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:
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Northern Cohort residential class that was scheduled for Saturday, February 26 at the Dennehotso Boarding School is cancelled. The class will be rescheduled to March 19. The Southern Cohort class scheduled for Northern Arizona University will take place as scheduled on February 26th.
The Improving Communities of Practice project staff at the University of New Mexico and Northern Arizona University held their quarterly meeting at the University of New Mexico to discuss education research issues that affect professional development in special education. In particular, the project is looking at ways to insure that program evaluation best serves the Navajo Nation BIA-funded and operated schools by considering new methods for determining overall effectiveness of professional development activities. This type of evaluation helps ensure that professional development activities meet participant’s need and expectations, is a meaningful experience, and can be translated into action in the classroom or dormitory for student learning and achievement.
As mentioned in last week’s Friday fax, the upcoming one-day Parent Conference on IDEA 2004 will be held on April 19, 2005 at the Navajo Nation Library & Museum in Window Rock. Further information, including registration, can be obtained from Daisy Thompson, University of New Mexico, by dialing (505) 726-6301. Participants will learn about the new IDEA amendments and how they will affect special education services.
Finally, 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.
School-Wide Positive Behavior Support: Implementing BEST for school staff at the Kaibeto Boarding School.
Community and Parent Conference on Reading at the Alamo Navajo School . . . where they love to read and they read to succeed.
Curriculum Mapping workshop for general/special education teachers and the curriculum director at the Rocky Ridge Boarding School.
CSPD university contractor’s meeting with the Center for School Improvement.
Curriculum Development training for general/special education teachers and the curriculum director at the Kayenta Community School.
Test-Taking Strategies training at the Tonalea Day School.
Technical assistance to special education staff in the Shiprock Agency.
Curriculum Mapping workshop for general/special education teachers and the curriculum director at the Chinle Boarding School.
Curriculum Mapping workshop for general/special education teachers and the curriculum director at the Rock Point Elementary School.
Curriculum Mapping workshop for general/special education teachers and the curriculum director at the Rocky Ridge Boarding School.
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.
