Special Education Team Leaders
Special Education Team Leader Institute
The Special Education Team Leader Institute (SETLI), in partnership with and funded by the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)’s Office of Special Education Planning and Policy Development, is designed to equip special educational team leaders with tools to foster family and community engagement and improve student outcomes by facilitating team meetings that are collaborative and compliant with regulations and best practices in the field
Our Approach
The Institute provides up to 30 participants with a year of courses and technical assistance that foster their ability to lead Individualized Education Plan (IEP) teams in the development of educational plans that reflect the individual needs of students.
Participants will learn to:
- facilitate team meetings;
- create and write clear and effective IEPs;
- foster good faith relationships and collaboration;
- partner with district leaders to identify and implement a capstone project that addresses a needed change in practice to improve compliance and collaboration; and
- develop support networks to foster the implementation of best practices in the education of students with special needs.
*The SETLI 2024-25 application will be open until May 15, 2024.
Program Details
District Approval
Applicants work with their district leadership, in particular their Special Education Director and/or building level supervisor, to file their application. It is assumed that your district Special Education Director and your direct supervisor will be aware of your application to the program and district or building administrators will approve your release for all scheduled activities. Please ensure you have this permission prior to submitting your application.
This is a state-wide initiative and practices are designed to support compliance with state and federal special education regulations.
The SETLI model will consist of multiple in-person sessions and activities, online learning, a variety of assignments, coaching, and communities of practice, ending with a capstone project.
Audience
This Institute is designed for full time education team leaders or coordinators working in a MA school. These participants should be assigned to chair IEP team meetings for students with disabilities. This includes but is not limited to: Special Education Team Leaders (ETLs), Special Education Teachers, Principals or Assistant Principals, Out of District or Program Coordinators.
This Institute is not designed to support people who are leading 504 Teams in terms of the legal requirements of these plans.
Credit
The Institute provides the opportunity to earn 69 no-cost PDPs, and offers 3 for-cost graduate credits through Fitchburg State University (at an additional cost of $295 for graduate credit).
For SETLI Alums
Those who have completed SETLI in past years may be interested in our Communities of Practice.
Site-Based Options
CES is available to bring the Institute on-site. If you’re interested in district-specific training using the SETLI model, in Massachusetts or other states, get in touch! State departments of education may wish to discuss a statewide approach to leadership development, or districts can customize this learning for their own district teams.
For more information, contact:
SETLI Team
Laurel Peltier
Laurel Peltier holds an Ed.D. in Special Education Leadership and C.A.G.S. in Special Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, as well as a professional license as a Special Education Administrator in Massachusetts. She has over 25 years of experience in transition assessment, planning and service delivery, and has provided leadership for transition in public schools and at the college level. Prior to joining the team at CES, Laurel developed and led public and private secondary school programs for students with disabilities, taught undergraduate and graduate courses in special education and writing, and acted as a consultant and professional development provider for more than 20 school districts in Massachusetts. Her most recent post was with the Amherst Pelham Regional High School. In addition to her professional experience, Laurel brings experience as the parent of a child with autism and intellectual disabilities.
Position: Curriculum and Instructional Specialist in Special Education
Email: lpeltier@collaborative.org
Mary Geiring
Mary A. Geiring is a CES Special Education Co – Teaching and Inclusion Specialist in the Professional Development Department. She holds a Special Education Ph.D. from the University of New Orleans in 2018, a Masters of Science in Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University, and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Sacred Heart University. She is a member of the American Education Research Association, the National Association for Special Educators, the National Association for Multicultural Education, and the Council for Exceptional Children. Her major areas of research include teacher collaboration, teacher preparation, responsive classroom, teacher induction, and inclusion practices. Prior to joining CES, Mary was an LEA Facilitator at Muscogee County Schools in Columbus, GA. Her previous experience includes Program Director of the Special Education and Habilitative Services Department at the University of New Orleans, and over nine years of experience as a special education instructor in school settings.
Position: Curriculum and Instructional Specialist
Email: mgeiring@collaborative.org
Sharon Jones, M.Ed.
Sharon Jones worked in public school districts for 34 years prior to joining the Collaborative for Educational Services, including nine years of service as Administrator of Special Education in the Pioneer Valley Regional School District. She has worked as both a special education and general education teacher; assistant principal; educational diagnostician/consultant; and inclusion specialist. Sharon has taught courses on inclusion for the University of Massachusetts. Sharon is widely known for her expertise in helping schools and teachers adopt the structures, dispositions and skills for effective co-teaching. Sharon coaches co-teachers across the State of Massachusetts, and provides mentorship and guidance for educational leaders. She conducts Professional Development for schools and districts on the topics of inclusion, co-teaching, paraprofessional instructional improvement, differentiation, UDL, disability awareness and ableism. Several times a year, Sharon conducts thorough and in depth inclusion studies for individual schools or school districts which include multiple-year improvement plans. Sharon also co-facilitates the Special Education Team Leader Institute which is a year long training program designed to meet the specific needs of Educational Team Leaders.
Position: Curriculum and Instructional Specialist in Special Education
Email: sjones@collaborative.org