The Illinois Elevating Special Educators (IESE) Network is a statewide system of professional learning funded by IDEA Part D State Personnel Development Grant dollars. In order to meet objectives, the IESE Network has divided the State into five areas that cover Northwest, Northeast, West-Central, East-Central and Southern Illinois. Program Advisors & Regional Specialists in each area collaborate to design and implement professional learning activities within four key areas of focus: Mentoring, Coaching, Professional Learning, and Parent/Family Education.

OUR PURPOSE:

Recruiting & Retaining High Quality Special Educators

Building Sustainable, Professional Learning Opportunities for Educators

Improving Outcomes for Students with Disabilities

Connecting Families & Educators to Create Powerful Partnerships

Pep talks are emotional, meaningful, and impactful. They are often saved for specific occasions to encourage the audience, but what if we used pep talks on a daily basis for ourselves and those around us? Over 10 (yes, 10!) years ago, Kid President brought smiles, laughter, and possibly some tears in his Pep Talk to Students and Teachers. Today, the message remains. I hope you feel supported and celebrated not only at the beginning of the new school year but also throughout. Find ways, even the smallest, to remind yourself, your colleagues, and your students that they are important. We need you!

Stephanie Woodley, Grant Coordinator

Click to Watch Kid President's Pep Talk

High-leverage practices (HLPs) for students with disabilities are a set of practices that when used consistently and effectively have shown to increase outcomes for students with disabilities. When first developed and published, the 22 HLPs were organized into 4 domains: Collaboration, Assessment, Instruction, and Social/Emotional/Behavioral. Recently refreshed and revised to better reflect current research, context, and diversity, the HLP structure was reorganized under new domains: Collaboration, Data-Driven Planning, Instruction in Behavior & Academics, and Intensify & Intervene as Needed. Seven pillar HLPs were identified as the strongest indicators for impacting outcomes for a range of students, reflecting the varying strengths and needs of students with disabilities. While few HLPs were ever used in isolation, the revision reflects ways in which HLPs work together and are embedded within the work you do.

Learn more about HLPs with resources from CEEDAR and CEC by clicking the links.

The IESE Network is excited to provide remote Professional Development Conversation (PDC) opportunities to special educators and school personnel who support students with disabilities across the state.

Each month, from August 2024 through May 2025, IESE offers a remote PDC session that provides information on topics related to serving students with disabilities. These sessions are informal overviews with discussions and resources to make practical connections to daily practice.

Join us Tuesday, August 27th for “Too Much to Do, Too Little Time” from 3:30PM-4:30PM via ZOOM.

NEXT: Tuesday, September 10th - "Managing the Entire Group: A Look at Classroom Management"

MATH STRATEGIES Learning Series

Math can be a difficult subject for students. This learning series is designed to equip educators with effective strategies and tools to improve math instruction, ensuring that all students can achieve success in mathematics. Each session will focus on a key component of quality math instruction, integrating evidence-based practices and practical applications, while utilizing a student-centered approach.

INCREASING ENGAGEMENT THROUGH UDL Learning Series

Supporting students with varying strengths and needs can be overwhelming. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for guiding inclusive learning opportunities by proactively identifying potential barriers within and during lesson implementation. Reflect on current practices and learn how to design rich learning experiences for all students in your classroom. Resources for all-grade levels will be provided.