539-803 Elevating Special Educator Practices Collaborative
Description
Schedule:
In-Person
- October 15, 2026: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
- December 9, 2026: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
- February 17, 2027: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Virtual
- November 19, 2026: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
- January 14, 2027: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
- March 11, 2027: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Location: In-person at CESA 2 and Virtual
Price: $760, lunch included
Content Questions: Kris Statz (kris.statz@cesa2.org)
Registration Questions: events@cesa2.org
---
About this event: Join CESA 2 for a dynamic professional learning network created specifically for special education teachers. This collaborative is designed to meet the real challenges educators are facing and to provide practical tools, shared learning, and renewed clarity around high-quality practices. Together, we will strengthen instruction, sharpen instructional impact, and advance student growth for all learners.
Participants will:
- Enhance knowledge of high-quality, specially designed instruction
- Review practical strategies for explicit instruction and inclusive practices
- Expand progress monitoring and use of data to guide decisions
- Elevate ways to adapt curriculum and support diverse learners
- Connect and collaborate with educators across districts
- Leave with ready-to-use tools, resources, and strategies
---
Our Presenters:
Kris Statz holds a Master of Science in Education and is licensed as a Reading Teacher, Reading Specialist, and Cross-Categorical Special Educator for students from kindergarten through age 21. She has worked as a special education teacher, instructional coach, and district reading specialist, supporting curriculum, instruction, assessment, and intervention across grade levels with a strong focus on equity and ensuring success for all students. She currently partners with districts as a WiMLSS Coach and Literacy Consultant at CESA 2, supporting systems-level coherence and multi-level supports to improve outcomes for all learners.
Nicole Aldworth, M.A.Ed., is an Early Learning Consultant and CLASS Instructor for the Early Childhood Licensure Program at CESA 2, where she also supports educators through the Special Education Induction Grant and serves as the statewide literacy specialist for the Early Learning Technical Assistance and Implementation grant. With over 25 years of experience in early childhood education, Nicole has dedicated her career to working with young children and their families, while also collaborating with and empowering early educators in their practice.
Nicole holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. She is deeply committed to supporting educators in implementing developmentally appropriate, inclusive practices that ensure all children can access, engage in, and thrive within rich learning environments. Her work focuses on building educator capacity through instructional coaching, strengthening early literacy and mathematics instruction (3K–2nd), supporting social-emotional development, and aligning curriculum, instruction, and assessment with early learning standards to meet the diverse needs of all learners, including those with IEPs.
---
