Exceptional Children Council Update

Exceptional Children Council (for Exceptional Student Education & Learning Challenged Students, Parents, Guardians and Community) ECC’s objective is to assist Citrus County Public School students, parents and guardians in all aspects of education and development of students with disabilities and learning challenges.  Council participants are parents, grandparents, guardians, students, teachers, district and school administrators, related support service providers, and a school board representative. (click here for previous blog on ECC)

I am excited to be able to share with you that one of the most rewarding meetings I was able to participate in this week was the planning and brainstorming session for the “new” Exceptional Children Council (ECC).  Nancy Haynes, Director of Exceptional Student Education, contacted me on Monday to arrange for me to meet with her to begin planning for the new ECC. I wasted no time in confirming  that I would be available.  When I arrived at the meeting,  I expected to see Ms. Haynes and perhaps one or two other ESE representatives.  Instead I was greeted with the entire core team of the ESE department.  I was already enthusiastic about the meeting, but to see all of the people gathered around the table of this small conference room got my heart beating pretty fast!  I knew at that moment that my desire and belief in the purpose of this group was going to become a reality.  What was further made very clear to me when I sat down in the room was that the ESE department was seriously committed to developing the ECC and to further assisting families of ESE students.

The meeting was occupied with the full spectrum of ESE team members:  administrators, transition specialists, TOSAs and district ESE specialists.   I shared with the group the reasons that I felt it is important to re-establish this group at this time. I explained some of the opportunities and workshops we might consider.  I also presented some of the feedback that many of you have shared with me.  What happened next was the best part of all!  These ESE team members began sharing about what further opportunities the ECC might offer to be able to bring the program to an even higher level of performance.  They brainstormed and thought about what concerns might be best addressed first. They shared that with the State and Federal grants and services being reduced this is the best time for the ECC to be proactive about helping families of ESE students obtain the information about available services and assistance. You see, these team members are as passionate about wanting to make a difference as the  parents of ESE students, ESE students and you and me.  I have learned by working and talking with them that they are in their (Did I spell that right,  Specialist Whealin?) jobs because they feel “called” to assist and help every student achieve up to and even beyond their abilities.  I often contact members of this team when parents contact me about individual ESE issues. These district representatives are the first to not only come, but run, to the aid of our students!  While you may not ever see them, they are behind the scenes each and every day advocating for our students.  They are not afraid to confront an issue even if it “ruffles a few feathers”.  They also often are providing opportunities to better assist our ESE students and sometimes they have to share the disappointing details about why some services aren’t available for a student and I can tell you first hand no one takes it harder and gets more upset then these team members when that happens.

The meeting concluded with an immediate objective to have an initial large “workshop/learning event” perhaps as early this fall.  It is an event I will be excited to share with you soon. I will be providing more in the coming weeks.

Please continue to provide me with your ideas, thoughts and feedback.  It is critical to our success!

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