What comes to mind when you hear the word “team”? Maybe you picture playing your favorite sport or working on a project with coworkers. The word can hold different meanings for everyone, but a team always requires collaboration and connection with others.
An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is a specialized learning plan for students with disabilities.
One of the most important teams for a student with a disability is an IEP team. The IEP team consists of an administrator, general education teacher, special education teacher, parents, student when appropriate, and other providers as well.
The IEP team has one goal in mind, which is to support the student in the best way possibly in the school environment. It requires collaboration between all team members. It is important that each team member is supporting each other, and everyone has a voice. A soccer game would not work if everyone was running in different directions and not listening to each other. It takes coordination and practice to learn how to best work together to accomplish the goal.
As a special education teacher, it is important to help the IEP team work together to best help the student. A special education teacher is frequently the main point of contact or team captain on the IEP team and helps coordinate various components of the IEP.
If we go back to the soccer game, a game is only successful if there has been plenty of time to practice. It is rare for a team to win a game without appropriate practice. Likewise, a special education teacher needs time to practice writing IEPs to ensure when the team meets the IEP is easily understood by each team member. Practice aids in collaboration and communicating clearly.
Elise McMillan, J.D., Co-Director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Director of Community Outreach, and Senior Associate, Department of Psychiatry, stated ““The Henderson Training Series was established by Bob and Carol Henderson and their family to support educators including students with disabilities. Over the years, the series has focused on topics ranging from early intervention services to transition from school to community. We are grateful to the Hendersons and their family for their generous support so that we can partner with educators in sharing best practices in these key areas.”
The Britt Henderson Training Series is a workshop series that helps educators learn and implement evidence-based best practices for students with diverse learning needs. This year the series will focus on equipping educators with resources, a hand-on opportunity to practice writing IEP goals, and best practices when hosting an IEP meeting. This training series will be engaging and practical to help educators strengthen their current IEPs.
Even a team captain needs support and cannot play the game alone. This training series is designed to support educators as they support their students. A team sport is never meant to be played alone and there is strength in being on a team. Each team player brings unique strengths to the table that can best help support the student.
We would love to be a part of your team by helping equip you with strategies to use in the IEP process. You do not have to do this alone and support makes you the best possible educator you can be.
Here is the information for the 2023 series:
Target audience:
Special educators in Middle Tennessee. We also welcome school staff, parents, and family members.
Location:
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center
110 Magnolia Circle, Room 241
Nashville, TN
Sessions will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. (CST) in person. Dinner and parking will be provided.
- Tuesday, March 28, 2023
What is Tennessee Disability Pathfinder? - Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Best practices when writing goals - Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Best practices in the IEP meeting
Register here.
Questions? E-mail mimi.sanders@vumc.org