This week I am joined by Dr. Gail Donahue, Director, Academy of Catholic Educators
(ACES) at Notre Dame of Maryland. Gail talks about her experiences as director for ACEs and the wonderful work they are doing to include students with special needs in the classroom. Gail also mentions the possible roadblocks that may occur when trying to include students with special needs in the classroom and in schools while offering practical advice to schools that would like to include exceptional learners. For more information about ACES, please visit www.ndm.edu/ACES.
For more information about Gail, please email her atgdonahue@ndm.edu.
Read moreThis week I am joined by Dr. Maggie Hubbard, former Director of Special Education for the Archdiocese of Washington, DC and currently a coach with Academy of Catholic Educators (ACES) at Notre Dame of Maryland. Maggie talks about her experiences not only as a former special education director but as a first-grade teacher. She speaks about reading and the processes necessary for developing reading habits and also explains some sound strategies for reading success in the classroom. For more information about Maggie, please email her at maggie.w.hubbard@gmail.com.
Read moreThis week I am joined by Sedonna Prater, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee. Sedonna talks about her background and her role in the Diocese of Knoxville. She also talks about English Language Learners and what the difference is between them and an exceptional learner. For more information about the Diocese of Knoxville schools, please visit, https://dioknox.org. For more information about Sedonna, please email her at sprater@dioknox.org.
Read moreThis week I am joined by Dr. Janette Boazman, Associate Professor, for the Department of Education at the University of Dallas. Janette talks about her roles at the University of Dalls as wells as the courses she teaches. She details some models for giftedness as well as a discussion on what rigor should look like for students who are gifted. For more information about the University of Dallas. please visit https://udallas.edu/constantin/academics/programs/education/index.php. For more information about Janette, please email her at jboazman@udallas.edu
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This week I am joined by Sr. Edward Quinn, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools. Sister Edward talks about her background and her very large family. She shares what here role looks like at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and speaks about her vision for including exceptional learner in Philadelphia through accommodations, assessment, and instruction. For more information about the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit http://www.aopcatholicschools.org. For more information about Sr. Edward Quinn, please email her at sr.equinn@archphila.org.
Read moreThis week, I am joined by Mrs. Doreen Engel, Adjunct Faculty Member & Professional Development Consultant for the Greeley Center for Catholic Education out of out of the University of Loyola Chicago. Doreen talks about her new role at the Greeley Center. She discusses Catholic social justice and how teachers can incorporate Catholic social teaching in their classrooms t maximize including all learners. For more information about the Greeley Center, please visit https://www.luc.edu/gcce/index.shtml. For more information about Doreen, please follow her on Twitter @engelworks or email her at engelworks@mail.com.
Read moreThis week I am joined by Dr. Julie Cantillon, Associate Director for the Office of Schools for the Diocese of San Diego. Julie talks about her role as Associate Director and what those duties look like as well as talking about the exceptional learners in her diocese. She talks about the learning supports available to teachers in her diocese for working with exceptional learners and pays tribute to those in the field of Catholic special education who are leading the charge and providing supports for her teachers. For more information about the Diocese of San Diego, please visit https://www.sdcatholic.org/schools/elementary.aspx. For more information about Julie, please email her at jcantillon@sdcatholic.org.
Read moreOn the first show for Season 2, I am joined by Sr. Dale McDonald, Director of Public Policies for NCEA. Sr. Dale talks about her background as well as what led her to NCEA. She spends some time detailing ESSA and IDEA as well as its impact on Catholic schools. Finally she discusses how school choice works and its effects on Catholic schools. For more information about Sr. Dale, please email her at mcdonald@ncea.org.
