Special Learning Needs Initiative
HELPING OUR STUDENTS SEE THE WORLD MORE CLEARLY
EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION FOR ALL ADULT EDUCATION STUDENTS
INCLUDING THOSE WITH SPECIAL LEARNING NEEDS
2007
Sturomski & Associates
in Collaboration with
Payne & Associates
Introduction Letter
Texas LEARNS is very excited to announce the kickoff of a great professional
development training opportunity for adult education teachers in Texas.
Enclosed you will find the associated application packet. Participation
is limited to 40 adult educators who are active in the classroom.
Adult education programs serve adult students with physical disabilities
and adults with special learning needs. Many adult educators in our state
have been through Bridges to Practice training, which is a great
professional development foundation training chosen to move our state
forward in this initiative. Texas LEARNS has submitted to TEA a
written draft adult education policy guide to assist local programs with
development and implementation of local policy. In addition, Texas LEARNS
has researched other state policies and talked with many national leaders
in the field to find out what other states are doing to meet the related
provide professional development need.
Last spring Texas LEARNS posted a bid nationally to find potential consultants
to provide specialized training to adult educators in our state. Texas
LEARNS is pleased to announce that the collaboration of Neil Sturomski
and Nancie Payne has been chosen to train our state in “Effective
Instruction for all Adult Education Students including those with Special
Learning Needs.” Neil and Nancie have worked with teachers in other
states, such as North Carolina, Oklahoma, Illinois and Mississippi to
implement this training. These states have raved that the training has
been a wonderful and life changing experience for the teachers and students
alike. Between Neil and Nancie, they have over 30 years of experience
in educating adults with disabilities and special learning needs. Neil
was one of the original Bridges to Practice developers.
Please review the application packet to get an understanding of what
the training will cover and the timeline. Texas LEARNS will pay the participant
registration fees for the 4 training sessions. Two trainings will be
in Austin and 2 trainings in Houston. The local sponsoring program will
cover the travel, applicable per diem, and hotel costs for the participant.
Tracy Hendrix is the Grant Services Manager in charge of the project.
Please feel free to call Tracy with any questions that you may have about
this training opportunity.
Sincerely,
Joanie Rethlake, Director
Texas LEARNS
Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist Institute
Successful completion of the Institute will result in a credential of
Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist as issued from the project.
A group of 40 adult educators from across the state of Texas will be
trained to become Special Learning Needs Resource Specialists in:
- Understanding adults with Learning Disabilities/Special Learning
Needs and their characteristics
- Recognizing self-esteem and social skill issues of adults in adult
education programs and providing ways to foster development in these
areas
- Understanding the differences between assessment, diagnosis and screening
- Recognizing what screening can and cannot accomplish
- Applying screening and learning style inventories to improve practice
- How to use the Basic Skills Education version of the Payne Learning
Needs Inventory
- Using effective instructional practices for all adult education students
including those with Special Learning Needs and English as Second Language
(ESL) Learners
- Understanding how to empower students to become their own advocates
and lifelong learners
- Utilizing specific techniques and instructional strategies
- Understanding the difference between accommodations and accommodated
instruction/learning for individuals diagnosed with a disability
- Understanding the importance of technology and how to implement its
use for all adult education students including those with special learning
needs
- Knowing the various national and state resources available
- Evaluating the appropriateness of all the tools used with adult education
students including those with special learning needs
- Understanding hands on, practical methodologies to implement when
working with all adult education students
Trainings will be conducted by Sturomski & Associates in
Collaboration with Payne & Associates, National Consultants in
Learning Disabilities and Adult Education Students with Special Learning
Needs.
Criteria for Special Learning Needs Resource
Specialist
Texas LEARNS will accept the 40 applications on a first come, first
served basis. However, if more than 40 applications are received, the
applicants may be asked to describe why they want to become Special Learning
Needs Resource Specialist for their program based on the following criteria:
- Be able to attend all workshop sessions which will
include 4 trainings of 3 days each during the 2007-08 year on the following
dates in Austin from 9am – 4pm:
- 1st Training: October 31, November 1 & 2
- 2nd Training: January 30, 31 & February 1
- 3rd Training: March 26, 27 & 28
- 4th Training: May 21, 22 & 23
- Possess the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues within
their programs
- Be active classroom teachers, have at least two years of experience
teaching adults, and be a teacher of record in TEAMS
- Be willing to administer screenings/inventories and to serve as resources
for administrators and instructors in their local programs
- Be willing to complete assignments and homework in the classroom
with students
- Consider becoming a trainer in year 2
- Be willing to be a “leader” at the local program
- Must have recommendation and sponsorship from a local Adult Education
or EL Civics Program
- Anticipate continued employment within local program
- Must submit application to Texas LEARNS by the deadline
Participants must be recommended and sponsored by program administrators.
No individual applications will be considered.
*Special Note: This Institute represents basic specialist training and
will not prepare participants to be trainers or diagnosticians.
Training Calendar for the First Institute
2007-2008
- 1st Training: October 31, November 1 & 2
- 2nd Training: January 30, 31 & February 1
- 3rd Training: March 26, 27 & 28
- 4th Training: May 21, 22 & 23
Dates for the 2nd Training in 2008-2009 will be posted on this website
as soon as arrangements have been made.
Contact Person for this Project:
Tracy Hendrix
Grant Services Manager
Texas LEARNS
6005 Westview Drive
Houston, Texas 77055
713-696-0717
thendrix@hcde-texas.org
Local Programs Participating in the First Special
Learning Needs Institute Cohort
Advocacy Outreach
Austin Community College
Austin Learning Academy
Brownsville ISD
College of the Mainland
Community Action
Dallas ISD
Denton ISD
El Paso ISD
Far West GREAT Center
Fort Bend ISD
Fort Worth ISD
Grayson County College
Harris County Department of Education
Houston Community College
Howard College, Big Spring
Humble ISD
Midland College
Navarro College
North GREAT Center
Northeast Adult Education
Paris Junior College
Region 9
Region 20
Seguin ISD
Southwest Texas Junior College
Texarkana ISD, Bowie Cass Adult Education
Texas State University
Victoria Adult Literacy Council
Victoria College
Wharton County Junior College
