Cheryl Capozzoli
SLE 708x1
Special Education
Unit 6 Log
When:
Date(s) and
Time(s)
Event
Who was
involved/
What
transpired?
Where did it
occur?
Why is it
eventful?
10/1/12
1 Hour
Meeting with
Special Ed.
Supervisor
Spec. Ed.
Supervisor
Discussion about
preparedness for
the State level
SPED audit.
District
Office
I learned how
the audit of
Newport’s
processes to
be in
compliance
with
state/federal
level IDEA
Chapter 14
and 711
regulations are
maintained on
annual basis.
The director
was in
constantly
talking to
spec. ed
teachers to
ensure
compliance
and of IEP
status and
updates and
classroom
ratio practices
and such.
10/17/12
3 Hours
SEAC Meeting
SEAC
Directors from
CAIU Region
Observed Spec.
Ed. Supervisor
share the new
Spec. Ed.
strategic
planning
requirements.
Discussions
surrounding
updates and
regulations were
in depth and
lengthy.
CAIU
I learned about
the IDEA
regulations
and report
details found
in the new
comprehensiv
e strategic
planning tool.
The
information
necessary was
overwhelming
and having a
special ed.
Cheryl Capozzoli
SLE 708x1
Special Education
Unit 6 Log
subject matter
expert at a
district would
be critical to
ensure that all
IDEA
regulations
and plan
requirements
are met. I can
say that this is
one area that I
need to learn
more about
and have
sought out
information
from
colleagues
here at the IU
to learn more
about LRE,
Assistive
Technology,
Alternative
Placements,
IEP
requirements
and more.
10/11/12
4 Hours
IEP Observations
Special Ed.
Teacher and
Director,
Principal,
parents,
Regular Ed
Teachers.
I observed
update IEP
meetings that
occurred with
Regular Ed,
Special Ed
teacher and
director,
principal, and
parents. The
process of
updating for
many of the
IEPs was not too
difficult. The
review of
student goals,
interventions
and supports
were analyzed
and revised
where needed.
Newport HS
Wow, I
enjoyed and
learned much
from watching
the IEP
conferences
between staff
and parents.
Most IEPs
were not
updated with
much of
anything.
Goals were
reset to
establish more
rigor or
relevance for
each student.
Parents were
able to share
concerns and
Cheryl Capozzoli
SLE 708x1
Special Education
Unit 6 Log
ideas and
supported
most of the
content within
the IEPs.
There was one
parent
however,
justifiably in
my opinion
who was
unhappy with
the plan and
complained
about the lack
of support and
intervention
during the
summer
extended
learning
opportunities
for her deaf
child. This
meeting was
extended to a
second day. I
am not sure
what
transpired, but
hope that it
supported the
student in the
end.
10/22/12
1 Hour
LRE Discussion
Special Ed.
Consultant
LRE Guru
I had a in-depth
discussion with
Sue Kutz about
LRE
requirements for
special
education
students within a
classroom. I
learned from my
colleague that
there are
minimum
required % ratios
CAIU Office
I learned that
our current
practice of
placement for
our special ed.
students is
really not LRE
and should be
analyzed for
further
information. I
will be
meeting with
the director to
discuss my
concerns.
Cheryl Capozzoli
SLE 708x1
Special Education
Unit 6 Log
10/5/12
4 Hours
Special Ed.
Paper for SLE 708
Myself
I did some
research about
the Transition
regulations in
PA on the
current Spec. Ed.
standings within
the district and
learned that
Newport was
recently cited for
not
implementing a
coherent or
regulatory
Transition
Program for Life
Skills Students. I
also learned that
our selfcontained high
school ES
classroom is not
functioning as it
should and needs
to be monitored
more closely to
ensure quality
and regulation
adherence. There
are some red
flags that have
been brought to
the
administration’s
attention in
regards to
inclusion,
teacher support,
student learning
interventions
and cost
effectiveness.
Online
Research
And Phone
Conversations
After
researching
extensively
through online
PDE and Fed.
IDEA
regulations
and
conferencing
with IU
experts about
the current
status of
Newport SD, I
learned that
we needed to
sure up some
current
processes and
practices. I
made my
superintendent
aware of
concerns and
hope to
continue to see
growth in this
area over the
next several
months. I will
continue to
pursue this as
a school board
director and
know that as a
superintendent
it is vital to
provide a Fair
and Adequate
Public
Education to
all LD
students. It
would be
essential that
all programs
are evaluated
and monitored
on a regular
basis and
ongoing
conversations
Cheryl Capozzoli
SLE 708x1
Special Education
Unit 6 Log
with the Sped.
