Workshops & Schedule

with Michael McSheehan, Evolve & Effect

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and inclusive education are best realized when they rise together — each aligned with the other, their synergy making both stronger. What are the key actions we can take to build that unity? How can we design MTSS and inclusive education to reinforce, bolster and lift each other? Let’s explore what’s possible when we leverage inclusive education and MTSS together and develop actionable strategies to make a lasting impact in your school community.

with Kory Kutzler, Resilient Edge

Authentic Relational Leadership in Education: This training is designed for educators and school leaders who want to cultivate strong, authentic relationships that enhance collaboration, trust, and positive school culture. Participants will explore key relational leadership strategies, including effective communication, active listening, emotional intelligence, and leading with vulnerability and integrity. Through interactive discussions and practical exercises, attendees will learn how to build meaningful connections with students, colleagues, and stakeholders while fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment. Whether you are an administrator or an aspiring leader, this session will provide actionable strategies to strengthen your leadership impact and create a thriving educational community.

with Michelle Lockwood, All In for Inclusive Education

Research indicates that in recent years problem behaviors at school have increased significantly since pre-pandemic levels. Many students still appear to be developmentally behind in socialization, self-regulation and other executive functioning skills, often resulting in misbehavior. Now more than ever teachers need effective tools to address these changing needs of their students, rather than relying on "traditional" classroom management and discipline practices. This session is designed to help participants apply a layered or tiered approach to selecting evidence-based behavioral interventions to integrate into classroom management plans so that all learners can be successful. Participants will also be given tools they can use to evaluate their existing class behavioral supports, structures, and systems.

with James C. Coviello, Ed.D., NIERC

Creating and sustaining inclusive school communities is both a top priority and challenge for many schools and districts. This session, designed mainly for administrators, explores preliminary findings from a statewide survey of special education leaders and highlights some of the most common barriers and challenges schools and leaders face in implementing inclusive practices. This session will also present a research-based model of short-term professional development designed to support all stakeholders in adopting and implementing best practices in inclusive education. Participants will leave this session with a deeper understanding of the systemic barriers and an actionable framework to help continue to build more inclusive school communities.

with Lauren Baldino, Ph.D., All In for Inclusive Education

In this comprehensive session on co-teaching, we will explore a variety of co-teaching models and delve into practical strategies that foster effective collaboration between educators. Attendees will learn how to implement key procedures and routines that are crucial for ensuring smooth and efficient co-teaching environments. We will focus on the importance of collaborative planning, highlighting specific tools and approaches that encourage mutual decision-making and shared responsibility in the classroom. Additionally, participants will gain insights into classroom management strategies that ensure both teachers maintain an equal level of involvement and authority, promoting a balanced and inclusive learning environment for all students. By the end of the session, attendees will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to create a cohesive and successful co-teaching partnership that benefits both teachers and students.

with Adnan Ezad

Attendees will learn how to use AI for the purposes of differentiation, with respect to best practices in working with students with special needs who are being mainstreamed.

with Melissa Jackson, New Jersey Department of Education

Unlock the power of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to create more inclusive and engaging classrooms! This interactive workshop will provide educators with practical strategies to empower all learners by addressing learner variability and diverse needs. Participants will explore how to design flexible lessons, remove learning barriers, and foster student engagement using UDL principles. Through real-world examples and hands-on activities, attendees will leave with actionable tools to create a classroom where every student feels valued and supported. Join us to discover how UDL can transform your teaching and help every learner thrive!

with Julie Lang, All In for Inclusive Education & Alyssa Rush, Berkeley Heights Public Schools

This session equips administrators and teachers with a framework to support general and special education teams in collaboratively planning inclusive instruction. Participants will explore how to guide educators in integrating Universal Design for Learning (UDL), differentiation, and Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) into unit and lesson planning. The session will model a structured planning process that school leaders can use to facilitate team discussions, provide coaching, and ensure instruction meets the diverse needs of all learners. Attendees will leave with practical tools and strategies to implement this approach at the school or district level, fostering a culture of collaboration and equity in instruction.

with Sara Jutcovich, All In for Inclusive Education

In this interactive session, educators will explore the critical role of high-leverage practices (HLPs) in creating and supporting inclusive classrooms. Through practical strategies and real-world examples, educators will learn how to apply HLPs to foster student success, promote collaboration, and ensure all students thrive in inclusive settings. This training will empower special education teachers with the tools to enhance their teaching and drive meaningful inclusion in every classroom. This session will provide effective and meaningful strategies to help you create pathways to success for all students.

