A Publication of KYCEC Fall 2013 KY Council for Exceptional Children Don’t Miss Fall Conference 2013 Special points of interest:  Fall Conference 2013  “Yes I Can”  Mini—Grant Information The Kentucky Exceptional Children’s Conference invites you to join us for a wonderful professional development event dedicated to special education! The Program Committee has planned thoughtful educational sessions in a variety of formats to meet every learner's needs. Join us to:  Student Chapter Updates Participate in the many rich opportunities to learn and engage in dialogue about the field's most important topics, including:  Voting Procedures  Awards Teacher effectiveness Universal design for learning Positive Behavior Supports College and Career Readiness and Transition Response to intervention Evidence-based instructional strategies Common core state standards Expanded core curriculum Assistive and Instructional Technology And much more. Network with colleagues in special education and discuss the latest research and most promising instructional strategies. Cheer for colleagues who have worked in the field of special education for 25 years (and more!) on Monday during the General Session. Inside this issue: President’s Message 2 YES I CAN 3 KYSCEC News 4 What’s Going On??? 5 Take part in the Silent Auction and support the future special education teachers! Conference Highlights 6 Participate in our 2nd Annual Walk for Autism, sponsored by the Public Consulting Group! National CEC Info. 7 Browse the Exhibit Hall, filled with cutting-edge products and services. Division News 8 Summer Leadership 9 Board Members 10 Become inspired as Dave Weber leads you to understand your power and influence as a teacher leader in his keynote talk, “Leadership Redefined”. Celebrate the accomplishments of students and colleagues on Tuesday by participating in the Awards Luncheon celebrating Yes I Can! and Teacher of the Year winners! Don’t miss this chance to further your professional growth, catch up on what's happening in the field, learn about the latest in evidence-based practices, expand your knowledge, and broaden your perspectives—all while enjoying the beginning of the holiday season in Louisville! We hope to see you in November! Page 2 Message From It’s easy to stay informed. Visit our website for professional updates and opportunities for you and your classroom needs. www.kycec.org ATTN: KYCEC MEMBERS To learn more about how your chapter or division can receive a mini-grant, please access the mini-grant application from the website or contact Debbie Samples at debbie.samples @graves.kyschools.us. support many of their activities through the Student Council for Exceptional Children the KYCEC President, Pam Matlock programs at our universities. We are so pleased to assist in As President of the Kentucky postsecondary feats. Also, sponsoring their local events, Council for Exceptional Chil- come and meet out Yes I Can such as Special Olympics, winders and their families at a Buddy Walks, and transitional dren (KYCEC), it is my session on Tuesday at 10:15! fairs. You will see these fupleasure to share with you ture teachers in action at consome of the professional and KYCEC honors our teachers ference sessions as they prepersonal reasons we should of exceptional students! At sent their own research on all be proud to be members this year’s conference we will instructional strategies. Don’t of this worthy organization. join with the Kentucky Deforget to do your Christmas partment of Education and KYCEC honors our stushopping at their KYSCEC dents! As advocates for in- KYCEC divisions to proudly Silent Auction booth in the recognize teachers and admindividuals with disabilities, Exhibit Hall. KYCEC seeks opportunities istrators, who are esteemed in Finally, KYCEC honors and to promote and celebrate our our profession. In doing so, we honor each of us who appreciates our members! students’ talents. Our webmakes a difference in a child’s You, the members, are absosite (www.kycec.org) fealife. Also remember as a lutely a priority in our 2013-14 tures pictures from last year’s KYCEC member that we hon- goals. We have a commitment Yes I Can award winning or your efforts with six $650 to listen and honor your needs. students, and this newsletter mini-grants to assist with your To do so, we must first hear features our 2013 state award own special teaching needs. your thoughts. We are seeking winners. How uplifting for The KYCEC website features input from you through surus to recognize our students a technology project that was a veys that will be available at and share in their state and mini-grant awarded last year at national recognition. This is Fulton County. To learn more Conference and will be sent electronically to members. absolutely what we are about the mini-grant program, Please complete them, as well about! I encourage you to plan to