroom experiences of special ed teacher s and that it will spark a light to help them better instruct and serve students. If we do that, then we know we’ve succeeded.”
Register