By Gary Fitzherbert, NAPSEC President
The NAPSEC Board's focus remains committed to the future of this admirable association of education professionals. While identifying the needs of the members, the changing impact that the sciences hold in this field tomorrow couldn't be more thrilling to explore. Once must surely acknowledge the pundits and prophetic phrases that capture the fact that more change will occur in the next few years than in the last 30 years, and potential of our students will be unlimited.
Annual meetings of this membership allows for discussions that explore and expand the academic future along with diverse thought that simply energizes the mind. The outstanding work of our committee over the last few years positions a trajectory that address new challenges that may possibly create a new atmosphere in our field.
It is a spark that can develop some i8ntellectual discussions when we pair in our meeting time with a series of vignettes that utilize the changing sciences to carry out our missions to the best of our group's abilities, a brain trust, if you will. In order to facilitate interest there is a series of articles that will be posted on the website that cover a wide array of topics specifically designed for this purpose and how it will affect the future of education. Check out some of these...
On-line education
Teacher and mentors in classrooms
www.inspirieingteachers.com/mentor_teacher.html
Academic motivation for students
www.thefreelibrary.com & type in "student motivation"
Social skills curriculum integrated into the operation milieu (24/7)
http://www.aft.org/pubs-reports/american_educator/winter03-04/goodbehavior_sidebar.html
Moving information in real time
http://Alumweb.mit.edu/opendoor/200307/moving.shtml
Brain based education
http://www.brains.org/articles.htm
Many of these articles and others clearly articulate a need for providing an operating milieu across multiple settings based on a learning approach in the academic, social, emotional areas. Medical and clinical departments are positioned willingly to be re-engineered. Incorporating the physicality into the milieu takes nutrition and exercise to new levels of consideration.
Mental exercise, meditation, bio-feedback, music and creative arts will blend into the environment as well as strengthening the individual child. Books written by Daniel Amen, Healing ADD, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, Making a Good Brain Great, Healing Anxiety and Depression are a good reading choice when looking to plan for the future of special education.
Creating this operating milieu subsequently involves many individuals responsible for carrying out these initiatives. A critical time to transform those who are good teaching or caring professionals to great thinkers who are encouraged to be creative, reflective and take us to the tomorrow that will benefit many. This requires a confident level of leadership that recognizes the need for a bottoms up organization that welcomes and allows for great work to be possible, to believe in the people who can deliver and provide the leadership to believe in them.
If the membership recognizes that great things lie ahead and expediency is inevitable, that the challenge to our leadership is to provide the tools and opportunities we could easily change the face of treatment in this country.
The series of short articles posted to the web site should generate discussion, and should create an interesting dialogue. Should there be a positive response to the "brain trust" idea (a free flow of ideas), we can see about setting aside some time to continue the discussion at the NAPSEC Annual Meeting in January.
I am extremely excited about the future and anxious to move forward. You can reach me at fitzherbertgary@gmail.com
The software is interactive with voice instructions and verbal feed back and combines every new technology available. The screen is so clear with its attached projector it is television clear from the back of the room with all the lights on and windows open in sunlight.
Teachers everywhere, whether they liked technology or not, fall in love with it in a matter of days. The company provides hands on training across the country and the software covers about every subject.
One
should be in every classroom. Would love to have others comment on the
technology of smart boards if they use one.
SMART Technologies
http://smarttech.com/smartboard/
SMART Education
http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-gb
SMART Senteo Interactive System
http://education.smarttech.com
SMART Development Network -
SMARTer Kids Foundation provides opportunities for students and teachers
through grants, research and programs
In 1990, 3% of public schools had a dress code
In 2007, 47% of public schools had a dress code or uniforms
37% of states have passed laws to allow districts to impose dress codes or uniforms www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/54/45/5445.htm
Two large cities, Philadelphia and Hartford, installed uniforms this year K-12 in all schools.
Surveys say it is working, school violence is down, NYC states, by more than 15%.
The Glenholme School has had a formal dress code for staff since 1976 and a uniform dress code for students for more than 20 years and could not imagine ever not having it. So obviously I am very much in favor of dress codes or uniforms.
What
do you think or believe?
MEMO
To: NAPSEC Membership
From: Gary Fitzherbert, NAPSEC President
Date: 02/14/08
Re: Need your insight for the future!
At the last board meeting and with our committee meetings we discussed sending out a survey regarding association services. As we look to the future we are making many changes that hopefully will help each and every member of NAPSEC.
It is important that we keep our eye on the ball and be true to our mission which of course is education. The important services you rely on will of course be maintained going forward. However, we must also realize that the times are changing and changing very rapidly and the association should look ahead and maybe add new services that members need or want that will enable all to meet their mission.
Traditionally, surveys have been sent out to the membership. Also traditionally these surveys tend to re-enforce the past.
We vary in who we serve, how we serve, and where we serve. That stated, we would like to ask that each member to soul search a little and tell us how we might have the most value to you as we go forward. How can the association assist?
We have a planning meeting in July where we will review and develop an action plan for those ideas that would benefit the membership as a whole or a large segment of the association. This can be an exciting time as we utilize the brains of the membership to move us forward. Please let us know what you think! Please send your thoughts by e-mail to gfitzher@devereux.org - The subject line should be NAPSEC's Future
MEMBER RESPONSES...
Dear Gary,
Thanks for your memo of February 14. I believe the future of NAPSEC must be closely aligned with the future(s) of the individuals we serve. Their families are the forgotten heroes here. Their need and support and guidance is often left to the public and private sector/agency referral systems. We have such close respectful relationships with families that we may be the best and most trusted source for them but we have no organized way to reach out. The NAPSEC organization could serve as a link. Most families say, "Where have you been? Why is it so hard to know what's out there?" It's not simply marketing, fundraising or state and federal funding that drives our financial future. We must become proactive in positioning ourselves as an exciting choice. The voucher systems currently in place (and the prospective of more to come) will only be meaningful if people know us and if we can be helpful even if we are not the school of choice. I would like to hear from family, diagnosis, support group representatives and develop partnerships. It's good to have the opportunity for input as we plan. Thanks again,
Sandra Bell
Director
Stewart Home School
Gary,
I would like to see how we can join forces with other organizations that provide education to students that are not public schools. When reading the legislative proposals one was funding for energy upgrades in the public schools. Available funding in this area would help us all save money on what we spend on lighting and heating. The end result would be that we would be able to use more of the tuition for direct student services.
Sherry does a tremendous job assuring that the full continuing of services is in all legislation. Her work in this area needs to continue.
Continue to explore ways that we can provide quality products or services such as Partlow Insurance to the membership. Anyway we can reduce cost is critical for all of us.
Dorothy Van Horn
Executive Director / Superintendent
Brookfield Schools
1009 Berlin Road
Cherry Hill. NJ 08034-3588
(856) 795-8228 ext. 229
