Katy Cavanagh, Scottsdale’s assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, and David Peterson, assistant superintendent of operations have been named as co-superintendents, effective on Dr. Baracy’s retirement October 3rd.
See the East Valley Tribune article for more details: School district to operate with co-superintendents
→ No CommentsTags: Scottsdale
A special needs camp - local, low counselor to camper ratio, trained special needs staff - WILL take place in July in Scottsdale.
The counselors and aides want to make this camp great and has invited the community to help. They need weekly special guests who can donate their time - clown, balloon artist, special animal visit, juggler, martial artist, etc.
Do you know someone with a talent who would be willing to donate forty five (45) minutes of their time (on a Tue, Wed, Thu or Fri between 9 AM and 2 PM in July) to make this camp extra special? I have arranged some local firefighters to visit the kids and I am working to find some other special guests.
The camp was created by local parents, a local church (Scottsdale Bible Church) and a local school district (SUSD) to create new summer alternatives for special needs children. The camp’s goal is to provide a successful, enjoyable camp experience for special needs kids regardless of their needs and their typical peers. Age of campers - 6 to 12 years. We are not sure how many kids will attend this first year, but I would guess about 10-20 per week.
Details regarding the camp are here:
Registration Packet for Scottsdale Special Needs Summer Camp 2008
Please let me know if you can help. Thanks so much!!!!
Lisa Dee Meyerson Marshall
chas999_99@yahoo.com
480-614-0034
→ No CommentsTags: Recreation · Special Education
From Scottsdale Unified School District Community Connection June 12, 2008
Scottsdale Republic Features SUSD Teachers
Do you know an outstanding teacher in the Scottsdale Unified School District? Would you like that teacher to be recognized in the newspaper? The Scottsdale Republic runs a weekly feature highlighting a different SUSD teacher each week. To nominate a teacher for this feature, simply fill out the online Teacher Nomination Form.
*Please note that a high resolution digital photo must be submitted to be considered for publication.
View Laguna teacher Merle Leyton’s nomination in the Scottsdale Republic.
→ No CommentsTags: Announcements · Special Education
Both Lois Healey, SUSD Director of Special Education, and Lisa Meyerson Marshal, SEPACS VP of Strategic Partnerships, have asked me to forward this time-critical information on to you:
Hello parents and special needs kids advocates, *We are continuing to take registrations for the special needs camp*.
Our deadline was Friday but enrollment is low and we have some weeks in danger of being canceled, including our 1st week of June 9th. We need your help and support to make this pilot program successful.
I attended a planning meeting today with Veronica, our camp director, and Scott, our special education teacher and they are awesome. This is going to be such a fabulous camp, but we need your help to participate and spread the word.
If you are not registering for this camp because of cost, please contact Steve Lee at 480-824-7200 for information about partial scholarships available. We do not want finance issues to be a barrier for families that can benefit from this experience.
We are also opening this camp experience to regular education kids. So if you have siblings or friends ages 6-12 years that would like to join in, there is a discount available for them. This provides a wonderful mainstream integration experience for all kids, promotes understanding and provides leadership opportunities as well. We will have more information regarding this at the parent meeting tomorrow night.
If you are at all interested in this unique opportunity for your kids, please come to the *Parent meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday June 3rd, at 6:30pm at Scottsdale Bible Church* to meet our staff, see the wonderful facilities, and find out more!
Please let me know if you have any questions - julia.whitt@cox.net.
Thanks!
Julia
Parent of Sam
SUSD Camp Parents Meeting Notice 2008
For more information, please review SUSD Special Needs Camp Registration Packet 2008
→ No CommentsTags: Special Olympics
Advocacy Training
Special Education Law & Your Child’s Rights
Presented by Supreme Court Winning Lawyer & U.S.
Special Ed Law Expert
Peter Wright, Esq.
www.wrightslaw.com
Save the Date!
When: Thursday, March 12, 2009
Time: 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Where: Tucson, Arizona
Place: TBA
Price: TBA
To become involved and/or to receive the latest details go
to www.pilotparents.org, e-mail ppsa@pilotparents.org or
call 520-324-3150
This special education and advocacy conference is being brought to you by:
→ No CommentsTags: Advocacy
Please join SSG’s Board, Monday June 9, for our last meeting of this school year, and help plan our direction for 2008-2009. With all the changes we will be experiencing in the upcoming school year, come work with interested parents is finding support and ideas to increase the educational successes for your gifted and talented children. We are interested in your needs concerning speakers, support groups such as SENG, workshops and events for your children.
→ No CommentsTags: Meetings
Lisa Meyerson Marshall, our VP of Strategic Relationships, continues to recommend this program strongly.
Pilot Parents of Southern Arizona
AnnouncesPartners in Policymaking
A FREE Leadership Training for self-advocates & parents of children with disabilities
Partners in Policymaking is an innovative leadership training program for parents of children with disabilities and for adults with disabilities. The program is designed to provide information, training, resources and skill building to people with a disability and the parents of children with disabilities so that they can become better advocates for themselves or their children. Partners in Policymaking provides participants with opportunities to meet and talk to national and state leaders in the disability advocacy field.
Participants will have an opportunity to meet and unite with others who have similar concerns to create a powerful voice on important issues. Participants learn how the legislative process works at the local, state and national levels. The goal of the training is to develop productive partnerships between people who need and use services and those in a position to make policy and law.
More information on the Partners in Policymaking program and the application
→ No CommentsTags: Advocacy
Please read the following from the Scottsdale Parent Council:
Dear Parents and Friends of Public Education,
We need your support TODAY! We would like to send a note to our Legislators letting them know that we only want a budget that includes a solution for public school utilities. So we are circulating a virtual petition and hope you will sign.
