Attract, Prepare, Retain: OSEP National Summit on Improving Effective Personnel for Children with Disabilities

 

Attract, Prepare, Retain: OSEP National Summit Image

The Office of Special Education Programs hosted the  Attract, Prepare, Retain: OSEP National Summit on Improving Effective Personnel for Children with Disabilities on October 27-29, 2020! 

About the 2020 OSEP Summit


The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) hosted a virtual summit focusing on strategies to attract, prepare, and retain effective personnel—general and special education teachers, early childhood personnel, and related services providers—who have the knowledge and skills needed to provide effective instruction, interventions, supports, and services to children with disabilities. This topic disproportionately affects children with disabilities and their families due to the many unfilled positions and high attrition rates among special education teachers, early childhood personnel, and related services providers.  Improving how we attract, prepare, and retain effective personnel for children with disabilities is a critical need that will only be resolved by prioritized and collaborative efforts. We thank you in advance for your efforts toward this endeavor. 

The 2020 OSEP Summit provided an opportunity to bring together various stakeholders to explore potential strategies and innovative approaches to address this critical need. The virtual event was held over three days and participants had the opportunity to register for each event individually or attend all three. The schedule for the summit, as well as links to the archive for each day can be found below. 

2020 OSEP Summit Agenda and Archives

All Events were facilitated by Laurie VanderPloeg, OSEP Director

Tuesday October 27, 2020:  Panel on Attracting Effective Personnel Archive (View Attract Panel)  

  • Outside Perspective: Anne McBride – Deputy Director, Torribera Mediterranean Center

Panel Discussion with Q&A  

  • Dan Brown – Director of National Engagement, EdTech Evidence Exchange
  • Dana Edwards – Director of Certification and Staffing, Office of Human Resources and Development, Montgomery County Public Schools (MD)
  • Roy Jones – Director, Call Me Mister Program, Clemson University

Leverage Points for Special Education and Summary: Lisa Dieker – Pegasus Professor and Lockheed Martin Eminent Scholar, University of Central Florida

Wednesday, October 28, 2020: Panel on Preparing Effective Personnel Archive (View Prepare Panel)

  • Outside Perspective: Erin Maughan – Director of Research, National Association of School Nurses (NASN)

Panel Discussion with Q&A  

  • Cathy Kea – Professor of Special Education, North Carolina A&T State University
  • Naomi Ondrasek – Senior Researcher and Policy Advisor, Learning Policy Institute (LPI)
  • Robert Pianta – Dean, University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development

Leverage Points for Special Education and Summary: Erica McCray – Director and Associate Professor, University of Florida and Co-Principal Investigator, CEEDAR Center

Thursday, October 29, 2020: Panel on Retaining Effective Personnel Archive (View Retain Panel)

  • Outside Perspective: Peter Banerjea – Co-Founder and CEO, StartUp Voyager

Panel Discussion with Q&A  

  • Jeffrey DeWitt – Chief Financial Officer (CFO), District of Columbia
  • Rebecca Hines – Associate Professor and Academic Program Coordinator, University of Central Florida
  • Mansa Joseph – Assistant Principal of Instruction, Irmo Middle School, Lexington and Richland School District 5 (SC)
  • Troy Smith – Consulting Manager, Public Impact

Leverage Points for Special Education and Summary: Mary Morningstar – Professor, Department of Special Education, Portland State University (OR) and Co-Director, ThinkCollege Inclusion Oregon

2020 OSEP Summit Panel Biographies

 

Attract, Prepare, Retain Resources Page

OSEP has launched a new Attract, Prepare, Retain resources page!  Here you will find research and resources for stakeholders to explore potential strategies, innovative approaches, and additional resources regarding this topic!

CLICK HERE to visit the Resources Page