National Black Caucus of Special Educators

The National Black Caucus of Special Educators

The National Black Caucus of Special Educators is a network of educators interested in advancing the education of African American/Black children with disabilities and supporting the professional advancement of African American special educators. The Black Caucus serves as a forum for pre-service students, faculty, educators, and administrators to exchange information, share concerns, and make recommendations to CEC.

Special thanks go out to all those who participated in making the 2009 Black Caucus activities a success. We are in the process of planning 2010 BC activities and would welcome your suggestions or comments regarding future activities of the Black Caucus.

For more information and opportunities to participate in the National Black Caucus of Special Educators contact:

Jannis V. Floyd, President  
29 A First Street                                    
Mansfield, PA 16933  

570 662-4795 (office)   jfloyd@mansfield.edu      

    

2010 CEC Convention Activities - Nashville, TN April 21-24, 2010

National Black Caucus of Special Educators
2010 CEC Convention and Expo
Meetings and Events
All meetings will be at the Gaylord Hotel- refer to CEC Program for room location

Thursday April 22, 2010
Executive Board Meeting
Time: 2:30-4:40 pm
Room: TBA

Friday April 23, 2010
Strand Diversity: Strategies to Increase Educator, Student, and Family Collaboration.
Session 1:  Understanding Diversity   
Leader:  Chauncey Goff, West Virginia University, Morgantown
Time: 8:30 am-9:30 am
Room: Governor D
Session 2: Collaborating Effectively with Asian Immigrant Families of Children with Disabilities
Leader: Lusa Lo, University of Massachusetts, Boston
Time: 9:45 am-10:45 am
Room: Governor D
Session 3: Increasing Student and Parental Involvement in the IEP Planning Process
Leader: Juan Portley, State Performance Plan Improvement Project, Albuquerque, NM
Time: 11:00 am-12:00 am
Room: Governor D
Session 4: United We Stand: Creating an Inclusive Classroom Culture
Leader: Marsha Dempsey, Zarrow Center for Learning Enrichment, Univ. of OK, Norman
Time: 1:15 pm-2:15 pm
Room: Governor D

Student Research Poster Session
Time: 10:00 am-12:00 noon
Room:  TBA

If you are a student, graduate and or undergraduate and would like to share your research please complete and submit the form .  If you know of students who may be interested please share this information with them.   

     General Membership Meeting
Time: 4:00 pm-5:00 pm
Room: TBA

                Social and Scholarship Silent Auction
Time: 7:00 pm-10:00 pm
Room: TBA

We are planning once again to hold a silent auction at the convention in April. The proceeds of this auction will benefit the Scholarship Fund. We need your donations -- any "gift" type items. Last year we had jewlery, pottery, chocolates, scarves, travel mugs, and games. If you are willing to donate send an email with your name, the item and it's estimated value to Jannis Floyd at jfloyd@mansfield.edu. You can bring the item to the convention in April or we can make arrangement to get the item.

 

Saturday April 24, 2010
Executive Board Meeting
Time: 10:00 am-12:00 noon
Room: TBA

 

CEC 2010 Multicultural Institute
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Nashville, Tennessee

The Multicultural Institute will focus on evidence-based interventions for students with exceptionalities from culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Presenters will discuss successful strategies for addressing disproportionate representation (both overrepresentation and underrepresentation) in our schools.

This full-day institute will be held on Wednesday, April 21. Alba Ortiz, University of Texas, Austin, and Donna Ford, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee will serve as co-chairs.

Multicultural Institute Agenda

 

Convention Summary
National Black Caucus of Special Educators
2009 Council for Exceptional Children Convention and Expo
Seattle, Washington

April 2-4, 2009

Meeting and Activities:

• Executive Board and General Membership Meeting
  Election Results
  President Elect:  Vincent Harper
  Secretary:       Sandra Lewis
  Treasurer:       Cassondria Green
  Membership: Doris Duncan
  Newsletter:    Angela McIntosh

Regional Directors
West Coast:    Regina Brandon
Great Lakes:   Regina Canady

Congratulations to our new officers

• Strategic Planning Committees Developed
• President’s Reception
• 3 Session Strand:  Making Change Happen: Empowering educational systems to meet the needs of African American students with exceptionalities

            Developed by Drs. Regina Brandon and Angela McIntosh of San Diego State University

