2001
Update on OSPI Inclusive Learning Environments
by:
Kathy Bartlett
*Note:
for an introductory overview of the OSPI Inclusion Project, click
here.
A celebration /conference
was held on March 19th and 20th for the grant sites to discuss barriers
and solutions, share about their schools, network with like school
positions, and begin development of the next year's action plans.
Drs. Jo and Mike Jakupcak from the University of Montana facilitated
the conference. Speakers included Dr. Doug Gill, OSPI Special Education
Director, Pat Steinburg from Washington Education Association, B.J.
Wise, OSPI Assistant Superintendent, and Dee Dickinson, CEO of New
Horizons for Learning. It was an honor for me to be among such gifted
and dedicated educators.
The main messages
I would like to share from the OSPI sites' presentations are the structures
they have developed for team leadership and inclusive learning environments
and implementation of specific teaching strategies. This information
can be accessed by clicking on the links at the end of this article,
or by navigating to the participating
sites' information page of New Horizons for Learning's website
and choosing a school or district project site. This area will continue
to be developed, as more strategies are made available.
It has been an exciting two-and-a-half years becoming acquainted with
staff at each site. I have watched them grow in confidence and expertise
as the staff shared their stories in presentations. The special education
teachers at each site are finishing the second full year of testing
special education students using three different reading measurements.
It has been inspiring to watch Kulshan Middle School, Columbia Middle
School, and Nathan Hale High School implement reading instruction
at their schools and hear their excitement about students' reading
gains.
All
the grant sites welcome telephone calls, emails, and visits. Please
feel free to contact the schools.
Columbia
Middle School
Crestwood
Elementary
Daffodil
Valley Elementary
Emerald
Hills Elementary
Kulshan
Middle School
Lakeridge
Junior High
Liberty
Ridge Elementary
Maple
Lawn Elementary School
Nathan
Hale High School
Orchard
Center Elementary School
Sumner
High School
Sumner
Junior High School
Sumner
Preschool Program
Victor
Falls Elementary School
About
the Author:
Several
years ago Kathy moved from Montana to Olympia to live near her
90 year old father and enjoy the beauty of the Northwest. She
is a special education teacher and has also taught general education,
adult education classes, and collaborative classes for 15 years.
Currently, she is the program supervisor for the Inclusion Project
under the Special Education Department at OSPI. In her many
adventures, Kathy has ridden a motorcycle to Sturgis, South Dakota,
ridden camels in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia at a dinosaur dig, and
driven to University of Washington classes at I-5 rush hour.
She is the mother of two daughters, Amy and Kara. Contact Kathy
Bartlett at (360) 586-4804 or kbartlett@ospi.wednet.edu
with questions regarding the inclusion project.
This
article is in the public domain and can be freely copied and
used in trainings as handouts at parent and community meetings,
and in creating your school or district programs. (Please
cite all sources of materials you use.)
This
information is provided by:
Office of State Superintendent of
Public Instruction
Special Education
P O Box 47200
Olympia, WA 98504-7200
(360) 725-6088
Fax (360)586-1631
E-mail:
dgill@ospi.wednet.edu
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