IPASS: Model Programming

for Secondary Students with

Social-Emotional ChallengesACSA Every Child Counts Symposium

January 14, 2015Monterey, California

by Aaron Benton and Jason Johnson with special appearances by Sue Hall, Anthony

Bridi, Kelly Six, Jeff Rosadini, and Sarah Higgins

Redondo Beach Unified School District

Introductions• Aaron Benton, executive director of special education• Jason Johnson, IPASS special education teacher• Sue Hall, former secondary program specialist• Anthony Bridi, assistant principal (over special education)• Kelly Six, school psychologist• Jeff Rosadini, special education department chair• Sarah Higgins, current secondary program specialist

PurposeThis workshop is designed for the new or continuing director , coordinator, psychologist, resource teacher, or program specialist, and interested site administrators.

Goals for today:• Peak your interest• Build on your creative side• Make you look really good• Make you want to try something new• Be efficient with our time• Give you everything you need to get started

Background• Students served in county, non-public school

schools, and residential treatment centers• Costly placements from $25 to $40K plus

transportation costs• Making our mark, seizing opportunity• No lack of confidence we could do it better• Support from the top and high expectations

Leadership in Special Education

• Develop a business and marketing sense• Spend a little and save a lot• Provide servant leadership – kids first• Create a better model• Developing your narrative, your own values

Legacy

from Defending Your Life, Warner Bros., 1991(96% on Rotten Tomatoes)

“Dear Dr. Benton”

This slide courtesy of Paul Goldfinger and School Services of California, Inc.

This slide courtesy of Paul Goldfinger and School Services of California, Inc.

This slide courtesy of Paul Goldfinger and School Services of California, Inc.

Proposal

Proposal

Hiring• The most important criteria for staff for a high

school ED program… R U Cool?• Philosophies around hiring

MEETS

Hiring• Affect• Positivity• Intensity• Volunteerism

Salesmanship• Identifying best candidates to start the class• Secondary program specialist played key role• Discussing the option as preferred at each IEP• Brochures have all your talking points– Home campus; ability to participate in athletics,

clubs, etc.; school to career in your community; therapeutic and coaching design; communication and monitoring; graduation

• Reassuring parents as to the quality of staff

Support/communication• Front-loaded for success– Time for training and discussion before

opening– Material support (computers, curriculum,

equipment)• Support the structure– Rewards, incentives, trips,

staff breakfast– Add-on consultants

as needed– Situation management

Initial Challenges• Academics: Motivation or Ability?

• A High School is a Big Place

• ED is a scary term…

Nicole & Fractions

4/4 - 2/4 = We need to get to

these kids earlier.

Pushback• Fight or Flight

• We are the Cheer Squad & the Power of Recognition

• Trading on Your Name

Monitoring• Is IPASS like Homeroom? – Aide Checklist, To-Do List, Agenda

• Are you an RSP teacher? – Master Schedule, Service Log, IC Checks

• Are you an SDC teacher? – English syllabus, Support syllabus, Student work

• Are you a directed study teacher? – Contract system, Cyber High

Parents• A Partnership from the Beginning – IPASS Parent Night, Progress Emails, Cell Phone*

• Communication Tracker– Documentation, Teleconferences, 2-Weeks

• The Dilemma of Accountability

Tardies, Absences, & AssignmentsCommunication, consistency, &

compassion.

When a student is absent or more than 30 minutes late, you will be contacted

When a student has missed a severe number of assignments, you will be contacted (Please use IC)

When a student is late more than twice a week, you will be contacted

Please remember…attendance is the key with block periods.

From IPASS Parent Night Presentation…

Communication

• The Neverending Story

• Bubbles: Team to Teachers to Counselors to Admin to Program Specialist to Executive Director to Superintendent

• Student-Driven Communication-CC a Student, Action Plans, Following Up w/ Teachers

Student-Driven Communication

Procedures• Structure What You Preach – Agenda, Aide Checklist, To-Do List

• Keep Systems Simple, Stupid. – Binder Check, Pro System, Point Tracker

• The Goals that Keep Giving – Weekly Report, IC Check, Monthly Action Plans

Or…

Curriculum• IPASS– Academic, Social, vocational, college/career– Boys Town & Life Space Crisis Intervention– School To Career– Counseling – Mindfulness – Why Try? – Future: Service Projects

• IPASS-Support– Homework & Classwork Goal-Setting

• IPASS-English– Common Core

Pyramid of Success Industriousness &

EnthusiasmDo Now: What does it mean to be industrious?

List three accomplishments you are truly proud of. Why are you proud of them?

Slide 3: Huck Finn & the Way of Grace Mark Twain Bio & Huck Finn Trailer. How is Mark Twain & Huck Finn related to the Way

of Grace? (2-3 ways)

Amistad Trailer How is the portrayal of slavery in the Huck Finn

Disney Trailer different from the perspective in Amistad?

Read Huck Finn. What 3 things does Huck feel guilty about? Provide 3 pieces of evidence to suggest Huck

follows the Way of Grace.

Instructional Aides• Case manager – Team Leaders, Resource Support, teleconferences

• Counselor– Point Trackers, 15 Minute Walk/Talk, Pos EM/Call

• Teacher– IC Checks, Writing/Math Support, Weekly Report Goals

• Aides are the Engine– Aide Checklist, Agenda EM, To-Do List

Administrative Intervention• Keep it Local

• Seize the Positive

• What is the NEED to know basis?

Mr. Bridi took this photo…

Mental Health• School Psychologist – And the Five-Year War of Balance

• Non-Public Agency Counseling – Finding the Time & Making the Time

• Wraparound Knows Best

Challenges• Attendance: “Fighting a Ghost.”– Morning Calls, IEPs, NPA Counselor

• Academic Transition: “When to fish?” – ESY, IPASS-English, IPASS-Math, IPASS-Support

• Drugs/Alcohol: “A nearly impossible game.”– Thelma McMillan, Why Try Groups, Counseling

Homework• The ‘Focus’ Dilemma: A Tale of Two Settings

• IPASS-Support– Support Goal Sheet– Student-driven goals & emails

• IPASS-Homework Campaign – The Board, the Planner, & the Emails

School to Career• The “Special” Relationship

• Taking it to the Classroom

• Keeping it Relevant

Competition• IPASS GPA – Weekly Goals + Academic Grades

• Team GPA • Class GPA• Leaders

– Classes– Attendance– GPA – Planner of the Week– Good News– Club Watch– Grade Watch

Technology• Professional, Academic, & Social Goals

• Google Education– Docs, Slides, Email, Classroom

• One-to-One Chromebooks

Engagement• Universal Design for Learning• Group Presentations • Common Core Values: Love, Integrity, Empathy

Lesson 1: Students Know Best

• Systems by Student Design • Exit Interviews • Jarred & the Expert Level – Who does it work for?

Lesson 2: Silly Putty Design• Who’s in the Room? – Boys & Girls

• Schedules & Systems – And never failing to be absolutely wrong!

• A Culture of Progress – Takes time…

Lesson 3: Embrace a School• Staff – Give to Get – RBTA, School Site Council,

WASC, Happy Hour, Emails

• Students – Sea Hawk Culture– SSA, Athletics, Clubs, Link Crew

• But, Hawks Need Nests to Start…– It’s About Relationships

My big take-aways

• IPASS and school climate • IPASS and student engagement• ABC’s of behavior modification• Staff as a team of coaches• IPASS for all

Contact information

Aaron Benton, for district office questions(310) 798-8683 x1306abenton@rbusd.org

Jason Johnson, for site or classroom questions(310) 798-8665 x4206jjohnson@rbusd.org