with Jordan Fagan, All In for Inclusive Education

Executive function skills—such as organization, time management, task initiation, and self-regulation—are essential for student success. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to support students in developing and strengthening these skills through personalized tools and adaptive learning strategies. This presentation will explore how AI-driven applications can assist in fostering executive function, with practical strategies for implementation in the classroom.

with Michele Gardner, Arthur Aston, Bob Hulit, Jonathan Williams, Becky Charles Estain, and Sanjit Sundar

All In for Inclusive Education & The ARC of Somerset

During this session, Arthur and Michele will facilitate a panel discussion with self-advocates around inclusive education and inclusive adult communities. Panel participants will share both their positive and challenging experiences from an educational, social, employment, and community standpoint. Panelists will include Raritan Valley Community College Achievement Center Alumni and Committee Members.

with Brittany Seeley, All In for Inclusive Education

This workshop explores how restorative practices can create inclusive learning environments where all students feel valued, heard, and connected. Participants will learn strategies to build a strong sense of belonging, foster meaningful relationships, and address conflict through a restorative lens. Through interactive discussions and practical tools, educators will leave with actionable steps to cultivate a supportive classroom culture that embraces the strengths and voices of all learners.

with Michelle Lockwood, All In for Inclusive Education

At various times students with disabilities may require adult support to access instruction, resulting in assignment of paraprofessionals. Research has shown paraprofessionals often assume too much responsibility for the student, become overprotective, inadvertently interfere with the student’s social interactions, and are sometimes viewed by parents and educators as the student’s primary teacher. Therefore, it is important to view use of a paraprofessional as a temporary measure, with plans established to fade support as much and as soon as possible to encourage independence. While a small number of published guidelines exist for determining the need for a paraprofessional, in the absence of widely accepted decision-making tools, schools are left to develop their own practices. This session is designed to provide participants with tips for doing so, as well as give access to tools that can be adapted for their own use.

with Alicia Raia-Hawrylak, M.S.T., PhD., School Climate Transformation Project, Rutgers University

This session will introduce participants to an innovative free resource called the New Jersey School Climate Improvement (NJ SCI) Survey and Platform, developed by Rutgers University in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Education. The NJ SCI Platform supports school and district leaders in collecting high quality school climate data, analyzing results and prioritizing needs, setting improvement goals, and developing, implementing, and monitoring a strategic plan featuring research-based strategies for improving school climate. The presentation will provide an overview of the NJ SCI Platform emphasizing tools and practices for promoting the development of inclusive environments for all students.

with Barbra Seltzer, M.S., CCC-SLP, ATP (Access Communication and Therapy, LLC) & Kate Flaxman, M.S., CCC-SLP (Advancing Opportunities)

Transitioning from the school setting to adult programming presents many challenges for AAC Users, their families and their clinical/educational team. This webinar will highlight different goals and implementation strategies that need to be considered when helping students who use AAC through this important transition. In addition, vocabulary considerations will be discussed. Finally, how and when to obtain AAC equipment and services through the adult system will be demystified.

with Michael McSheehan, Evolve & Effect

This session brings abstract policy into tangible practice using film, photos, and real-life examples. Participants will enhance their capacity to leverage placement + supplementary aids and services to achieve the promise of IDEA: a sense of belonging and participation by students with disabilities, in the classes and school they would attend if they did not have a disability. Practical and usable resources, tools, and guides included!

with Michael McSheehan, Evolve & Effect

We will explore two key inclusive practices: 1) a new lens for examining and designing student supports aligned with inclusive education, and 2) easy-to-use methods for intensifying instruction in general education to reduce the burdens of pull-out intervention. Participants will practice with real-life examples to determine if the supports used are universal, aligned, alternate, or restrictive. Participants will be introduced to five methods for intensifying and embedding instruction in Tier 1 by leveraging EMMET: Educators, Methods, Materials, Environment, and Time. Practical and usable resources, tools, and guides included!

with Dr. Kim Pinckney and Camy Kobylinski, NJEA

This engaging workshop utilizes Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop's powerful metaphor of windows, mirrors, and sliding doors to examine the critical role of representing people with disabilities in creating an inclusive K-12 ecosystem. Moving beyond mere compliance and tokenistic inclusion, we delve into the profound impact of showcasing the diverse contributions, lived experiences, and perspectives of individuals with disabilities across the curriculum and school culture.