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Volume 2 / Issue 1 August, 2017

Special Education

...Opening August 2017 Fort Bend Independent School District is Texas’ seventh largest school district serving over 75,000 students and is one of the most diverse in the nation. This summer has been an exciting time of facilities renovations and expansion. To address the district’s growth, FBISD will open three new elementary schools this year bringing our campus total to 11 high schools, 14 middle schools, 50 elementary campuses and three unique secondary campuses to serve the academic and vocational interests of all our students. Our goal is that students receiving special education

services will be served on a campus allowing them to be

part of their community. To determine what programs /

services would be offered at each of the new elementary

campuses, the process began by looking at each student’s

home campus. The continuum of instructional programs /

services on each of the new campuses was then based

upon the services needed for their individual students.

Special Education Department

138 Avenue F

Sugar Land, TX 77498

(281) 634—1143

FBISD Special Ed Website

Volume 2 Issue 1

New Schools

New Staff ...In Our Department

To better meet the needs of our

growing special education popula-

tion, additional administrative per-

sonnel are in place for the 2017-18

school year. These new team

members are qualified and experi-

enced professionals that will make a

significant contribution to the direc-

tion of their specific program based

upon their educational focus, previ-

ous professional experience, and

vast expertise in the field. We want

to welcome these new team

members as we continue to provide

quality individual programming to

the students we serve.

Thelissa Edwards—Behavior

Support Services (BSS) Program

Manager (High School & Out of

District Placements)

Tanya Aggison—Preschoo l

Program for Ch i ldren with

Disabili ties (PPCD) Program

Manager

Angela Singletary—Supplemental

School Health Services Program

Manager

Darin Quintero—Adult Transition

Services Program Manager

Nicole Singleton– Specia l

Education Instructional Services

Program Manager

Amanda Andersen & Rebeccah

Kaminski—Autism Support Ser-

vices Program Specialists

Julie Maslane & Shanna

Bodehamer—Board Certifified Be-

havior Analysts (BCBA)

In this Edition

Congratulations pg. 2

PBIS pg. 2

Teach Piece pg. 3

Moving Classrooms pg. 3

Resources pg. 4

Upcoming Events pg. 4

Bus Information...

If your student has transportation

as a previously ARDed service

for the 2017-18 school year, you

should have been contacted by

the transportation department.

The transportation department is

working diligently to contact each

family directly. If you have not

received confirmation of your

student’s bus route information by

Monday, August 21st, please

contact the transportation

department directly during office

hours.

Hodges Bend Terminal

281-634-1983

Lake Olympia Terminal

281-634-1937

Leonetti Special Education Programs / Services: Speech,

Resource/In Class Support, PPCD, FLaSH, CLASS

Leonetti Campus Website

Neill Special Education Programs / Services: Speech,

Resource/In Class Support, ABC, SAILS, CLASS

Neill Campus Website

Patterson Special Education Programs / Services:

Speech, Resource/In Class Support, PPCD, FLaSH,

SAILS

Patterson Campus Website

The Fort Bend Independent School District, an Equal Opportunity Educational Provider and Employer, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex, national origin, disability and/or age,

military status, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law in educational programs or activities that it operates or in employment decisions. Additionally, the District does not discriminate against an

employee or applicant who acts to oppose such discrimination or participates in the investigation of a com plaint related to a discriminatory employment practice. Employment decisions will be made on the basis of

each applicant’s job qualifications, experience, and abilities. Policies DAA, DIA

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Volume 2 / Issue 1 August, 2017

New Successes...

Project Search FBISD Project SEARCH at UnitedHealthcare was recently honored at the national annual Project SEARCH conference by Project SEARCH co-founders Susan Rutkowski and Erin Riehle for reaching the mark of having 70% of its graduates from the 2015-2016 cohort employed in the community. On hand to receive the award were Jessica Treybig, Project SEARCH Teacher, Keith Lucas, Job Coach, Alexandra Needler, UHC Business Liaison, Jillian Hamblin, UHC TX Community Plan COO and Dawn

Holt, TWC VR Counselor.

Project SEARCH, an organization with 500 sites around the world, is in its 4th year in FBISD and operates locally in partnership with UnitedHealthcare, Texas Workforce Commission and Texana Center. Project SEARCH provides a year-long training internship for students graduating by IEP with the goal of integrated competitive employment in the community at the

conclusion of the program.

Project SEARCH will host an Open House for students and parents at UnitedHealthcare this October. The application for Project SEARCH will be available online through the FBISD Special Education website after the October Open House. Applications for the 2018 – 2019 Project SEARCH Cohort will be due January 19, 2018. For more information, please contact

Darin Quintero, Program Manager - Adult Transition Services .