Presenters/Panelists
Dr. Regina Brandon, Assistant Professor, Department of Special Education, San Diego State University
Dr. Angela McIntosh, Associate Professor, Department of Special Education, San Diego State University
Diandra Benton, Jessica Dishmon, Nicholas McIntosh, Graduate Students (Ed. S., School Psychology), Department of Counseling and School Psychology, San Diego State University.
Adrienne McIntosh and Angelia Watkins, Graduate Students and Credential Candidates, Department of Special Education, San Diego State University.
Marsha Dempsey, Doctoral Candidate University of Oklahoma
Vincent Harper, Doctoral Candidate University of Oklahoma
Dr. Michelle McCollin, Assistant Professor Slipper Rock University of PA

• Luncheon:  Guest Speaker Heather Hebdon  STOMP Support for Military Families
• Scholarship Fund Silent Auction and Donations    $128.00

Silent Auction Contributors: Carolyn Cobb, Dorothy Exum, Jannis Floyd, Cassondria Green,Orville Kirk, Angela McIntosh, and Gloria Taradash,

• Membership    Renewed, Life and New:  14 

 

In Memory

Sharonjoy Jackson of Chicago, Illinois passed away on August 10, 2009. She was a lifemember of the Black Caucus and attended regularly our meetings at the national convention. Her participation and dedication to our organization and to CEC will be missed.

 

Student Information

   

Masters Degree in Special Education with
LBSII Certification in Multiple Disabilities

The purpose of Project ACCESS is to develop highly skilled, innovative special education teachers who are able to (a) assist students with low incidence disabilities to access and progress in the general curriculum, (b) create inclusive educational environments, (c) work effectively with culturally diverse populations, (d) incorporate research-based practices into teaching practices and curricula, (e) ensure positive educational and transition outcomes for students with low incidence disabilities, and (f) build strong ties through collaboration with families, teachers, and other professionals.  This program is designed for students wishing to pursue part-time or full-time study at the University of Illinois to obtain a masters degree in special education and an advanced certificate (LBSII) in multiple disabilities.

Unique Features of the Program

• Specialized Coursework and Topical Seminars - Students will receive concentrated coursework that prepares them to educate students with multiple disabilities.  Topical seminars will address advanced skills.

 

• Fieldwork Experiences - Skills learned through coursework will be applied in a 300 hour supervised field experience that enhances leadership in educating students with multiple disabilities.

• Research Experiences - Students will participate in a year long course that focuses on research methods.  The culminating activity of this course (and the program) will be an applied research project focused on implementing interventions with students with multiple disabilities.

 

• Service Learning Experience - All students will have the option of completing a service learning experience as part of their applied research project or supervised practicum experience.

• Traineeships for Full-Time Students - Full-time graduate students will participate in a 10 hour per week paid traineeship experience each semester.  Three types of experiences will be available: a) research, b) service learning, and c) teaching apprenticeship.  In research traineeships, students will engage in research with a faculty mentor to learn more about evidence-based approaches to educating students with multiple disabilities.  Service learning traineeships will enable trainees to perform a service for the local schools that simultaneously enhances the trainee’s learning about educating students with multiple disabilities.  Teaching apprenticeships will involve serving as a teaching assistant in a course that the trainee has already taken in order to provide experience to the trainee in mentoring others in the subject area.

Eligibility

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in special education or a related field
• Current LBS1 certification in special education
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident
• Minimum grade point average of 3.0 out of 4.0
• Demonstrated interest in developing advanced skills in multiple disabilities
• Goals consistent with the program

Program Support for Full-Time Students

• Paid tuition
• A yearly stipend for full-time 9-month participation
• Participation in a cohort with other students pursuing an LBSII in multiple disabilities
• Supervised practicum experience

Program Support for Part-Time Students

• Tuition stipend ($6,000)
• Courses are offered after 4 P.M. in order to accommodate part-time study
• Participation in a cohort with other students pursuing an LBSII in multiple disabilities
• Supervised practicum experience

Masters Program Application Process

Interested applicants should submit an application to the masters program in Special Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by going to the Department of Special Education website at http://education.illinois.edu/sped/AdmissionsMasters.html 

Applications are due November 1 for spring admission.  The deadline for summer and fall admission is April 1.