If you agree with the statement here below, please send your name AND address to spc@scottsdaleparentcouncil.org. By doing so, you will confirm your support of the statement AND be giving us permission to use your name in a petition to our legislators and others at the State government.
Thank you for taking the time before summer break to try to make an impact on your child’s education and public schools across our State.
Together we can make a difference!
Francesca Thomas, SPC Legislative Liaison
We, as voters and parents, support funding actual utility costs for schools. These are basic operational costs that we expect the state to cover without raising local property taxes. Without these dollars, impacts to staff and programs will be unavoidable. We are not asking for extra, only for what schools need to operate- a responsibility that is clearly the State’s. As local districts, we support over-and-above the basic needs with our local tax dollars. But we refuse to pay the State’s share too. Please support a budget that holds our districts responsible for conserving energy and the State responsible for covering basic operational costs.
Scottsdale Parent Council
c/o SUSD Education Center
3811 N 44th Street
Phoenix
Arizona 85018
United States
→ No CommentsTags: Legislation
From Barb Ross at the Arizona Department of Education / Exceptional Student Services,
PIN Specialist Serving East Maricopa County
barbra.ross@azed.gov
www.azed.gov/ess/pinspals
The Arizona Department of Education, Exceptional Student Services, is seeking:
1) one Parent Information Network Specialist for each the following regions:
- Pinal and Gila Counties
- Pima and Santa Cruz Counties
2) one Enhancing Arizona’s Parent Networks Coordinator
Descriptions for both positions are posted on the www.azstatejobs.gov website and are included in this email.
To apply for either position you must utilize the azstatejobs.gov website. Enter ”EDU” the search for jobs link and scroll down the list to locate the PIN Specialist and EAPN positions. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2008. Human Resources has been designated to handle inquiries (602) 542-3186.
Parent Information Network Specialist
Job Description: The Arizona Department of Education Exceptional Student Services section is seeking two temporary hourly wage Parent Information Network Specialists (Pinal/Gila Counties and Pima/Santa Cruz Counties) to provide parents with federal and state special education information and resources; assist school districts and families to build and sustain positive working relationships; present special education and disability related workshops; develop and market PIN services and resources; maintain records of regional outreach. Travel is required for this position. This position requires that you possess a valid Arizona Driver’s License. This position will be paid $20.20 per hour not to exceed 40 hours per week.
Knowledge needed:
*Parenting an individual with a disability
*Navigating educational and social service systems
*Special education rights and advocacy
*Disability and special education related agencies and organizations
*Adult learning strategies
*Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OutlookSkills needed:
*Presentation and workshop
*Verbal and written communication, including proofreading
*Organization
*Time management
*Internet navigation
*Development and implementation of marketing strategies
*Development of resource materialsAbilities needed:
*Appropriate use of grammar and punctuation
*Prioritize and complete multiple job related tasks
*Document daily activities
*Compile reports
*Work well with other team members and staff
*Responsive to a high volume of customer requestsEnhancing Arizona’s Parent Networks Coordinator
Job Description: The Arizona Department of Education Exceptional Student Services section is seeking a part-time Enhancing Arizona’s Parent Networks (EAPN) Coordinator to communicate with EAPN members (i.e., solicit organization updates and events, recruit new members and coordinate activities with the planning group); manage the EAPN website (i.e., add calendar events and update information and resource links); and administer a state-wide marketing plan with members to inform the public about EAPN. Travel is required for this position. This position requires that you possess a valid Arizona Driver’s License. This position pays at a rate of $20.20 per hour, not to exceed 10 hours per week.
Knowledge needed:
*Parenting an individual with a disability
*Navigating educational and social service systems
*Disability and special education related agencies and organizations
*Effective marketing strategies
*Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OutlookSkills needed:
*Verbal and written communication, including proofreading
*Internet
*Organization
*Record keepingAbilities needed:
*Appropriate use of grammar and punctuation
*Prioritize and complete multiple job related tasks
*Document daily activitiesTo apply for either position you must utilize the azstatejobs.gov website. Enter ”EDU” the search for jobs link and scroll down the list to locate the PIN Specialist and EAPN positions.
The deadline to apply is June 1, 2008.
Human Resources has been designated to handle inquiries (602) 542-3186.
→ No CommentsTags: Announcements · Special Education
From the Scottsdale Unified School District, an update on school consolidation plans. Please note that the the third option has a direct impact on some Special Education program locations.
Further Discussion on Facilities Options
5/8/08
At the May 6, 2008 Governing Board Meeting, the Board directed the Administration to place an item on the May 20, 2008 Agenda to further discuss the following ideas that emerged from the Community Forums held in the five District Complexes:
- Idea #340 which emerged from the Public Forums: Make Aztec K-8. Combine Zuni with DCES/DCMS. Close Zuni site.
- Idea #8 which emerged from the Public Forums: Convert some elementary schools to K-8. Make Aztec, Zuni, and DCES K-8. Dissolve DCMS. Move Cheyenne to DCMS site. Close Cheyenne site.
- BRAC Option #1 - Cheyenne to Aztec. Consolidate Aztec with Zuni at Zuni site.
- Panda remains at Aztec, which is the “new” Cheyenne
- Zuni Panda stays at Zuni site
- Zuni and DCMS self-contained and twice-exceptional programs go to Cherokee & Cocopah
- Aztec Success program to Desert Canyon
- Aztec Academic Learning Center moves to Laguna
Special Governing Board Meeting
Tuesday, May 20, 5:30 p.m.
Chaparral High School, in the Library
Additional seating and live video streaming will be available in nearby classrooms and online at www.susd.org.