Stetson & Associates, Inc. is recognized for our emphasis on quality standards for services for students with disabilities. We focus on systems-change and improved outcomes, but have recently noted that once great systems often slide right back where they started when new leadership is added or with the passage of time. We have devoted thought and new development to the task of sustaining the positive changes our clients have realized with inclusive education and other priorities for effective schools.

This session is perfect if you, too, are challenged by the difficulties of keeping rather than losing the hard-fought gains of change leadership. Stetson & Associates, Inc. provides each participant with a Sustainability Checklist and resources to lighten the load. Whether it is inclusive education, a new RTI approach, or any other change you have recently implemented, you will find our Sustainability Checklist useful again and again!

For an audience full of poster children for success, Dr. Frances Stetson brings her experience in thousands of schools across the US and her international experience with inclusive practices to focus on five easy ways to fail in education. With humor, insight and plenty of practical tools, this keynote session engages the audience in a process of self-examination and personal skill-development in systems change, relationship-building and cultural proficiency.

We all have personal knowing-doing gaps: starting that diet, cleaning the closet…In our professional lives, we have an important knowing-doing gap to consider as well. Dr. Stetson presents her top ten list of effective practices that must be in place to see significant growth in achievement for students with disabilities, better use of scarce resources, and stronger teams to accomplish the work. You will receive your own K-D analysis packet and resources to assist you in jump-starting your efforts to reshape and revitalize services for students with disabilities.

Originally presented as a keynote presentation for National CASE, Scottsdale, AZ, Fall 2012. Length: 90 minutes. An expanded version is available for a day-long seminar.

When looking at current data, it is evident the goal of inclusion (versus exclusion) has not been met, particularly for children of color. Stetson & Associates, Inc. recently presented a webinar for the California DOE’s SPP-TAP titled, “Inclusion Through a Cultural Lens.” During this session, Dr. Stetson provides participants the major themes, strategies and tools incorporated in this presentation. In order to significantly reduce instances of inappropriate identification of minority students for special education services (and segregated settings), educators must use a cultural lens to examine current attitudes and practices. This session provides strategies for school district level attention to: 1) changes in awareness and attitudes; 2) changes in classroom practice; and, 3) change in leadership. Participants will be invited to provide their own recommendations for addressing this pervasive and persistent problem. This session always ignites a great discussion and results in a memorable learning opportunity!

This timely session was designed to respond to our current financial woes in education by providing practical guidance to district leaders in ways to cut costs while boosting effectiveness and impact. Dr. Frances Stetson of Stetson & Associates, Inc. brings her extensive experience from staffing studies, program evaluations, and on-site technical assistance to a practical working session to see if “doing more with less” can actually mean more efficiency and effectiveness! Participants receive materials featuring cost cutting recommendations, and tools and strategies for improving quality practices related to assignment of teachers, paraeducators and central office personnel. A link to practical tools presented during the session is provided so they can be adapted and implemented within the district. These recommended changes represent a new level of focused attention to ongoing improvement of services for students with disabilities.

Originally designed as a five-hour working session for special education directors, this keynote offers highlights of high-yield strategies. Due to demand across Texas, this session has been replicated in eight different regional locations. It has been presented in short form for the Special Education Urban Collaborative in Los Angeles, and as a keynote to the Fall 2013 CASE Conference in Indianapolis.

As schools review their accountability status, the progress of students with disabilities continues to raise serious concern. This session identifies 23 variables that positively impact efforts to close the achievement gap, beginning with the need for a system-level commitment to shared ownership for ALL students. This list is accompanied with specific explanations, implementation tools, and self-assessment instruments to lead district leaders toward success! Special education leaders find the resources contained in this presentation useful in enriching the dialogue and collaboration with curriculum and instruction staff and principals. Participants receive related resources and tools for immediate use.

This framework for improved outcomes for students with disabilities has been presented to statewide conferences in Utah, Texas, Delaware and one national conference in the past two years. Hundreds of district leaders have learned from and implemented these 23 variables with great success!

Note: It may be appropriate to reduce this list to allow more time for strategy sharing and discussion.

Dr. Frances Stetson brings perspectives from her work as sponsor of the international Inclusive Schools Network and from over 25 years as President of Stetson & Associates, Inc., an education consulting firm specializing in systems change for students with disabilities. This session focuses on the remaining challenges facing educational leaders in creating collaboratively shared responsibility for inclusive schools. Principal among them are the need for shared ownership for all students, more effective use of personnel, instructional strategies that increase successful access to the general curriculum, and various structural issues such as collaborative planning time and accountability for positive outcomes. For each challenge, cutting-edge practices and strategies will be offered. This session raises hope for a new culture of inclusive schools and success for every student.