Dir. would be
important for
consistency.
10/17/12
2 Hours
IEP Subgroup Data
Analysis and SIP
Planning
HS Central
Office Staff
Sped. Dir.
I met with the
superintendent
and ed.
consultant and to
review and
analyze special
ed. PVAAS data.
We tracked
trends and
projections at
various schools
and subgroups to
identify school
and district level
concerns. We
created data
packets to use
with school and
district level
plans. I will
continue to meet
and work with
the district
leadership in this
capacity.
Harrisburg
SD
I learned that
in a district the
size of HBG,
it is
impossible to
lead change
alone. The
superintendent
at such a large
district must
keep tabs on
the pulse and
know how to
manage
leadership
without being
a dictator. It is
vital to know
what efforts
are being
made to
monitor at all
levels within
all schools. I
would want to
ensure
effective
leadership at
every
administrative
position and
create internal
capacity and
reliability with
quality staff.
Building
partnerships
with local
community
and board
directors is
huge at such a
large district.
This is no
simple task
and I know
that HBG is
Cheryl Capozzoli
SLE 708x1
Special Education
Unit 6 Log
often in the
paper for
negative info.
but I get to see
the hard work
behind the
scenes. I know
that it takes
time to find
success, and
with principal
changes at
building levels
and school
closures,
sustainability
is not realistic.
Consistency is
the key here,
and without it
success is
temporary.
11/13/12
4 Hours
PBIS Framework
Discussion and
Presentation/Overvi
ew
Administration
Superintendent
Teachers
I had a
discussion and
interview so to
speak with our
PBIS trainer
Alanna
McMullen to
learn more about
the framework
and what it
could offer
Newport SD. I
prepared a brief
overview and
info.
presentation to
share program
with the
administration at
Newport. We
discussed
possible
adoption and
implementation
for next year.
There were
many questions
and concerns so
this has helped
Newport SD
I learned that
there are no
silver bullets,
but there are
programs or
frameworks
that work if
implemented
with fidelity.
Our school
district is in
dire need of
something
foundational
in the
behavioral
arena. We
have no
consistent
handbook and
or code of
conduct within
the schools.
There is no
transition
provided for
our students
who need
structure,
Cheryl Capozzoli
SLE 708x1
Special Education
Unit 6 Log
to open a
dialogue about
the opportunity
to explore
options to
promote a more
consistent set of
core
expectations and
behaviors at all
levels.
guidance and
very clear
behavior
expectations.
The PBIS
framework is
going to be
investigated
and reviewed
for adoption. I
am hopeful
that it will be
to provide a
more
productive and
positive school
climate that
will essentially
result in
improved
academic
success.
11/21/12
1.5 Hours
Assistive
Technology
Discussion Pre IEP
Meeting
Assistive
Technology
Specialist
Discussion about
Assistive Tech
and the
recommendation
and analysis
process in
support students
with special
needs. Beth
Panek shared the
legal
responsibilities
CAIU
I learned that
in order to
recommend
student any
piece of
assistive
technology
there needs to
be an
evaluation
conducted by
someone
certified to
evaluate and
recommend.
This is a legal
requirement.
10/16/12
2 Hours
Occupational
Therapy Meeting
for Concussion
Policy
Occupational
Therapist
Brainsteps
Webinar
Watched a
webinar about
the new
concussion
requirements for
LEAs
CAIU
Online
Listened to the
new legal
responsibilitie
s for LEAs to
train all
coaches and
have them
take an
assessment
after the
Cheryl Capozzoli
SLE 708x1
Special Education
Unit 6 Log
training. Brain
injuries are
serious and
need to be
taken
seriously.
Schools are
liable for
keeping up on
the laws and
Athletic
Directors are
normally the
points of
contact for
sports if there
is an AD and
school nurses
must report
those to the
administration
and inform
parents of
injury.
Amazing that
it has taken
this long to
change the
laws. Maybe
that’s why I
am nuts,
getting hit in
the head too
much on the
field hockey
and soccer
fields.
11/15/12
6 Hours
PVAAS Subgroup
Data Analysis
Training
Regional
LEAs and
PVAAS Team
Provided a day
of support and
training for
Leadership and
SIP teams in
subgroup with a
SPED and other
subgroup focus.
