Events

September 10 or 11, 2024

Building Momentum for Ambitious Postsecondary Transition

Location:

• Jefferson Center, Roanoke (Tuesday, September 10)
• SWVA Higher Ed Center, Abingdon (Wednesday, September 11)
  

Description:  TTAC at Radford University invites educators to register for a fall event focusing on secondary transition planning for postsecondary employment. Building Momentum for Ambitious Postsecondary Transition will help support educators in promoting high expectations for students' employment after high school and reflecting those expectations in their planning, instruction, and collaboration with families and community stakeholders.  Light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Target Audience:  This event is designed for transition specialists/coordinators, special education teachers, administrators, CTE teachers, and school counselors. Event sessions will focus on high quality work-based learning, understanding social security benefits for working adults, how to design IEP transition goals that reflect high expectations, and ideas for involving students in the IEP process.
 

Registration:  Open now!  Space is limited, so register for Building Momentum for Ambitious Postsecondary Transition today.

For More Information: Contact Katie Ginn at [email protected]

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September 13, 2024

Meeting Facilitation Training

Location:  Wytheville Meeting Center, 333 Community Blvd Wytheville, Virginia

Time: 9:00am to 12:00pm (Breakfast snacks provided)

Description:  Join Virginia Tech’s Training and Technical Assistance Coordinators Natalie Howard and Jennifer Baldwin to learn more about meeting facilitation skills.  There are many types of meetings in the education field, but little training on how to conduct a positive and productive meeting.  This training will provide you with actionable tools and tips on how to run a good meeting.  Participants will learn about the various meeting roles and responsibilities, how to create and use an agenda, and actively practice skills learned through team role-play. This training is appropriate for all educators with various backgrounds and years of experience.

Target Audience:  Special education teachers (including new and provisionally licensed), Section 504 coordinators and case managers, administrators, school counselors, school psychologists, general education teachers, and speech language pathologists.

Registration:  Registration for Meeting Facilitation Training is FREE and Open Now!

For More Information: Contact Natalie Howard

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September 17, 2024

2024-25 Ziggurat Model Community of Practice Kick-Off Session

Location:  T/TAC at Virginia Tech office at 250 S. Main Street, Suite #326, Blacksburg VA 24060.  Directions and Parking Info.

Time: 10:00am-2:00pm.  Lunch will be provided.

Description:  Join us for a Community of Practice learning about and practicing the use of The Ziggurat Model, a framework for designing comprehensive interventions, self-help strategies, & adapting services for individuals on the autism spectrum. Additional follow-up Zoom sessions over the course of the school year as well as opportunities for direct coaching will be provided.  T/TAC will purchase access to the Ziggurat modules. Each team member should have their division purchase the Underlying Cllaracteristics Checklist (UCC) Variety Pack Bundle as well as The Ziggurat Model book. The UCC is the tool needed to utilize the model with a student. 

Target Audience:  School teams consisting of any of the following: Special Educators, School Psychologists, School Counselors, Behavior Specialists, General Educators or any educators working with students on the autism spectrum.

Registration:  Registration for the 2024-25 Ziggurat Model Community of Practice Kick-Off Session is Open Now!

For More Information: Contact Jennifer Baldwin

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September 18, 2024

Difference of Disorder: A Collaborative Approach to Educating Bilingual Learners

Location:  Wytheville Meeting Center - 333 Community Blvd, Wytheville, VA 24382

Time: 9:30am-10:00am (registration and light breakfast); 10:00am-3:00pm (sessions and lunch)

Target Audience: School teams supporting dually identified bilingual learners with disabilities.

Description:  Dr. Ellen Kester, founder of Bilinguistics, will guide educational teams to identify the impact of demographic differences, collaborate to reduce unnecessary referrals for special education evaluations, expand evaluation approaches for culturally and linguistically diverse students, design and implement quick teaching sessions to observe learning potential, use results to make confident diagnostic decisions, and write targeted goals based on the results of dynamic assessments. This interactive day will incorporate break out sessions for specific school personnel to discuss case studies and analyze data based on each professional perspective..

Registration: FREE and open now! Space is limited to 200 participants.  Registration deadline September 5, 2024.

For More Information: Contact Kitty Wade.  You may also download and share the event flyer.

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September 25, 2024

VESOL Alliance Southwest

Location:  Wytheville Meeting Center - 333 Community Blvd, Wytheville, VA 24382

Description:  Join us for a full-day, in-person event focused on thematic instruction offering valuable insights and practical strategies to support the diverse learners in your room who have extensive support needs (ESN). Engage in interactive lessons and activities addressing Virginia Essentialized Standards of Learning (VESOL) across grade levels and learn to integrate assistive technology (AT) and augmentative and alternative communication devices (AAC) for inclusive classrooms that maximize student participation. Don’t miss this chance to enhance your teaching approach and connect with fellow educators. Lunch and resources provided.

Target Audience:  Special Education Teacher providing instruction in the Virginia Essentialized Standards of Learning (VESOL) at all grade levels, administrators, related service providers serving students accessing the VESOL, and paraprofessionals working with students with extensive support needs.

Registration:  Registration for the VESOL Alliance event is open now!

For More Information: Contact Matt Newton

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October 4, 2024

Solution-Focused Brief Counseling, Consultation, and Collaboration

Location:  Wytheville Meeting Center - 333 Community Blvd, Wytheville, VA 24382

Time: 9:00am-4:00pm (registration begins at 8:30am).  Breakfast snacks, water, tea, coffee, and lunch will be provided.

Target Audience:  All School Based Mental Health Professionals (School Counselors,  Social Workers, School Psychologists, Mental Health Specialists, Behavior Specialists, etc.), Special Education Teachers, and other interested educators.

Description: The T/TAC at Virginia Tech is excited to have Dr. Russell Sabella, Florida Gulf Coast University professor, author, and so much more joining us for an amazing day. Our hope is that you will leave ready to collaborate with colleagues as you collectively support students and families with these new tools!

Solution-Focused Brief Counseling (SFBC) is a systematic model that will equip participants with the skills to guide students and families towards discovering exceptions to challenges, envisioning positive future behaviors, and harnessing their strengths and abilities for success. SFBC strategies will help students and families derive solutions for themselves, be more involved in their own success, and stay motivated and committed to making lasting changes. Participants will also learn how SFBC fosters solution-focused collaborations among school based mental health professionals, students, families, and teachers.

Registration: Registration for this event is FREE and open now!  If interested, you can purchase Dr. Sabella's book Solution Focused School Counseling: The Missing Manual.

For More Information: Contact Jennifer Baldwin