Read moreOn our last episode of the school year, I am joined by Mrs. Marcey Ayers, Director of Special Programs for the Archdiocese of Miami in Miami Florida. Marcey talks about all the different roles she held in special education and her journey to the Archdiocese of Miami. She details her passion for special education for the Archdiocese and her vision for inclusive education. For more information about, Marcey, please email her at mayers@theadom.org. For more information about the Archdiocese of Miami schools, please visit https://www.miamiarch.org/2013_adom/CatholicDiocese.php?op=Office_of_Schoo
Read moreThis week I am joined by Ms. Brighid McGann, Resource Director, for Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Bethesda, Maryland. Brighid discusses her background and what led her to work at Our Lady of Lourdes. She also discusses how the students are inclusively educated at the school and how the teachers differentiate the instruction for each student. For more information about Brighid, please email her at bmcgann@bethesda-lourdes.org. For more information about Our Lady of Lourdes, please visit https://www.bethesda-lourdes.org.
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This week I am joined by Mr. David Faber, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Grand Rapids in Michigan. Dave talks about his role as superintendent and what led him to that position for Grand Rapids. He also discusses his vision for special education and highlights some success stories of inclusion in the diocese. For more information about Dave, please email him at dfaber@dioceseofgrandrapids.org. For more information about the Diocese of Grand Rapids Schools, please visit http://www.dioceseofgrandrapids.org/schools/Pages/Schools.aspx#.Wq3RrmaZMWo.
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This week I am joined by Mrs. Valerie Mara, Assistant Superintendent of Academics for the Archdiocese of Hartford’s Catholic Schools. Val discusses all the various roads that led her to the Archdiocese of Hartford’s Catholic schools from working with troubled youth to assistant superintendent. She details her academic and testing role in curriculum for the Archdiocese as well as her passionate vision for special education including her detailed plan for working with students with disabilities. For more information about Val, please email her at valerie.mara@aohct.org. For more information about the Archdiocese of Hartford, Catholic Schools please visit http://catholicedaohct.org/about
Read moreThis week I am joined by Mrs. Kathy Mears, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Boston. Kathy discusses her role as superintendent for the Archdiocese of Boston and her journey to there as a former teacher and creator of special education programs in other dioceses. Kathy also discusses special education programs in her Archdiocese and the successes of their programs. She offers ideas to other dioceses for beginning special education programs. For more information about Kathy, please email her at Kmears@rcab.org. For more information about the Archdiocese of Boston schools, please visit http://www.bostoncatholic.org/CatholicSchoolsOffice.aspx.
Read moreThis week I am joined by Ms. Debbie Orr, Head of School at Notre Dame Academy, in Duluth, GA. Debbie discusses her journey to Notre Dame Academy and what led to the school's creation. She also discusses the students that are serviced at Notre Dame Academy from "diapers to diplomas" as she calls it. She talks about how the school is meeting the needs of their diverse populations as the move through the grade levels. For more information about Debbie, please email her at dorr@ndacademy.org. For more information about Notre Dame Academy, please visit https://www.ndacademy.org.
Read moreThis week I am joined at the 2018 NCEA Conference by Dr. Timothy Uhl, Superintendent of Montana Catholic Schools. Tim presents a session at the conference on how to podcast including subscription services and how to publish. We also sit down and speak about the joys of podcasting and my background in special education. He also discusses past guests and takes questions from the audience. For more information about Tim, please email him at uhltimothy@gmail.com. For more information about Catholic School Matters, please visit drtimuhl.com.
This week I am joined at the 2018 NCEA conference in Cincinnati by Dr. Shauna Adams, Associate Professor of Early Childhood at the University of Dayton. Shauna talks about Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP), what they are and what they look like in the early childhood classroom. She also discusses the difference between delay and disability and the five areas of delay. She also addressed ways delays can be addressed in the classroom and by parents at home. Finally, she offers advice to early childhood teachers on working with young children.
Read moreThis week I am joined at the 2018 NCEA Conference by Dr. Timothy Uhl, Superintendent of Montana Catholic Schools. Tim presents a session at the conference on how to podcast including subscription services and how to publish. We also sit down and speak about the joys of podcasting and my background in special education. He also discusses past guests and takes questions from the audience. For more information about Tim, please email him at uhltimothy@gmail.com. For more information about Catholic School Matters, please visit drtimuhl.com.
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