The information
shared offered a
deeper analysis
of school level
data and PSSA
growth and
CAIU
Continued to
learn how
districts are
using data to
inform their
school level
plans. It still is
interesting to
me that
principals do
not know how
to read or
collect the
correct data.
Cheryl Capozzoli
SLE 708x1
Special Education
Unit 6 Log
achievement.
11/2/12
1.5 Hour
Meeting with
HS Special Ed.
Teacher
Special Ed
Teacher
Discussed coteaching
methods and the
need for
professional
development in
co-teaching
methods in
inclusionary
classrooms.
There is much
frustration with
co-teaching and
the level of
intervention
expectations
placed on the
special ed.
teacher. The
level of
communication
between the
cooperating
teachers is
limited since
there isn’t a
common
planning pd. For
each of them. I
asked if she
could record the
difficulties and
share them with
administration
and also request
training and
There are gaps
in leadership
and more
needs to be
done at that
level. I also
believe that all
teachers
should be
given access
to the PVAAS
data to help
inform their
instructional
practices.
Newport HS
I was
concerned that
my district has
co-taught
classrooms
with little to
no training in
co-teaching
practices. The
scores for
Special Ed
students are
not indicating
growth so I am
wondering if
anyone is
monitoring the
effectiveness
of this
initiative. If I
were
Superintenden
t I would
require
quarterly
updates and
formative
assessments to
evaluate coteaching
effectiveness.
Cheryl Capozzoli
SLE 708x1
Special Education
Unit 6 Log
support.
11/3/12
2 Hours
Ability Grouping of
Special Ed. Students
Discussion
Special Ed.
Teachers
I had a
discussion with
my mentor about
the issue of
ability grouping
at the ES and
MS. It continues
to indicate a
negative or no
impact on
student
achievement.
Newport HS
I have
continued the
conversation
about the
ability
grouping
practice at
both the ES
and MS level
10/22/12
3 Hours
Special Ed. Audit
Preparation
Interview
Special Ed.
Director
I called the Spec.
Ed. Director to
discuss how she
was preparing
for the SPED
audit. This
process was one
that needed
organization and
required time to
create checks
and balances.
After our
discussion she
emailed me her
reports about
each component
to be evaluated.
LRE,
identification of
special ed.
students,
requests, IEP
reviews and
updates and
FAPE
regulations.
Phone Call
and Email
Interviewed a
MS Special
Ed. teacher
about her
experiences in
the
inclusionary
classrooms.
She shared
details about
how the
classrooms are
all different
and teacher
preparation
and
instructional
methods vary
within all
classrooms at
various levels.
I asked how
this worked
for her and she
shared
frustration
about never
having any coteaching
training or
protocols
established
before moving
to this level.
11/13/12
2 Hours
Special Ed. Budget
Review
Special Ed.
Dir.
I participated in
the budget
Newport
SD
I learned about
the significant
Cheryl Capozzoli
SLE 708x1
Special Education
Unit 6 Log
11/21/12
3 Hours
Gifted Meeting with
Gifted Teachers in
IU Region
Business
Manager
Superintendent
discussions for
upcoming
budget sharing
sessions. The
Special Ed.
budget is the
largest in the
district. I had no
idea how much
money is
budgeted and
spent in this
area. One of the
things that my
mentor shared
was to expect
the unexpected
with SPED
budgets. New
students,
placements and
support staff are
all areas that
need to be
planned for.
Regional
Gifted
teachers,
guidance
counselors
Observed Gifted
Meeting and
learned about the
state level
regulations in
providing Gifted
ed. options for
students with
costs for
Special Ed.
tuition fees for
placements
outside of the
district. We
discussed our
partnerships
with
Greenwood,
West Perry
and
Susquenita
SDs to help
offset costs of
student
placements
elsewhere. We
also discussed
the costs of IU
education
facilities and
expressed
concerns about
alternate
solutions were
brought to the
surface. It is
amazing how
important it is
to maintain
FAPE regs.
While
developing a
budget. You
need to
prepare for
unexpected
special
transfers,
enrollments
and alternate
placements.
CAIU
I learned more
about the other
side of Special
Ed. so to
speak. I
learned there
are Gifted
requirements
Cheryl Capozzoli
SLE 708x1
Special Education
Unit 6 Log
GIEPS
Total Hours
40 Hours
for GIEP
students and
how they are
to be met
within school
districts.
Tanya helped
to clarify the
compliance
regs to the
attendees and
provided
support for
those in the
process of
school
improvement
and
comprehensiv
e planning.