IPASS: Model
Programming
for Secondary Students
with
Social-Emotional
ACSA Every Child Counts Symposium
Challenges
January 14, 2015
Monterey, California
by Aaron Benton and Jason Johnson
with special appearances by Sue Hall, Anthony Bridi,
Kelly Six, Jeff Rosadini, and Sarah Higgins
Redondo Beach Unified School District
Introductions
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Aaron Benton, executive director of special education
Jason Johnson, IPASS special education teacher
Sue Hall, former secondary program specialist
Anthony Bridi, assistant principal (over special education)
Kelly Six, school psychologist
Jeff Rosadini, special education department chair
Sarah Higgins, current secondary program specialist
Purpose
This workshop is designed for the new or continuing
director , coordinator, psychologist, resource teacher, or
program specialist, and interested site administrators.
Goals for today:
• Peak your interest
• Build on your creative side
• Make you look really good
• Make you want to try something new
• Be efficient with our time
• Give you everything you need to get started
Background
• Students served in county, non-public school
schools, and residential treatment centers
• Costly placements from $25 to $40K plus
transportation costs
• Making our mark, seizing
opportunity
• No lack of confidence
we could do it better
• Support from the top
and high expectations
Leadership in Special Education
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Develop a business and marketing sense
Spend a little and save a lot
Provide servant leadership – kids first
Create a better model
Developing your narrative, your own values
Legacy
from Defending Your Life, Warner Bros., 1991
(96% on Rotten Tomatoes)
“Dear Dr. Benton”
This slide courtesy of Paul Goldfinger and School Services of California, Inc.
This slide courtesy of Paul Goldfinger and School Services of California, Inc.
This slide courtesy of Paul Goldfinger and School Services of California, Inc.
Proposal
Proposal
Hiring
• The most important criteria for staff for a high
school ED program…
• Philosophies around hiring
MEETS
Hiring
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Affect
Positivity
Intensity
Volunteerism
Salesmanship
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Identifying best candidates to start the class
Secondary program specialist played key role
Discussing the option as preferred at each IEP
Brochures have all your talking points
– Home campus; ability to participate in athletics,
clubs, etc.; school to career in your community;
therapeutic and coaching design; communication
and monitoring; graduation
• Reassuring parents as to the quality of staff
Support/communication
• Front-loaded for success
– Time for training and discussion
before opening
– Material support (computers,
curriculum, equipment)
• Support the structure
– Rewards, incentives, trips,
staff breakfast
– Add-on consultants
as needed
– Situation management
Initial Challenges
• Academics: Motivation or Ability?
• A High School is a Big Place
• ED is a scary term…
Nicole & Fractions
4/4 - 2/4 =
We need to get to
these kids earlier.
Pushback
• Fight or Flight
• We are the Cheer Squad & the Power of
Recognition
• Trading on Your Name
Monitoring
• Is IPASS like Homeroom?
– Aide Checklist, To-Do List, Agenda
• Are you an RSP teacher?
– Master Schedule, Service Log, IC Checks
• Are you an SDC teacher?
– English syllabus, Support syllabus, Student work
• Are you a directed study teacher?
– Contract system, Cyber High
Parents
• A Partnership from the Beginning
– IPASS Parent Night, Progress Emails, Cell Phone*
• Communication Tracker
– Documentation, Teleconferences, 2-Weeks
• The Dilemma of Accountability
From IPASS Parent Night Presentation…
Tardies, Absences, & Assignments
 Communication, consistency, & compassion.
 When a student is absent or more than 30
minutes late, you will be contacted
 When a student has missed a severe number of
assignments, you will be contacted (Please use
IC)
 When a student is late more than twice a week,
you will be contacted
 Please remember…attendance is the key with
block periods.
Communication
• The Neverending Story
• Bubbles: Team to Teachers to Counselors to
Admin to Program Specialist to Executive Director
to Superintendent
• Student-Driven Communication
-CC a Student, Action Plans, Following Up w/ Teachers
Student-Driven Communication
Procedures
• Structure What You Preach
– Agenda, Aide Checklist, To-Do List
• Keep Systems Simple, Stupid.
