A Change Agent in Special Education:

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A Change Agent in Special Education A New Role
A New Opportunity
The Elementary and Middle Schools Technical
Assistance Center
Ron Havelock Kristin Ruedel
April 5, 2002
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Research to Practice
Research
Linker
Practice
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Content and Process

• Content is the specific of what we want to do
• Process is how we introduce and follow
  through on the content

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A Continuing Cycle of Change
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Change Agents Who are they?

• Advocates
• Pure Process Helpers
• The Linker

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Four ways of being a Linking Agent
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Using the Linker Model

• EMSTACs mission
• Local Linking Agents and Technical Assistance
  Liaisons
• 3 Strategies

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Supporting Schools across Multiple Topics

• Accessing the General Education Curriculum
• Academic and Instructional Topics
• Behavioral Supports and Interventions
• Minority Disproportionality in Special
  Education
• Low Incidence Disabilities

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A Case Study
An Early Literacy Program Travels to a Rural
Atlantic School District Theory Meets Reality
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Early Literacy Program (ELP) Michigan State
University
Linker Support Group (LSG) US Department of
Ed-supported project
Troy (MSU- based trainer-linker)
Technical Assistance Liaison (TAL)
County Special Education Department
SE Supervisor
Val (designated linker)
Plainview Elementary
Principal Catherine
Principal
DIFFUSION
Reg Ed Teacher(s)
School Improvement Team (SIT)
North Slope Elementary
SE Teacher(s)
SE Teacher(s)
Reg Ed Teacher(s)
Principal
DIFFUSION
SE Teacher(s)
Cider Hill Elementary
Reg Ed Teacher(s)
significant and supportive linker role
major linker role
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For more information about working with EMSTAC
visit WWW.EMSTAC.ORG
Questions and Answers Thank you.