
From: Dr. Eugene R. Thompson
Director of Educational Leadership
To keep you updated with activities taking place through the CSPD efforts on the Navajo Nation, I am sending you a “Friday Fax” with information about current and upcoming professional development activities.
This past week, training and technical assistance was provided as follows:
An informational meeting was held with the Navajo Nation Rural Systemic Initiative (RSI)/Office of Dine Science, Math and Technology at the University of New Mexico-Gallup to discuss potential education/tribal/university partnerships and collaboration for professional development activities for school staff on the Navajo Nation. There are some upcoming activities that have been identified where collaboration and partnerships could occur.
The Level II Ft. Defiance Agency residential training for home-living assistants begins February 5. The class will consist of two UNM-Gallup courses: (a) Spec Ed 201 – Education of Exceptional Child- 3 credits; and (2) Spec Ed 204 – Introduction to Special Education-2 credits. The class will meet for five Saturday sessions from 8am–4 pm at the UNM-Gallup campus. Registration and admission information have been sent to 8 school principals in Ft. Defiance Agency that were identified by the agency office. The three-credit course will focus on counseling, professional communication, tutoring, and computer skills; and the two-credit course will focus on observation skills. The courses have been designed to improve the practice of home-living assistants in working with students with disabilities in residential settings. A huge thank you goes to the ELO, special education coordinator, education specialist, and each of the school for their support in making this class possible for their dormitory staff.
You may contact us at any time regarding professional development training plans and/or activities for the current or future school years. We always look forward to hearing from you as to how we might facilitate a plan for your agency or school or for providing technical assistance or training above and beyond what we have currently set out to do in the present scope of work.
You may consult the CSPD Activity Calendar on the Navajo
Nation on the CDD website at: http://CDD.unm.edu/cspd/
for further information. Have a great week.