Left to right – Susan Rutkowski—Project SEARCH CoFounder, Dawn Holt—TWC VR

Counselor, Sandy Needler—UHC Business Liaison, Jessica Treybig—FBISD Teacher,

Jillian Hamblin—UHC TX Community Plan COO, Keith Lucas—FBISD Job Coach, and

Erin Riehle—Project SEARCH CoFounder

The most effective tool teachers have to handle problem

behavior is to prevent it from occurring in the first place.

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

programs help teachers recognize the significance of

classroom management and preventive school discipline

to maximize student success. PBIS strategies are critical

to providing all young people with the best learning

environment.

— NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a process that

focuses on creating systems to support implementation of evidence-based

practices and strategies in order to provide a continuum of positive

behavior supports for all students in the classroom and non-classroom

areas (hallways, buses, restrooms, cafeteria, etc.). An emphasis is placed

on creating sustainable Tier 1 supports (universal), Tier 2 supports

(targeted group), and Tier 3 (individualized) systems of support that

improve all areas of a student’s social emotional health.

The National Education Association (NEA) views PBIS as a general

education initiative even through the origin of PBIS is derived from the

special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

(IDEA). PBISD supports the success of all students and establishes an

environment in which appropriate behavior is the norm.

This year, the Learning Support Services Department is elated to introduce

the new PBIS/RD team that will serve as support for PBIS implementation

(including coaching in restorative practices, CHAMPS, Foundations). The

team includes eight staff with various backgrounds in behavior and mental

health. Kahla Byrd, Ashley Moore, Latonia Olivier, Erick Powers, and

Savannah Ray started the year providing training for PBIS/RD and

assisting schools with campus PBIS goals. As our team grows, we look

forward to continuing to build relationships with each campus team and

supporting campuses through coaching, modeling evidence-based

strategies, providing professional development, participating in data-based

decision making meetings, and monitoring the implementation of PBIS/RD

in the District. The PBIS/RD team includes She’Nee Young, PBIS/RD

Coordinator and Michael Ewing, Director of Student Support Services.

This team will work with both general education and special education to

develop effective disciplinary procedures to enhance quality instruction and

learning for all students.

New Team...

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Volume 2 / Issue 1 August, 2017

Teach Piece... Preparing for Success

“the Homework Challenge”

Teachers have the autonomy to choose what homework they will assign to

their students. Teachers continually seek innovative ways to bring quality

learning to students both in and outside of the classroom. As we begin

using technology in new and exciting ways to support and extend student

learning, many of our students will face a challenging paradox: The tools

they use to do their homework (e.g., tablets, computers, smart phones) also

provide the greatest distraction from getting the work done.

In a recent freelance article, “Homework Help, Setting the Stage for

Success”, Lisa Roepe suggests some helpful tips for helping families

manage homework.

Set the right mood

Agree on a time and place for doing homework. Some students needs a 30

minute break after school while others like to get it done as soon as they get

home. Some students need a distraction free environment with no television

or music while others benefit from background noise. Separate your own

personal learning preferences from your child’s. Be flexible and find out how

your child learns best.

Break it up

Work breaks into the homework routine. Encourage students to completely

focus on the homework for a designated period (e.g., 30 minutes) and then

reward with a 15 minute break. Repeat this cycle until the homework is

complete. Remember, some children have longer attention spans so be

sure to individualize the times for each child, especially if you have more

than one child doing homework.

Break it down

When a large assignment is due, many students need help breaking

long-term assignments into smaller assignments. Being able to plan things

out is one of the last parts of the brain to develop. Break the large

assignment into bite-size steps with deadlines, such as developing an idea,

creating talking points, researching points...

Organization is key

Organizational skills are often delayed in many students. According to

“ADDitude” editors, parents should consider themselves their child’s

“organization consultant” and spend time teaching their children the basics

of planning and organizing. Be sure to involve your child when setting up

any organization system so they are offered choices and the opportunity to

make their own decisions which leads to higher motivation / follow-through.

As each new school year approaches teachers weigh the purpose of the

assignments they give and consider if the homework is making a positive

impact in student learning. Homework really does serve an important

educational purpose and it is helpful for parents to encourage a healthy

attitude to homework from an early age. Remember; with planning,

structure and increasing your child individual supports at home when

needed, homework can be a pleasant experience for all!

Many teachers say, moving classrooms (or schools) is the most stressful

thing about teaching. We could liken moving classes to moving homes,

even though a teacher uses only one room in a school, the amount of

“teaching stuff” that is accumulated over time is probably equivalent to five

kitchens! With the opening of three new elementary schools and several

new programs / services throughout the district, many special education

teachers prepared for the move at the end of the 2016—17 school year,

giving themselves plenty of time to organize and pace themselves.