– Binder Check, Pro System, Point Tracker
• The Goals that Keep Giving
– Weekly Report, IC Check, Monthly Action Plans
Or…
Curriculum
• IPASS
– Academic, Social, vocational, college/career
– Boys Town & Life Space Crisis Intervention
– School To Career
– Counseling
– Mindfulness
– Why Try?
– Future: Service Projects
• IPASS-Support
– Homework & Classwork Goal-Setting
• IPASS-English
– Common Core
 Do Now: What does it mean to be industrious? List
three accomplishments you are truly proud of. Why
are you proud of them?
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Mark Twain Bio & Huck Finn Trailer.
How is Mark Twain & Huck Finn related to the Way of
Grace? (2-3 ways)
Amistad Trailer
How is the portrayal of slavery in the Huck Finn Disney
Trailer different from the perspective in Amistad?
Read Huck Finn.
What 3 things does Huck feel guilty about?
Provide 3 pieces of evidence to suggest Huck follows the
Way of Grace.
Instructional Aides
• Case manager
– Team Leaders, Resource Support, teleconferences
• Counselor
– Point Trackers, 15 Minute Walk/Talk, Pos EM/Call
• Teacher
– IC Checks, Writing/Math Support, Weekly Report Goals
• Aides are the Engine
– Aide Checklist, Agenda EM, To-Do List
Administrative Intervention
• Keep it Local
• Seize the Positive
• What is the NEED to know basis?
Mr. Bridi took this photo…
Mental Health
• School Psychologist
– And the Five-Year War of Balance
• Non-Public Agency Counseling
– Finding the Time & Making the Time
• Wraparound Knows Best
Challenges
• Attendance: “Fighting a Ghost.”
– Morning Calls, IEPs, NPA Counselor
• Academic Transition: “When to fish?”
– ESY, IPASS-English, IPASS-Math,
IPASS-Support
• Drugs/Alcohol: “A nearly impossible game.”
– Thelma McMillan, Why Try Groups, Counseling
Homework
• The ‘Focus’ Dilemma: A Tale of Two Settings
• IPASS-Support
– Support Goal Sheet
– Student-driven goals & emails
• IPASS-Homework Campaign
– The Board, the Planner, & the Emails
School to Career
• The “Special” Relationship
• Taking it to the Classroom
• Keeping it Relevant
Competition
• IPASS GPA
– Weekly Goals + Academic Grades
• Team GPA
• Class GPA
• Leaders
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Classes
Attendance
GPA
Planner of the Week
Good News
Club Watch
Grade Watch
Technology
• Professional, Academic, & Social Goals
• Google Education
– Docs, Slides, Email, Classroom
• One-to-One Chromebooks
Engagement
• Universal Design for Learning
• Group Presentations
• Common Core Values: Love, Integrity, Empathy
Lesson 1: Students Know Best
• Systems by Student Design
• Exit Interviews
• Jarred & the Expert Level
– Who does it work for?
Lesson 2: Silly Putty Design
• Who’s in the Room?
– Boys & Girls
• Schedules & Systems
– And never failing to be
absolutely wrong!
• A Culture of Progress
– Takes time…
Lesson 3: Embrace a School
• Staff – Give to Get
– RBTA, School Site Council,
WASC, Happy Hour, Emails
• Students – Sea Hawk Culture
– SSA, Athletics, Clubs, Link Crew
• But, Hawks Need Nests
to Start…
– It’s About Relationships
My big take-aways
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IPASS and school climate
IPASS and student engagement
ABC’s of behavior modification
Staff as a team of coaches
IPASS for all
Contact information
Aaron Benton, for district office questions
(310) 798-8683 x1306
abenton@rbusd.org
Jason Johnson, for site or classroom questions
(310) 798-8665 x4206
jjohnson@rbusd.org