Dr. Katie Schweitzer is an administrator and truth teller. She knows special education inside and out and is a true servant leader in her school. As Special Programs Director and Elementary Principal at Frontier Charter Academy, Katie steers a small but mighty special education program that is showing other online schools how to work collaboratively and positively with students and families who have unique needs. 

 

This episode is a resource for any online educator looking for ways to effectively reach students with special needs, from technology to building trust, we’ll explore what it means to truly engage an IEP team in creating meaningful educational opportunities for students that will benefit them in school and in life. 

 

Timestamps 

• What accommodations easily translate from brick and mortar to online? [02:07]

• Katie’s advice to teams looking to create accessibility. [03:50]

• What advantages do students enjoy due to being online? [04:28]

• Katie’s ideas about hours students spend online. [06:27]

• Why you need to know your school’s framework and philosophy. [08:07]

• The importance of clearly communicating advantages and disadvantages. [09:42]

• What role do families play in supporting students? [13:48]

• How does Katie’s staff communicate with families? [17:20]

• Considering how families assist in progress monitoring. [19:02]

• Is online school more flexible for faculty and students’ schedules? [21:11]

• What can teachers do right now to assist students with special needs? [24:18]

• Katie’s suggestions about use of “real life” accommodations. [26:28]

• How do we honor the need for student engagement and connection? [27:52]

• Why should general and special education teachers co-teach or co-plan? [30:51]

Selected Links from the Episode

• Family Communication: Template for a Family Tech Survey

• • https://rb.gy/ulng7s

• Sound Practices for Holding IEP Meetings Online 

• • https://rb.gy/fys6v5