Arnold was a sixth-grade student placed in a self-contained classroom primarily due to significant trauma rather than cognitive or academic need. His father had been cooking methamphetamine in the basement of their home, which resulted in an explosion. The home environment was unstable and unsafe, with frequent exposure to unpredictable
ARD meetings can be intimidating for parents, and this can be even more true when the parent does not speak English. To support these families, the ARD committee includes an interpreter to ensure parents can make informed decisions about their child's placement, progress on goals, and preparation for
During my time as a special education teacher at a female youth correctional facility in Lakewood, Colorado, I formed close relationships with several of the girls living there. One evening, after significant disruption on the unit, the teachers were asked to stay well into the night. While we waited, the
It was my first day at a female youth correction facility in Lakewood, Colorado and I was excited to work with female youth who needed support from special education service providers to make progress. I was with the students for breakfast and then they transitioned to their schools for their
When I worked as a special education teacher at a maximum-security juvenile detention center in Golden, Colorado, I was assigned a nearly impossible task: create a self-contained program for the most disruptive and violent students in the facility. On day one, tensions were high. The students knew the program was
As a special education teacher working at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, we start every academic school day with the students eating breakfast. As part of promoting healthy choices, we want to ensure that students start the day well-nourished, since not all families in the program are able to
As a special education teacher working at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center that accepted students on Medicaid, many of the students I served came from environments marked by significant negative influences. These included generational gang involvement, parental substance abuse, peers met in detention facilities, and engagement in delinquent behaviors
Michelle and Sandra are sisters in 6th grade at a middle school tucked inside an urban pocket of Colorado—a place where everyone knows your name, and the community still feels small despite the city skyline in the distance. Michelle has been fighting recurrent cancer with more courage than most
I was a special education teacher in a juvenile detention facility for two years at a maximum-security correctional center in Golden, Colorado. My task was to start a self-contained program for the most severe, disruptive, and violent students who qualified for special education services. Emanuel was one of those students—
Background - I was a special education teacher in a juvenile detention facility for two years at a maximum correction facility in Golden, Colorado. I was tasked with starting a self contained program for the most severe, disruptive, and violent students at the facility who qualified for special education services.
Background - I was a special education teacher at a juvenile detention facility within a maximum correctional facility in Golden, Colorado, for two years. I was tasked with starting a self-contained program for the most severe, disruptive, and violent students at the facility who qualified for special education services. Charlie