join us at conference as, share your thoughts with join us at this year’s awards for presentations from last the members of the Board. luncheon to applaud their year’s winners and for more We will be listening! Addiaccomplishments and pat our information on how easy it is tionally, plan to join us for our profession on the back for a to apply. Deadline in March annual meeting at Conference job well done. And don’t (or until monies run out!). on Tuesday morning. While forget to nominate your own we meet, network, and share students for 2014… deadline KYCEC honors our teacher ideas, we’ll have breakfast and preparation students! We in May. Also consult our raffle drawing. We value our Conference program as sev- value those individuals who KYCEC members.” Hope to eral transitional sessions fea- are preparing for a career in see you at the conference! special education and love to ture our students and their KY Council for Exceptional Children Mini—Grant Opportunities KYCEC Executive Board is pleased to announce that six (6) mini-grants will be available for members and/or chapters this year! The grants will be in the amount of $650, and the proposal must address one of the following areas: membership, teacher training, or development and implementation of a model program. Applications for a mini-grant are on the website at www.kycec.org. The deadline for submission of grants is January 15, 2014. Come to our session on Tuesday at 8:30 and to hear how the 2013 mini-grants winners used their money, and learn the process for applying for a mini-grant for 2014! Page 3 Fall 2013 Star Teachers Reap the Benefits of CEC Membership The Yes I Can! Awards honor children and youth with disabilities who excel. KYCEC will once again recognize the winners of the 2013 Yes I Can! Awards at the Fall conference in November. The nominations were received from across the state in seven categories: Academics, Arts, Athletics, School and Community Activities, Self-Advocacy, Technology, and Transition. Yes I Can! Coordinator, Barbara Washington, reported twentynine nominations were received from many districts and recognized students from all ages and categories of disabilities. The Kentucky winners are: Academics - Kevin Bailey – Jefferson County Schools Arts – Zebulon Risen – Green County Schools Athletics – Elizabeth Thornton – Scott County Schools School & Community Activities – Morgan Jones – Carter County Schools Self-Advocacy – Robert Gross – Kenton County Schools Technology – Braden Ussery – Warren County Schools Transition – Suede Posey – Green County Schools These deserving students will be recognized with their guests at the conference luncheon on Tuesday, November 26, 2013. Additionally, the winners will be invited to share their talents and stories at a conference session prior to the luncheon. All are invited to come and celebrate the accomplishments of this stellar group of individuals at the pre-luncheon session. The Kentucky winners will be forwarded to the National CEC Yes I Can! Committee for consideration at the national level. Watch for e-communications with CEC updates. Join our Facebook November brings fall leaves, pumpkin pie, and the KYCEC Membership drive. Join or renew CEC in the month of November and receive $10 off your membership fee. Looking for a little added bonus? Join or renew your CEC Membership at the fall conference, and get entered into a drawing to win an iPad mini. Stop by the membership booth for more information. Your membership is a symbol of your dedication to providing high-quality education to students with exceptionalities. It allows CEC to advocate for the rights of children and youth with exceptionalities, as well as the special needs of the educators who serve them. The KYCEC Board of Directors would like to recognize and thank you for your commitment by providing a light breakfast during the conference. Members attending the breakfast on Tuesday, November 26th (7:30-8:30am) will have the opportunity to win one of ten gift cards to Starbucks, Panera, iTunes, and more. Your CEC membership ribbon is your entry ticket. You must be present at the breakfast to win the gift cards. We will also be drawing for the iPad mini at this time. Visit the membership booth at the CEC Conference for more information. Can’t attend the conference but still want to be a member of the leading voice for individuals with exceptionalities? Use the promo code: KYCEC2013 (active November 1-30) to renew your membership and you’ll get entered into a drawing for a Target gift card. KY Council for Exceptional Children Page 4 KYSCEC News : State Student Chapters are having a bus y year! KY State Student Council Did you Know? KYSCEC has a FACEBOOK Page!! Join us at Kentucky Student Council for Exceptional Children Get your checkbooks (and boxing gloves) ready! It’s almost time for the annual bidding war at the Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) Silent Auction! We all have been hard at work planning for this year’s silent auction, working on the date, time, location, and of course, the items for sale. This year’s Silent Auction will be held on Monday in the Exhibit Hall at the annual conference. It will open at 8 am and bidding will close at 6 pm on the dot! All proceeds from the auction will support the student members of CEC. Advisors, please be sure to encourage your students to attend this year’s state conference. We will be holding a students-only raffle this year and attendance of all 3 days of the conference is required for entry. More info to come! Are you interested in joining a student chapter or even starting one of your own? If so, please contact Dr. Sarah Hawkins-Lear for more information at [email protected] Check us out on Facebook! Student members can join our group, Kentucky Student Council for Exceptional Children. This is a great way to receive updates on great events and success stories from our student members. By: Amy Clausen Morehead State University Chapter News The students at Morehead State University have been busy recruiting new members. Student members visited all “Introduction to Special Education” courses to spread the wonderful word of the Council for Exceptional Children. They also have been actively planning MSU’s 5 th Annual Transition Fair that will take place on November 21, 2013, on Morehead’s main campus. Lastly, the state conference is just right around the corner and everyone has been busy planning poster presentations and collecting items for the silent auction. It’s a fun time of the semester for everyone! Hello Student CEC Members! Are you excited for the conference, because we surely are! New this year, we will be holding a raffle for all student members who attend all three days of the conference. The prize will be drawn on Tuesday morning at the general breakfast meeting. Here are the requirements for entry: -Register for all 3 days of the conference -Attend at least 4 sessions -Work in the silent auction -Attend the student meeting on Monday -Attend the general meeting on Tuesday That’s all you have to do to be entered to win a mini iPad! We will also be holding the election for student officers on Monday. If you are interested in running for Vice President or Secretary, please contact the current President, Amy Clausen. Come prepared with a 2-minute speech about what makes you qualified for the position. Any questions, email Amy Clausen at [email protected] Don’t forget to keep collecting items for the silent auction! Any money made from the items your chapter donates goes back to your chapter. This is a great fundraising opportunity for your school. Any questions about signing up to work the auction or donations should go to Crysta Hicks, [email protected] Can’t wait to see you at conference! Page 5 What’s Going On???? Fall 2013 Meet KYCEC’s New Children and Youth Action Network (CAN) Coordinator, Erica Cutright! Children and Youth Action Network (CAN) is an organized group of volunteers who are dedicated to helping advance policy affecting students with disabilities and gifts and talents. CAN seeks to (1) effect the necessary governmental changes at the local, state, and federal levels that will make possible the implementation of CEC policies relating to the education of exceptional children; and (2) further vitalize CEC units by providing meaningful vehicles for membership and CEC public visibility. Erica serves KYCEC and CAN as a resource, a facilitator, and most importantly an advocate. Erica teaches in an elementary school in Warren County and is also adjunct faculty at WKU. When her son was born with special needs, she realized that she needed to be a part of his world in a larger way! Come and meet Erica at the Conference in November! She will hold a session on Tuesday, November 26th at 8:30- 10 am. The session is entitled, “What CAN I do?” Discuss how you can be a voice for students who receive special education services, learn how to utilize the National CEC website, deal with elected officials, navigate the legislative process, and so much more! You can reach Erica at [email protected] KY CASE on the Hill Carrie Bearden, Erica Cutright, and Jenny Miller Horn and Arden Goodman attended the CASE Legislative Leadership Seminar this summer in Alexandria, VA. The focus of the conference was learning how to research current issues in special education, state a position, and present the information to members of congress and their staff in a way that demonstrates how it impacts constituents in their district and across the nation. We had appointments with Senators Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell, as well as Representatives Andy Barr and John Yarmouth. We also stopped by Brett Guthrie’s office and he took time to talk with us as well. Senator