This week I interview Ms. Renée Stoeckle, Director of Catholic School Initiatives for Step Up for Students. Renée highlights her journey from the classroom to Step Up. Renée discusses how school choice scholarships can benefit students with special needs in the state of Florida and other programs available nationwide including Maryland and Illinois. For more information on Ren and her work, please email her at rstoeckle@stepupforstudents.org. If you’d like more information on Step Up for Students, please visit www.stepupforstudents.org.
Read moreEpisode 19 - Dr. Christie Bonfiglio
This week I interview Dr. Christie Bonfiglio, Director of Professional Standards & Graduate Studies and the Director of the Program for Inclusive Education (PIE) for the Alliance for Catholic Education & Institute for Educational Initiatives (ACE) at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. Christie speaks about her background in education along with the all wonderful programs available at ACE. Christy discusses the pillars at ACE which form the program and her views on Catholic special education. For more information on Christie, please email her at cbonfiglio@nd.edu and for more information about Ace, please visit http://ace.nd.edu.
Read moreEpisode 17 - Mr. Tim Reilly
This week I interview Mr. Timothy Reilly, School Principal at St. Ignatius School in Cincinnati, Ohio and also serves on the Board of Trustees for the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA). Tim speaks about the successes in his school including their academic and social achievements. Tim gives practical advice to principals who are considering implementing a program for students with special needs. For contact Tim, please email him at treilly@saintischool.org. For more information about the St. Ignatius School, please visit their website http://www.saintischool.org/pages/Saint_Ignatius.
Read moreEpisode 16 - Ms. Anna Schultz Breef
This week I interview Ms. Anna Schultz-Breef, a college student at Illinois Wesleyan University and former student at Mother McAuley High School in Chicago Illinois. Anna details her experiences with her auditory processing disorder and how it has impacted her learning throughout her life. Anna talks about the strategies she used to learn in the classroom as well as those educators which impacted her learning. For more information on Anna, please follow her in Twitter @theannasb.
Episode 15- Dr. Brooke Tesché
This week I interview Dr. Brooke Tesché, Deputy Superintendent of Education for the Diocese of Allentown in Pennsylvania. Brooke discusses her journey in special education that led her to become deputy superintendent in Allentown including her work with students with emotional needs. Brooke details the numerous programs in her diocese that works with students with special needs including her role in those programs. For more information about Brooke, please email her at btesche@allentowndiocese.org For more information about the Diocese of Allentown, please visit their website http://www.allentowndiocese.org.
Episode 14 - Mrs. Janice Benton
On the show today, I am joined by Mrs. Janice Benton, Executive Director of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD). Jan speaks about the vision for the NCPD as well as her role in the organization. Jan also discusses how families can have access to the Mass and the sacraments through the USCCB’s Guidelines for the Celebration of Sacraments from Persons with Disabilities. Jan provides great insight into how all families belong in our Catholic Church being by virtue of their Baptism and the services NCPD offers to families. She also encourages families to take advantage of the resources on their website. If you would like to reach out to Jan, please email her at jbenton@ncpd.org. For more information about the NCPD, please visit their website at http://www.ncpd.org or follow them on Twitter @NCPD
Episode 13 - Mrs. Ana Garcia
This week, I interview Mrs. Ana Garcia, Principal for Msgr. Edward Pace Catholic High School in Miami, Florida. Ana speaks about her journey that led her to become principal of the high school. She also details the students with special needs that attend Pace High and the different educational options available for them at the school. Ana is a remarkable principal with a deep love for all students. For more information about Ana, please email her at agarcia@pacehs.com. For more information about Msgr. Edward Pace, please visit their website http://www.pacehs.com.
Episode 12 - Dr. Jim Rigg
This week, I interview Dr. Jim Rigg, Superintendent for the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools. Jim speaks about the diverse experiences that led him to be a superintendent of 80,000 students in Chicago. He also speaks about his vision and strategic plan for Chicago and supporting students with disabilities. His passion for serving students with disabilities shines through especially when speaking about his own son. For more information about Jim, please email him at jrigg@archchicago.org or follow him on Twitter @RiggJim. For more information about the Archiocese of Chicago and its schools, please visit https://schools.archchicago.org.
Read moreEpisode 11 - Most Reverend Archbishop Joseph Kurtz
This week, I interview Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, the Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Louisville. Archbishop Kurtz speaks about his role in Catholic special education dating back to his brother, George. He also speaks about the USCCB and the recent revisions to the Guidelines for the Celebration of Sacraments from Persons with Disabilities. The Archbishop also shares how the document can help teachers and catechists with sacramental preparation. For more information about Archbishop Kurtz, please email him at archbishop@archlou.org or follow him on Twitter @ArchbishopKurtz. For more information about the Archdiocese of Louisville and its schools, please visit https://www.archlou.org.
