PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

"Engagement! The presenter kept the rapt attention of the entire audience."

Awards and Honors:

2018 Recipient of the WERA World Congress Innovative Poster Award

2018 Recipient of the CREATE Doctoral Scholarship

2017 Recipient of AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship Award

2001 Recipient of Multicultural Grant for research of African American English

TEA-Approved Continuing Professional Education Courses

*Presentations and workshops can be adjusted to meet your team’s specific needs.

Dealing with Dialect - Diagnostic and Instructional Implications of African American English in the Classroom:

[Ideal for Special Educators, General Educators, Related Service Providers]

Course presents an outline of the history and perceptions of African American English dialect and lists features of the dialect. Strategies (e.g., task and item analysis) to overcome barriers presented by dialect are reviewed. Implications for testing and instruction are discussed.

Upon course completion, participants will be able to: identify prominent features of African American English dialect across five domains of language; identify ways that varied sociocultural practices affect student academic performance; promote awareness and understanding of dialectal difference among educational stakeholders; outline ways in which dialectal difference affects educational equity.

An Overview of Language Development:

[Ideal for Special Educators, General Educators]

From a teacher’s lecture to a student’s demonstration of knowledge, language is the basis for every single event that takes place within the educational setting. Unfortunately, many educators do not have a grasp of the nuances of language and the ways in which varied ability to use language impacts student outcomes. This course will examine language development and use. It will explore language varieties (i.e., different dialects and languages) and will support teachers in making more effective and accurate speech and language referrals.

Upon course completion, participants will be able to: list and offer examples of the five domains of language; differentiate between speech and language; identify developmental milestones for monolingual and bilingual learners; recognize cross-linguistic influence; identify strategies to facilitate language development; and identify the link between language and literacy.

Equity in Education:

[Ideal for Administrators, Special Educators, General Educators, Related Service Providers]

Fair and inclusive education is of the utmost importance to our diverse democracy. The history of the United States illustrates that minority groups have had varying degrees of access to education. Equity in education directly impacts the future of our nation. As we begin to promote equity in education, we are consciously promoting better professional opportunities for all students including those from historically marginalized groups. This course is designed to explore the historical events that have affected equity in education. The course will also support contemporary educators in fostering more equitable practices in the classroom.

Upon course completion, participants will be able to: identify issues that detract from equitable access to learning; examine historical trends in denial of access to education for marginalized groups; identify factors that lead to differential educational outcomes for groups in contemporary schools; differentiate between the Opportunity Gap and the Achievement Gap; and equip students to support equitable practices.

Disproportionality in Special Education and Discipline:

[Ideal for Administrators, Special Educators, General Educators, Related Service Providers]

The overrepresentation of minority populations in special education and the disproportionate degree to which they receive disciplinary action have been the subject of recent educational research. Disproportionality not only contributes to the Black-White Achievement Gap but also eclipses the educational future of many students, particularly those who are misidentified as needed remedial or punitive recourse. This trend of disproportionality underscores the challenges that schools face in meeting the needs of minority youth in the general education setting. This course is designed to explore contributing factors to disproportionality and examines solutions to mitigate overidentification of minority youth.

Upon course completion, participants will be able to: identify factors that contribute to overidentification of students from historically marginalized populations; identify ways to improve diagnostic accuracy; facilitate students’ use of strategies to support their educational performance; implement strategies to offset the need for remedial or punitive recourse.

Cultural Competence in Schools and/or Professional Settings:

[Ideal for Administrators, Special Educators, General Educators, Related Service Providers, Professionals/Employees]

We live in an increasingly diverse society and the need for cultural competence cannot be overstated. The focus of this course is to support understanding and communication across cultures in a variety of contexts. By facilitating effective interactions between people with differing worldviews and beliefs, we foster healthier learning and working environments which, in turn, boosts productivity.

Upon course completion, participants will be able to: examine their personal worldview and how it impacts their choices and actions; explore differing worldviews and cultural practices; recognize ways to demonstrate tolerance of others; identify the importance of mutual respect.

Ethical Considerations for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations:

[Ideal for Administrators, Special Educators, General Educators, Related Service Providers, Professionals/Employees]

This course is designed to support employee identification of ethical dilemmas and the resultant impact on equity and equality. Issues of diversity are investigated and the implications of varied cultural-linguistic experiences on curricular and/or organizational processes are explored.

Upon course completion, participants will be able to: identify ethical dilemmas in the workplace; recognize effective strategies to overcome contentious situations; list tangible ways that cultural-linguistic background and/or worldview affects perceptions of and performance on standardized measures; pinpoint personal biases; and employ strategies to reduce biases in school and/or organizational processes.

Effective Team Communication:

[Ideal for Administrators, Special Educators, General Educators, Related Service Providers, Professionals/Employees]

This course is designed to raise awareness about how your staff/team communicates. Identification of existing patterns will help improve overall communication in formal and informal work contexts. Topics to be covered include active listening, electronic correspondence, suprasegmental features in communication, code- and tone-switching, and fostering a welcoming communicative environment.

Upon course completion, participants will be able to: identify differences in communicative styles among team members; understand cultural-linguistic diversity in communication styles; facilitate healthier verbal and nonverbal communication among team members; identify communicative strengths and weaknesses among team members; and implement strategies to promote effective communication.

Motivational Speaking and Leadership Development:

[Ideal for Students, Professional/Employees]

Motivational speaking and leadership development workshops are available around a variety of themes. Contact me for more information or to schedule an event.