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Symposium on Special Education

REGISTER NOW

 

Join us for the LMU Carter & Moyers School of Education Symposium on Special Education on October 4th, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 

This Annual LMU Symposium on Special Education is designed to engage educators, administrators, teachers, parents, and advocates in the ever-evolving field of special education. Conveniently located at our Knoxville, Cedar Bluff extended site, this symposium will feature a keynote presentation, interactive discussions, and breakout sessions on critical topics like IEPs, 504 plans, legal considerations, and more. This event will provide valuable insights and practical strategies to help you navigate the special education landscape.

This year's special guests, including national speakers, state representatives, and local experts, will deliver timely insights, practical strategies, and perspectives on the most pressing issues facing educators, families, and stakeholders in educating our exceptional children. 

Space is limited - see sessions below to register and be sure to pass along to a friend or colleague who can benefit from these insights!

Join John McCook, EdD, Associate Professor and featured speaker. 

Schedule

9:00 am – 10:00 am                Welcome and Keynote (Room 184)
10:10 am – 11:05 am              Breakout Session 1
11:15 am – 12:10 pm             Breakout Session 2
12:10 pm – 1:00 pm               Lunch
1:10 pm – 1:55 pm                 Mock IEP
2:00 pm – 2:55 pm                 Breakout Session 3
3:05 pm -3:30 pm                   Closing Remarks (Room 184)

Session

Description

Room

Presenter(s)

KEYNOTE

Our Keynote speaker will provide updates to Tennessee’s new laws regarding behavior and restraints.

 

184

Caitlin Burchette, Attorney

Lewis Thomason Law Firm

Breakout Session One

Dyslexia & Response to Intervention Pt. 1 (Academic)

This breakout session will outline Tennessee’s Dyslexia law and how it relates to students with 504 plans.

 

 

*Jessica Dainty, Ph.D.

Manager of Statewide Dyslexia Strategy, TN Department of Education

*Dr. April Ebbinger, Director of School Psychology and Behavior Supports, TN Department of Education

The Steps of IEP Development

This breakout session will outline the steps that are required once a student is identified as eligible for special education services, as well as the annual review of the IEP.

 

 

Dr. Rhonda Kerr, Assistant Professor, LMU

 

 

Discipline for Students with an IEP

This breakout session will review the process for discipline for students with 504 plans/IEPs. The role of the SRO will be addressed, as well as requirements for physical intervention or isolation as it relates to special education law and student safety.

 

137

Dr. John McCook, Associate Professor, LMU

 

Breakout Session 2

Special Education: A Parent’s View

This session will examine special education from a parent perspective. A guided parent panel will provide first-hand guidance.

 

 

104

*Courtney Piper,

Parent and Advocate

Parent Panel

IEP Goal Writing

This breakout session will provide a framework for identifying a student’s current present level of performance and writing ambitious, SMART goals that address areas of deficit.

 

115

Dr. Rhonda Kerr, Assistant Professor, LMU

 

 

Trauma and Social/Emotional Learning

This breakout session will address strategies to support social/emotional learning.

104

Dr. Jane Laoo,

Assistant Professor, LMU

Dyslexia & Response to Intervention, Pt. 2 (Behavior)

This session will examine the response to intervention from a behavioral perspective. We will examine the question: what supports are available for students with behavior issues and how do we access them?

 

188

*Haley Richardson,

Manager of Intervention, TN Department of Education

*Cindy Stevenson

Behavior Interventionist, Anderson County Schools

Mock IEP

Breakout Session 3

LRE and the Law

This breakout session will address the placement of students, the continuum of services, and the law.

 

137

Dr. John McCook, Associate Professor, LMU

Behavior Supports for Students with ED/ASD/ADHD

This session will explore ways to provide support in the classroom to students with an emotional disturbance, autism-spectrum disorder, and attention deficit disorder. Whether you are a classroom teacher, paraprofessional, or parent, you will learn strategies to help build students build agency in the classroom.

 

115

Dr. Rhonda Kerr, Assistant Professor, LMU

 

 

Resources for Teachers

This breakout session will provide resources for teachers from the Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform Center at the University of Florida.

 

 

137

*Lynne Holdheide

Co-Founder and Senior Advisor

CEEDAR

Child Find: How to Access Resources

This session will investigate how Child Find identifies and supports families in finding resources.

188

*Angela Jackson,

Special Education Supervisor, Hawkins County Schools

Participants will have the chance to choose from multiple breakout sessions on key aspects of special education. Topics include:

  • 504 Plans and Tennessee's Dyslexia Law
  • Steps of IEP Development
  • Discipline Procedures for Students with IEPs
  • Progress Monitoring and Data Collection

Sessions will be led by LMU faculty, as well as experts from the Tennessee Department of Education and Knox County Schools. This symposium is free of charge, but registration is required. Due to limited space, attendance is capped at 120 participants. We encourage early registration to secure your spot.