Episode 10 - Dr. Michael Boyle - Executive Director, Andrew M. Greeley Center
This week, I interview Dr. Michael Boyle, Director of the Andrew M. Greeley Center for Catholic Education at Loyola University, Chicago. Mike speaks about his background in Catholic special education and the NCEA White Paper which he co-authored with Dr. Pamela Bernards from NCEA. Mike elaborates on the systems and frameworks (from the national level to the school level) that are necessary to ensure successful special education programs, He also speaks about the certificate programs that are available from the Greely Center for administrators and schools. For more information about the Andrew M. Greeley, please visit their website at http://www.luc.edu/gcce/index.shtml or follow Mike on Twitter @MJBoyle3. If you would like more information on the NCEA White Paper: One Spirit One Body, please visit the website http://www.ncea.org/NCEA/Learn/Resource/Academic_Excellence/Expectional_Learners/Exceptional_Learners_White_Paper__One_Spirit__One_Body.aspx
Read moreEpisode 9 - FIRE Foundation
This week, I interview Lynn Hire, Executive Director for the Foundation for Inclusive Religious Education (FIRE) Foundation and Maura Nulton, one of the six couples that founded the FIRE Foundation. They discuss the history, vision, and role the FIRE Foundation plays in assisting students with special needs attend Catholic schools in the Diocese of Kansas City For more information on the Fire Foundation, please visit their website at https://firefoundation.org or follow them on Twitter @FIREdupinKC
Read moreEpisode 8 - Mr. Henry Fortier
This week, I interview Mr. Henry Fortier, Secretary of Education and Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Orlando, FL. Henry speaks about his role as secretary and superintendent in the diocese of Orlando where he also oversees the mission office for a sister diocese in the Dominican Republic. He also speaks of how the diocese of Orlando schools is meeting the needs of students with special needs and his own personal story. While Henry wears many hats, his role as advocate for students with special needs shines through in this interview. To reach Henry, please email him at Hfortier@orlandodiocese.org or follow him on Twitter @SupOrlandoDio
Read moreEpisode 7 - Mr. Jonathan Doyle
On the back to school episode this week, I interview Mr. Jonathan Doyle, husband, father, author and creator of the Going Deeper being featured in Catholic schools worldwide. Jonathan will speak of the mission and vocation of Catholic school teachers and how that intersects with special education. For more information about Jonathan and the Going Deeper series, please click on the link: http://www.jonathandoyle.co. You can follow Jonathan of Twitter @beingcatholic1 and on Instagram at jonathan_doyle_catholicspeaker
Read moreEpisode 6 - Dr. Michelle Lia
This week, I interview Dr. Michelle Lia, Assistant Director of Professional Development for the Andrew M. Greely Center for Catholic Education. Michelle speaks about the services that the Greely Center provides for Catholic schools. We also discuss universal design for learning (UDL), differentiated instruction (DI), and response to intervention (RTI). Michelle provides strong arguments for UDL, DI, RTI, and their place in the Catholic classroom. For more information on the Andrew M. Greely Center, please click on the link http://www.luc.edu/gcce/index.shtml. To contact Michelle, please email her at mlia@luc.edu or follow her on Twitter @mliaCCE.
Read moreEpisode 5 - Mrs. Kelly Noda
This week, I interview Mrs. Kelly Noda, owner and managing director of Proactive Life Skills. Kelly is also a social skills teacher as well as a life skills teacher. Kelly will speak about all aspects of behavior in the classroom, as well as the functions, and consequences for behavior. She will also discuss a bit about social emotional learning and her background working with middle school students. For more information about Kelly, please visit the website http://www.proactivelifeskills.org. For more information about the conference, please visit http://www.proactivelifeskills.org/program.html.
Read moreEpisode 4 - Dr. Beth Foraker
This week, I interview Mrs. Beth Foraker, founder of the National Catholic Board on Full Inclusion, professor at UC Davis and inclusion advocate. Beth will share the story of her family especially her son Patrick and what led her to start the National Catholic Board on Full Inclusion. Beth and I also discuss practical ways to begin an inclusion program in Catholic schools along with the Growth Mindset. For more information on Beth, you can check out her website at http://fullinclusionforcatholicschools.org or follow her on Twitter @inclusionchick
Read moreEpisode 3- Mrs. Brooke Taylor
This week, I interview Mrs. Brooke Taylor, Catholic wife, mom, speaker, radio personality, writer and host of Good Things Radio Podcast. Brooke will speak about her family especially her daughter Karolina whom they adopted from Poland when she was very young and has since been diagnosed with autism. Brooke will discuss the graces and struggles of being a Catholic mom with a daughter who has special needs. She will also discuss the role of both the Catholic Church and Catholic schools in the formation of her family. For more information on Brooke Taylor, please click on the following link: http://brooketaylor.us
Read moreEpisode 2 - Mrs. Eileen Murtha
This week, I interview Mrs. Eileen Murtha, Special Education Director for the Archdiocese of New York. Eileen will speak about her background with working with students with special needs and their families. She will also discuss the wonderful programs available to families of students with special needs in the Archdiocese of New York. or more information on Eileen or the Archdiocese of New Your Catholic Schools, please click on the following link: https://buildboldfutures.org/elementary/special-education/
Read moreEpisode 1 - Dr. Pamela Bernards
For the first episode, I interview Dr. Pamela Bernards, NCEA Director of Professional Development. Pam will share her background with the show as well as how she came to work with NCEA. Additionally, she will discuss the role NCEA plays in special education for Catholic schools.
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