Join CADRE in exploring our Working Together Online Learning Series and companion Facilitator Guide! This Series of five interactive courses was developed to provide families and educators with a number of strategies for working together and through conflict. Anyone supporting children or youth with disabilities may benefit from this series, however the setting in which collaborative problem solving takes place is within the school or IEP meeting. During this webinar, CADRE provided some possible strategies for how State Education Agencies, Parent Centers and Local Education Agencies can utilize the Series to build local-level capacity.
To gain the most out of the webinar experience, we encourage you to access the Working Together Series prior to viewing the webinar. The series can be accessed at: www.cadreworks.org/working-together
About the Presenters:
Prior to becoming the Director of CADRE, Dr. Melanie Reese was the Dispute Resolution Coordinator for the Idaho Department of Education, Special Education Division. In addition to growing and managing the IEP Facilitation program in Idaho, Melanie oversaw the state's mediation, state complaint and due process hearing systems and worked closely with Idaho's Parent Training and Information Center and Local Educational Agencies to build relationships to serve children with disabilities. She’s a Boise State University professor emerita, author of two university textbooks in mediation and conflict resolution, and has been a mediator for nearly 30 years. Melanie is regularly called to present on dispute resolution issues in special education, conflict management, alternative dispute resolution processes, and hot topics in special education.
Kelly Rauscher serves as a Learning and Development Specialist at CADRE where she provides trainings and technical assistance to support a full continuum of dispute resolution options. Kelly specializes in system design and improvement, instructional design, family engagement, and early dispute resolution. Her expertise also includes delivering information and training to different audiences through technology. Prior to joining CADRE, Kelly worked at the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) managing the Social and Emotional Learning Standards Professional Development initiative and was the co-lead in the development and implementation of several systems, including an IEP Facilitation System, Comprehensive System of Learning Supports, and Family Engagement System. Kelly also served as the Parent Involvement (Indicator 8) team leader and oversaw related improvement activities and survey administration.
Diana Cruz is a Data Analyst and DR Training Specialist for CADRE. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Miami in elementary education and exceptional student education. Diana provides training and technical assistance to SEAs, LAs, parent centers and other stakeholders nationwide. She brings considerable experience working at the LEA level, fostering home/school partnerships, and employing child-centered decision making. She has expertise in IEP facilitation and is a certified trainer in Conflict Resolution and IEP facilitation. Prior to CADRE, Diana provided specialized instruction in both a general education setting as well as a self-contained classroom where she taught students with a variety of significant behavioral and cognitive disabilities.