McConnell wasn’t available to meet with us when we arrived for our appointment, but his staffers sat down with us and listened as we discussed sequestration and the impact it is having on our school districts in KY. We also discussed concerns regarding full funding of IDEA, highly qualified status for special education teachers, and charter schools. When we met with Senator Rand Paul, he asked us to walk with him to the Capitol so that he could vote. He talked to us regarding his thoughts on giving more control to the states and less control to the Dept. of Education at the federal level, and listened to our concerns regarding removing highly qualified status requirements for special education teachers. We enjoyed meeting with Representatives Barr and Yarmouth and discussing issues specific to Central KY and Louisville. They both were interested in learning how students and families with disabilities in those areas will be impacted if funding is not restored. After our visits, we debriefed with members of the CASE Executive Committee and Lindsay Jones, the Director for Policy and Advocacy for the National Center for Learning Disabilities. They were impressed at the number of appointments we had and the responses that we received. We all agreed that we would love to be able to participate in this seminar again in the future. It was an experience of a lifetime, and an incredible way to be able to impact decisions that are made for students with disabilities, their families and the professionals that work with them. Contact Conference Chairperson, Carrie Bearden for additional information KY Council for Exceptional Children Page 6 48th Annual Exceptional Children’s [email protected] Conference 2013 Sunday Highlights! Session Strands: Session Topics: Over 40 Sessions to choose from! College and Career Readiness Autism Meet the exhibitors!! Positive Behavior Supports Deaf/Hard of Hearing Classroom Management Blind/Visually Impaired Monday Highlights! Over 60 Sessions to choose from! Instruction: Literacy Closing the Gap 2nd Annual Walk/Run for Autism Instruction: Math Educator Effectiveness Keynote: “Leadership Defined” by Dave Weber School Readiness & Early Childhood Early Childhood Honor the 25 Year Special Educators Differentiated Instruction Instruction Technology (AT & Instructional) Leadership IEP College & Career Readiness Progress Monitoring Positive Behavior Supports Due Process Technology State Advisory Panel Public Hearing and Meeting Poster Sessions by Student CEC Meet the exhibitors Silent Auction for Student CEC Differentiation Door Prizes during Keynote Address Join us for the KYCEC Annual Membership Meeting, Tuesday, 7:30 am, Room 546. There will be snacks and Door Prizes! Tuesday Highlights! Over 40 Sessions to choose from! Annual CEC Membership Meeting at 7:30 am Awards Luncheon at 12:00 KYCEC Student of the Year Be sure to visit the KYCEC Membership booth to renew your membership and get registered to win a door prize during the Annual Membership Meeting! Early Childhood Outstanding Service Award Awards Luncheon : Outstanding Special Ed Administrator of the Year  Yes I Can!  25 yr special educators  Teacher of Year Award  Administrator of the Teacher of the Year Awards Yes I Can! Awards Visit the website for more information www.kycec.org Year Award Support the Student CEC Fundraiser, the Silent Auction, Monday, 8:00-6:00, in the Exhibit Hall! ***Be sure to visit the membership booth during conference to receive your free gift!*** Page 7 CEC National News VOTE FOR YOUR 2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTE and you could win a Kindle Fire! October 1 – October 28, 2013 CEC leadership must represent the beliefs and values of our members. Each one of you has a voice in electing CEC’s future leaders. View candidate biographies on CEC’s Web site, www.cec.sped.org. Vote between October 1 – 28, 2013. Your ballot will be sent to your email from [email protected] . You will receive a paper ballot if we do not have your e-mail address. Contact [email protected] to verify or add your e-mail address and update contact information. You could win an i-Pad! All eligible CEC voters who vote in this election will be entered. Names will be randomly selected by Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS). Vote online! It’s fast, easy, and it’s green! LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD! Page 8 KYCEC 2013 Outstanding Special KYCEC DIVISION NEWS Education Administrator of the Year Mrs. Vicki Writsel, Associate Superintendent at Bowling Green Independent Schools, was selected as the KYCEC 2013 Outstanding Special Education Administrator of the Year. This announcement was celebrated at the Green River Regional Education Cooperative Advisory Council meeting in July. Join the celebration at the KYCEC Conference November 26th luncheon when Mrs. Writsel receives the award for her years of service as a distinguished administrator and educator. Congratulations Vicki!!! KYCCBD NEWS! KYCCBD President, Patty Whitney ([email protected]), and board are excited to announce The Behavior Institute 2014 (BI 14). The BI 14 will be held June 17-18, 2014 in Lexington, KY at the Lexington Convention Center/ Rupp Arena. Please visit http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/behave/misc/bi01.html for the most current information. Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) sessions will be provided for administrators, educators and mental health providers. We will have PD, EILA, and CEU's available for professional credit. More specifically, topics will include: · · · · · · · · · School-wide positive behavior interventions Social-emotional learning and instructional strategies Proactive classroom management strategies, targeted interventions for students with chronic behavior Evidence-based practices in mental /behavioral health Alternatives to suspension / ISS Instructional approaches for preventing and responding to a variety of discipline problems Breaking the school to prison pipeline Violence and bully prevention Effective academic and behavior practices for closing achievement gaps We look forward to seeing you there! Please spread the word. KYCCBD Behavior Institute Lexington, KY June 17th - 18th, 2014 Page 9 2013 CEC State/Provincial Summer Leadership KYCEC President-Elect Barbara Washington and Executive Secretary Carrie Bearden represented Kentucky at the 2013 CEC State/Provincial Summer Leadership Institute on July 23 and 24, 2013. The training was held at the CEC Headquarters in Arlington, VA. The purpose of the institute is to: Assist divisions and units in active participation in the structure and strategic direction of CEC. Promote and sustain division and unit membership growth, diversity and inclusiveness. Promote collegiality and networking among leaders. Build capacity in divisions and units so they may work effectively with members, chapters and subdivisions. Topics included the new tiered membership model, planning conferences, marketing membership, generating non dues revenue, providing high quality-low cost professional development, budgeting, communicating with members, and legal issues. We also previewed the wealth of information CEC offers on their website that is valuable to pre-service teachers, in-service teachers, and administrators. We left excited, full of ideas, and enthusiastic about better serving our KYCEC members. KYCEC Page 10 KY Council of Administrators of Special Education Save the Dates! KYCASE Spring Institute – February 24-25 KYCASE Summer Institute - July 14-15 Newsletter Chairperson: Rhonda Simpson 402 East Hodgenville Ave. Greensburg, KY 42743 [email protected] Spotlight Exceptional Children and Educators in your district in a future newsletter! KYCEC Executive Board 2013-2014 Pam Matlock, President 890 Steamboat Road Gilbertsville, KY 42044 [email protected] Barbara Washington, President Elect 3201 Alexander Hall Murray State University Murray, KY 42071 [email protected] Dr. Rhonda Simpson, Vice Pres. 402 E. Hodgenville Avenue Greensburg, KY 42743 [email protected]. us Jennifer Green, Past President 321 Old Porter Pike Bowling Green, KY 42103 270-320-7952 [email protected] .us Carrie Bearden, Executive Secretary, Conference Chair 657 S. Hurstbourne Pky. Ste. 229 Louisville, KY 40222 [email protected] Kathy Maciel, Secretary 806 Old Fort Avenue Bowling Green, KY 42101 Arden Goodman, Conference Treasurer 116 Green Lane Georgetown, KY 40342 502-542-0582 [email protected] Cindy Dawson, Treasurer 1287 Hayes Court Bowling Green, KY 42103 [email protected] Erica Cutwright CAN Coordinator 905 Ridgecrest Way Bowling Green, KY 42104 [email protected] Amy Clausen, KYSCEC President 1027 Lanette Dre. Cinninnati, OH 45230 amclausen@,moreheadstate.edu Debbie Samples, Member at Large & Mini-Grants 149 Overby Drive Mayfield, KY 42066 [email protected] Sarah Hawkins-Lear, KYSCEC Advisor 1775 Lawrence Road Kailua, HI 96734 [email protected] Beckie Brown, Parliamentarian 100 Bay Hill Court Georgetown, KY 40324 [email protected] Jenny Miller-Horn, Membership Chair Kenton School District 1055 Eaton Drive Ft. Wright, KY 41017 [email protected] Miranda Reed, Member at Large 100 Crabapple Cove Paducah, KY 42001 270-559-0542 [email protected] Merissa Waddey, Member at Large 2772 Amsterdam Road Villa Hills, KY 41017 859-341-5260 [email protected] KYCEC Divisions: CASE: Kim Johnson [email protected] DEC: Elizabeth McLaren [email protected] TED: Steve Crites [email protected] CCBD: Patty Whitney patty.whitney@att,net Pioneers: Bill Porter [email protected] KYSCEC: President: Amy Clausen [email protected] Vice-President: Stephanie Gebka [email protected] Thanks to all KYCEC members for their dedication in meeting the needs of students with disabilities in Kentucky!