Special Services Professional Development Academy 2020-2021
Mission Statement
The purpose of the Special Services Academy is to create an opportunity for dialogue and an exchange of ideas and experiences for Directors of Special Services, Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultants, School Psychologists, School Social Workers, and Speech Language Specialists. Through collaboration with university administrators and faculty, the academy will provide professional learning communities that offer growth opportunities for members through sessions which focus on promoting reflective practice and positively impacting student and teacher learning. A network of support and resources for members will be established for developing new experiences.
The BCBA Roundtable is a professional development community comprised of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) who actively provide behavior consultation, training, and assessment in New Jersey public schools. The members of this organization seek to enhance the role of the BCBA in schools through professional collaboration on ethically sound behavior analytic practices, dissemination of peer-reviewed research for applied settings, and integration of scientifically-based interventions in classrooms.
Monmouth University is a verified Authorized Continuing Education (ACE) Provider Organization by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board; members of the BCBA Roundtable earn Type 2 continuing education credits for each professional development event.
Workshop Information
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board certifies that we are an Authorized Continuing Education provider organization.
BCBA Professional Development Academy Membership This membership includes attendance (up to 3 people) at each of the four Roundtables. They will be held on the same dates as the Special Services Academy sessions from 10:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m.
The Special Services Academy will hold 4 virtual workshops this year with topics on timely issues directly related to matters of interest to attendees. Special Services session times are from 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Special Services Professional Development Academy Membership This membership includes attendance (up to 5 people) at each of the four sessions. Attendees can be changed as needed. Sessions run from 1 – 2:30 p.m. The yearly fee for membership in the academy is $200.
Online Workshop Registration Forms:
Workshops Dates
All sessions to be held virtually using Zoom. Dates are subject to change.
Session 1: Tele-therapy – Thursday, October 22, 2020
Session 2: Supporting students through racial injustice and creating inclusive communities – Thursday, December 10, 2020
Session 3: Dyslexia, Literacy, and Distance Learning – Thursday, February 18, 2021
Session 4: Autism Programming – Thursday, April 22, 2021
Additional invitation to attend the Leadership Conference on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 (5 – 8 p.m.)
Special Services Academy Steering Committee
- Natalie Gricko, Supervisor Child Study Team, Woodbridge Township School District
- Assistant Professor Mary Haspel, Ed.D., BCBA-D, Special Education, Monmouth University
- Jo-Ann Johnson, Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant, Point Pleasant Borough Schools
- Assistant Professor Ai Kamei, Ph.D., Special Education, Monmouth University
- Assistant Professor Stacy Lauderdale-Littin, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Special Education, Monmouth University
- Associate Professor Kathryn Lubniewski, Ph.D., Special Education, Monmouth University
- Assistant Chair Carol McArthur-Amedeo, Ed.D., Special Education, Monmouth University
- Erick Nunez, Supervisor, Woodbridge Township School District
Previous Workshops
- Suicide Prevention
- ADHD and Executive Functioning
- Maximizing behavior analytic services in schools
- Considerations & Strategies for Teaching Social Skills
- Criminal Justice Advocacy
- Defensible IEP’s
- Transition
- Mental Health Issues, Concerns, & Dialogue
- Tiered Systems of Support
- Evidence-based Practices for Students with Autism
- Legal Issues
- LRE Implementation
- Assessment
- Reading Approaches and Individualized Reading Programs
- Role of the Social Worker on the Child Study Team
- Dyslexia
- Special Education and Its Relation to PARCC
Additional Information
For more information regarding the Special Services Academy or the BCBA Roundtable workshop series, please send email to soessa@monmouth.edu.