Coach Me If You Can podcast

On this episode, Kristie and Sheena talk with Kim Brown about her expansive work with the Verbal Behavior Milestones and Placement Program (VB-MAPP).  Kim Brown has been working in the field of special education for the past 23 years in a variety of roles including a teaching assistant, special education teacher, instructional and behavioral coach, principal/Program Director, Coordinator for Autism Programming and Director of Professional Learning from Early Childhood to High School.   Her work centers around special education programming and best practices in assessment, curriculum development and instruction. In addition she works with educational leaders to develop an infrastructure to maintain systems of support around professional learning goals and implementation to provide continuous short term and long term growth for educational teams.   In the episode, we talk with Kim on the student benefits of utilizing the data from the VB-MAPP assessment to learn more about your students, how this data can be intertwined with how to deliver instruction and curriculum to students across all areas, the importance of understanding verbal behavior for all educators, and overall some helpful tips and suggestions for teams when it comes to getting started on the assessment and teaching to use the results.    Listeners can find more information on Verbal Behavior Milestones and Placement Program on Mark L. Sundberg's website, The Pattan Website- which includes a lot of video explanations, and utilizing NSSEO's coaches/consultants especially when it comes to getting started. 

For over 40 years, Don Johnston, founder and CEO of Building Wings, has helped students and teachers build literacy skills through specially-designed curriculum and assistive technology. His technologies, implementation, and personal connections have made the impossible possible in over 32,000 schools across America. At the heart of Don's endeavors is inspiration gained during his personal journey as a reader who struggled in school. In eighth grade, a teacher recognized his potential and helped him think and learn in non-traditional ways. This is the philosophy behind all of Don's product development and company endeavors. Through Don's leadership and long-standing partnerships with interdisciplinary experts, Building Wings is creating special education resources to help many more students reach new heights in their literacy development.

On this episode, Danielle and Sheena talk with Dr. Robert Pennington about his expansive work with individuals with complex learning needs and how to program for students using high leverage practices. Rob is a former special educator, well accomplished professor, BCBA, and leader in educational research. His current research focuses around high leverage practices as well as innovative educational methodologies of using technology and robots within the classroom. In the episode, we talk with Rob about the importance of showing teachers how to use High Leverage Practices in order to make data-based decisions for their students, as well as help teachers feel empowered over their instruction and programming for students with more intense and severe needs. Listeners can find more information about Rob's work around HLPs on the University of Kentucky's website as well as purchase his book, Applied Behavior Analysis for Everyone: Principles and Practices Explained by Applied Researches Who Use Them, on Amazon.

On this episode, Tara and Danielle talk with Dr. Karen Erickson about a few of the free resources available for educators who support students with complex learning profiles. Karen is a former teacher of students with significant disabilities. Her current research addresses literacy and communication assessment and intervention for students with extensive support needs, as well as the supportiveness of augmentative and alternative communication in interaction. Karen and her colleague's recent projects have focused on creating open-source professional development and implementation supports such as those available in Project VC (projectvc.org), Project Core (project-core.com) and Tar Heel Shared Reader (sharedreader.org).   On the show, Karen recommended that teachers explore the DLM Professional Development modules ASAP! She also shared information about Building Bridges which currently has videos to describe each of the conditions for learning outlined in Chapter 2 Comprehensive Literacy for All. In the future, this website will have lesson plans and instructional resources, once they are ready.    You can buy Karen and David's book Comprehensive Literacy for All on the publisher's website or on Amazon.

Nicole Burke and Beth Mand interview Dr. Ross Greene

Nicole Burke and Beth Mand interview Dr. Ross Greene

Join Kristie Wurglitz and Maureen Brandywine as we talk to Karen Erickson. Karen Erickson, Ph.D. is the Director of the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies, a Professor in the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, and the Yoder Distinguished Professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences, School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research addresses literacy assessment and instruction for struggling readers of all ages including those with significant disabilities. Karen is co-developer of the Tar Heel Reader online library of accessible books for beginning readers, as well as several other assistive and learning technologies. She is a former teacher of children with significant disabilities. 

Jimmy served twenty-two years as a school leader. He is a best selling author, speaker, leadership coach, and a state and national award winning principal. Under Jimmy's leadership, Bettendorf High School was named one of the best high schools in the country three times by Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report. JImmy was named the 2012 Iowa Principal of the Year and was runner-up NASSP 2013 National Principal of the Year. In 2014, Jimmy was invited to the White House to speak on the Future Ready Pledge. Finally, in 2015, he received the Bammy Award for the National Principal of the Year. Join Kristie and Rylee as we listen in on Jimmy Casas answers on the latest concerns facing teachers and administrators today. 

Join us for an exciting interview with Kelly Maher with NSSEO District Coach Kristie Wurglitz and Kirk School Occupational Therapist Julie Hollamby. In this episode, we dive deeper into Interoception discussing how to utilize this with students, where to start, steps to support staff, replacing compliance with curiosity, and increasing motivation amongst students and staff.  

Join us for an exciting interview with Elena Aguilar and NSSEO District Coaches Kristie Wurglitz and Beh Mand. In this episode, we talk through cultivating resilience through the pandemic, Coaching roles, lifelong learning, and how to create fun and engaging professional development opportunities.

Rylee Coteus and Nicole Burke discuss available trainings coming this summer.

Our NSSEO coaches discuss topics surrounding BCBA

Join us for a dynamic interview with Daniel Pink and NSSEO District Coach Kristie Wurglitz. And Professional Learning Coordinator, Stacy Colgan. In this episode we discuss several of Daniel's best-selling books and topics such as engagement, autonomy, and creativity.

Stacy Colgan talks to 1st year mentee Domnika Mac on how her year is going and gives advice for future mentees.

Join us for a dynamic interview with Paula Kluth and NSSEO District Coaches Kristie Wurglitz and Nicole Burke. In this episode we discuss keys to facilitating meetings and beyond.

Join us for a dynamic interview with Key2Ed facilitators Robin O'Shea and Cassie Velasquez., and NSSEO District Coach Rylee Coteus. In this episode we discuss keys to facilitating meetings and beyond.

Join us for a dynamic interview with Orly Klapholz and NSSEO District Coach Amie Krummick. In this episode we discuss keys to facilitating meetings and beyond.

Join us for an enlightening interview with NSSEO district coach Kristie Wurglitz, NSSEO Professional Learning Coordinator Stacy Colgan, and author William D. Parker. In this episode we discuss ways to practice self-care in order to help others, find solutions, and reach goals.

Join us for an informative conversation between NSSEO district coaches Kristie Wurglitz and Rylee Coteus. Our NSSEO coaches share out different tips and ideas on how to close out your classroom and prepare for summer.

Join us for a mindful conversation with Dr. Kristen Brendel and NSSEO district coaches Amie Krummick and Rylee Coteus.

Join us for an engaging conversation between NSSEO district coaches Amie Krummick and Rylee Coteus as they share out the bright sides of the consistent inconsistency brought out by the pandemic.

Our debut episode. In this episode of Coach Me If You Can, host Rylee Coteus interviews Northwest Suburban Special Educational Organization's Superintendent Dr. Judy Hackett. Join us for captivating interview where we discover the importance of the work at NSSEO and dig into the work of Simon Sinek to understand the why at NSSEO and how it translates between work and home.