Special Services Professional Development Academy 2021-2022

Mission Statement

The purpose of the Special Services Academy (SSA) 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.

Additional Information
For more information regarding the Special Services Academy or the BCBA Roundtable workshop series, please email soessa@monmouth.edu.

BCBA Roundtable Discussion Dates and Topics

All sessions to be held virtually using Zoom. Time is 10:45-12:45 PM.

Roundtable 1: Friday, October 22, 2021 Teaching Soft Skills in Schools by Mary Haspel, featuring guest speaker Travis Breeding

Roundtable 2: Friday, December 10, 2021 Critical Evaluation of Alternative Therapies for Individuals with Special Needs by Robert LaRue

Roundtable 3: Friday, February 25, 2022 Ethics in ABA (tentative title) by Mary Jane Weiss

Roundtable 4: Friday, April 1, 2022 Strategies for Enhancing Communication between Home & School; panelist discussion with parents/caregivers/school staff, facilitated by Mary Haspel

Special Services Academy Workshops Dates and Topics

All sessions to be held virtually using Zoom. Time is 1-2:30 PM.

Session 1: Friday, October 22, 2021 Topic: Post-Pandemic Legal Concerns Presenter: Caitlin W. Lundquist, Esq. of Busch Law Group

Session 2: Friday, December 10, 2021 Topic: Assistive & Augmentative Communication Presenter: Mike O’Brien of Woodbridge School District

Session 3: Friday, February 25, 2022 Topic: Strategies & Approaches for LGBTQ+ Inclusive Curriculum Presenter: Kate Okeson she/her

Session 4: Friday, April 1, 2022 Topic: Social and Emotional Learning Presenters: Dr. Ai Kamei and Dr. Erik Raj of Monmouth University School of Education

Previous Workshops

Autism Programming
Tele-therapy
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

Special Services Professional Development Academy Membership

The Special Services Academy will hold 4 virtual workshops this year with topics on timely issues directly related to matters of interest to attendees. 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 or non-member per session is $75 (per person).

BCBA Professional Development Academy Membership

The BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst®) Professional Development Academy will host 4 roundtables during the 2021-2022 season. Current membership in the Special Services Academy (SSA) includes free attendance for up to 3 representatives at each of the four sessions that will be held during the school year.

For non-SSA members, the cost to attend a BCBA roundtable is $50 per session per person.

The Behavior Analyst Certification Board certifies that we are an Authorized Continuing Education provider organization.

Special Services Academy Steering Committee

Danielle M. Frith, Specialist Professor, Special Education, Monmouth University
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
Chair Alex S. Romagnoli, Ph.D., Special Education, Monmouth University
Kerri Walsifer, Director of Special Services, Tinton Falls School District