SPED 854

Family and Interprofessional Collaboration in Special Education

This course explores strategies for instructional accountability, collaboration between general and special educators, family and community partnerships, interdisciplinary team planning, and instructional management within a school-wide tiered support system for students with exceptionalities.

Philosophy

This assignment involves creating a reflection and presentation exploring your identity, focusing on how you would answer the question, “Who are you?”

Reflection

In this reflection, I share how my personal and professional experiences have shaped my philosophy of inclusive education, emphasizing the importance of cultural competence, empathy, and collaborative communication to support all members of my diverse preschool community.

Professional Development

For this assignment, you will create a brief presentation for a faculty meeting on a topic related to inter- and/or intrapersonal communication and collaboration to help colleagues enhance their communication and teamwork skills.

Reflection

In this reflection, I emphasize the importance of active listening as the foundation for building trust, strong relationships, and a supportive school community, drawing from both my personal experiences and professional role as a school leader and rabbi.

Professional Development Resources

To support ongoing reflection and growth around identity and cultural awareness—as discussed in this reflection—the following resource from the IRIS Center, “Cultural and Linguistic Differences: What Teachers Should Know,” offers valuable guidance. This module helps educators explore how identity and communication are shaped by cultural context and provides practical strategies for building inclusive, respectful school communities. Additionally, Stella Young’s TED Talk, “I’m Not Your Inspiration, Thank You Very Much”, powerfully challenges assumptions about disability and identity, encouraging educators to move beyond stereotypes and see all individuals through a lens of dignity, capability, and authenticity.

In her TED Talk titled "I'm Not Your Inspiration, Thank You Very Much," comedian and journalist Stella Young challenges society's tendency to view people with disabilities as inspirational solely because of their disabilities. She critiques this phenomenon, which she refers to as "inspiration porn," arguing that it objectifies disabled individuals and perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Young advocates for recognizing people with disabilities as ordinary individuals leading their lives, emphasizing the importance of accessibility and genuine inclusion over superficial admiration.

This IRIS Center resource, "Cultural and Linguistic Differences: What Teachers Should Know," provides educators with foundational knowledge about how cultural and linguistic diversity can influence student learning and behavior. It emphasizes the importance of culturally responsive teaching and offers strategies to build inclusive, equitable classroom environments that respect and support all learners.