For More Information Please Contact:

Stacy K. Dymond, Ph.D.,Associate Professor
Project Director, ACCESS
1310 S. Sixth Street
288 Education Building, Mc-708
Champaign, IL 61820
217-244-9763 (phone)
sdymond@illinois.edu

2009-2010 Officers

President: Jannis Floyd

President Elect:  Vincent Harper

Secretary:       Sandra Lewis

Treasurer:       Cassondria Green

Membership: Doris Duncan

Newsletter:    Angela McIntosh

 

Preparing Leaders in Secondary Curriculum, Outcomes, and REsearch (SCORE) for Youth with Severe Disabilities

Opportunity for Doctoral Study at the University of Illinois

The purpose of Preparing Leaders in Secondary Curriculum, Outcomes, and REsearch (SCORE) is to prepare knowledgeable, dynamic leaders in the field of special education with expertise in developing secondary curriculum for students with severe disabilities.  Individuals will actively participate in research, teaching, and service activities with faculty and community collaborators who are already engaged in issues related to secondary curriculum and severe disabilities.

Doctoral Program Support

• Paid tuition
• A yearly stipend for full-time 10.5-month participation
• Annual stipend for conference attendance
• Annual stipend for research materials

Doctoral Program Competencies

Six competency areas focused on secondary curriculum and severe disabilities will be emphasized.  These include:

• Access to the general curriculum in secondary schools and strategies to enhance student outcomes
• Evidence-based research practices
• Disability policy and advocacy
• Cultural and linguistic diversity
• Collaboration in inclusive school and community settings
• Service learning

Program Requirements

The Doctoral Program in Special Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign requires 64 credit hours beyond the master’s degree.  Specialization in severe disabilities and secondary curriculum will be infused in the program through:

• 2 courses that focus on secondary curriculum and transition
• 3 Advanced Topics Courses that address the program’s competency areas
• A bi-weekly SCORE Seminar that provides access to national leaders through videoconferencing and offers participation on a research team with other students and faculty
• A traineeship experience each semester focused on research, personnel preparation, or service learning
• An early research project and dissertation that focuses on severe disabilities and secondary curriculum

Traineeship Experiences

Participants in SCORE will complete a 20 hour paid traineeship each semester that focuses on research, personnel preparation, or service learning (depending on the semester) and allows collaboration with key faculty and leaders in the community.  Five types of traineeships will be offered:

• Collaborative research experiences with the trainee’s advisors on secondary curriculum and severe disabilities
• Research experiences with community members who address secondary curriculum, severe disabilities, transition, disability policy, and advocacy
• Teaching experiences with university classes focused on secondary curriculum and/or severe disabilities
• Supervisory experiences with student teachers in high school settings
• Completion of a service learning project that involves research

In the research traineeships students learn the major research paradigm(s) that their advisor uses to test hypotheses and build theories focusing on severe disabilities, and to collect evidence for research-based practice. In the personnel preparation traineeships, students are mentored in personnel preparation (creating course syllabi and exams, developing/grading assignments, supervising fieldwork) in courses related to the project’s 6 competencies and in supervising student teachers in local schools. Each semester, students are mentored in original research and/or teaching.

A unique aspect of the program is its emphasis on service learning as a method for creating access to the general curriculum in secondary education.  Service learning is a form of pedagogy that enables students to apply concepts learned from the general curriculum to real, authentic situations in the community.  Doctoral students will learn about service learning through their coursework, implement a service learning project related to secondary curriculum through a traineeship, and teach others to use this form of pedagogy through supervision of practicum students or by co-teaching a course related to secondary curriculum.

Doctoral Program Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the SCORE program, a doctoral student must:

• Hold a Master’s degree in special education or a related field
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident
• Minimum grade point average of 3.0 out of 4.0
• 2 or more years of experience with individuals with disabilities in school or community settings
• Goals consistent with the program
• A strong interest in research and teacher preparation in the areas of secondary curriculum and severe disabilities

Doctoral Program Application Process

Interested applicants should submit an application to the doctoral program in Special Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by going to the Department of Special Education website at http://education.illinois.edu/sped/AdmissionsDoctoral.html

For More Information Please Contact:

Stacy K. Dymond, Associate Professor
Project Director, SCORE
1310 S. Sixth Street
288 Education Building, Mc-708
Champaign, IL 61820
217-244-9763 (phone)
sdymond@illinois.edu

Women, minorities and individuals with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.