Dr. Cassie Martin

In this episode, Diana interviews Dr. Cassie Martin, Executive Director of Special Education for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington State.  She was also the architect of the Inclusionary Practices Demonstration Sites Project, which is what our conversation was focused around. She talks about the 16 demonstration sites that highlight inclusionary practices, and why and how she and her team brought these schools into existence, and how they have transitioned into a movement, and now a network. Appreciative Inquiry, equity, social justice, and research-based inclusive practices have made her model successful with educators and students. Dr. Martin also discusses the technical pieces as well as adaptive pieces and relationships that must be addressed in order to be successful in inclusive schooling. My favorite quote from our time together is when Dr. Martin states that "Research tells us that when we follow the path of the most marginalized, and learn from them, then it removes barriers for every single one of the students in our schools."

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Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.

Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.

Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."