On Friday, August 11th, Callista Perkins, PPCD Teacher at Rosa Parks

Elementary for the past 3 years, was informed that her PPCD class was

moving to Goodman Elementary to better serve the students in the

community. Family and friends joined Ms. Perkins over the weekend to

pack up her classroom. She was joined on Monday, August 14th by district

staff including PPCD paraprofessional, A’lisha Robinson, to help move the

boxes from Rosa Parks Elementary to Goodman Elementary. Starting it all

at the last-minute may create unwanted stress for some but Ms. Perkins

remained flexible and positive stating she’s, “...just doing what’s best for my

kids!”

New Classroom…

Homework

Fam

ily

Lif

e

So

cia

l Ti

me

Extracurricular

RPE’s PPCD Room @ 8:00 on Monday, 8/14

Ms. Robinson (standing) and Ms. Perkins

(sitting) take a much needed break before

unpacking the boxes in their new PPCD

classroom at Goodman Elementary on

Monday afternoon.

WOW...Ms. Perkins is now ready to greet her

PPCD students at Goodman Elementary!

PPCD Class on the Move!

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Volume 2 / Issue 1 August, 2017

2017 Houston Walk for Autism

The Texas Chapter of Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, will hold the 2017 Houston Walk Now for Autism Speaks. Proceeds benefit Autism Speaks’ work, both locally and nationally, to increase awareness of autism, fund research and family services, and ex-pand advocacy on behalf of people with autism in Houston and beyond. The Houston event will include a ½ mile walk and a community resource fair, providing families with “one-stop shopping” for educational options, therapists, recreational programs, child-friendly activi-ties, and other vital services. FBISD invites you to join us for the walk and

some family friendly activities that will take place on:

Saturday, September 30th Lynn Eusan Park at the University of Houston (Main Campus)

8:00 Registration 9:15 Mission Moment

9:30 Walk Begin

View FBISD Autism Walk Flyer

View Parking Map

View Walking Route Map

Government

Texana—Child Services

Local: (281) 239-1300

Website

Non-Profits

The ARC of Fort Bend County

Local: (281) 494-5959

Website

Hope for Three—Autism

Local: (281) 245-0640

Website

Gi Gi’s Playhouse—Sugar Land

Local: (832) 939-9919

Website

FEAT—Houston

Local: (281) 361-3328

Website

Tourett Texas

Meets 2nd Tuesday of every

month

Contact / RSVP

Family to Family Network at

Eldridge

Local: (713) 66-6304

Community

Resources

& SCHOOL COMMUNITY HOME

STRONGER TOGETHER!

GiGi’s Playhouse was created to change the way the world views a Down

syndrome diagnosis and send a global message of acceptance for all.

They understand that many families are first time parents and need assis-tance. Many young parents do not expect, or know in advance of their child’s diagnosis, and they need renewed hope and genuine acceptance

from day one.

At GiGi’s Playhouse families are never alone. From a prenatal diagnosis to career skills, they make a lifetime commitment to remain by the family’s side. Families are empowered with tools to help their child succeed! All programs and tutoring’s are FREE to the students they serve and all ages are welcome. Please email GiGi’s Playhouse Sugar Land for more infor-mation.

GiGi’s Playhouse Fall Update:

Back to School Bash, Saturday August 26th, 10 am – 12 pm. Bounce house, water games, make your own cupcake and more. New family Meet and Greet at 10:30 am. Adult TEAM Dance Performance at 11:00 am.

Come join us for fun in the sun as we start another school year!

Free One on One Literacy and Math tutoring are available this Fall for all ages. Please visit One on One Tutoring Information to learn more and

sign up today!

Coming soon! Destination Discovery which will support the development of fine motor skills, gross motor skills, social skills and language through purposeful play and peer to peer interaction in a causal and fun setting. This program also brings families together to share experiences and build relationships. All ages and siblings welcome. Check our Gigi’s Play-house Calendar for exact dates and times of all our events.

Hope For Three is a local nonprofit and autism advocacy group providing resources and support to local families and children living with autism. They offer Family assistance to offset the cost of private treatment for children on the spectrum living in Fort Bend County. There are also monthly programs provided by the Teen Huddle; a group of 20 teen volunteers offering two programs, Sibling Sessions and Parents Time Out. Programs are FREE to local families. To learn more about Family Assis-

tance or any events, visit the Hope For Three website .

Save the date to join in the upcoming Family Fun Times!

September 23, 2017 – Family Fun Carnival

October 14, 2017 – Movie at Regal (formally Palladium )

November 11, 2017 – Sibling Sessions

December 9, 2017 - Parents Time Out

January 20, 2018 – Jigsaw Puzzle Competition

When families, community groups and schools

come together to support our students in FBISD,

amazing things happen!