GOSPED Network

Special Education Community

āš™ļø Highly Effective Teaching & Leading šŸ’» Virtual šŸ†“ Free

  • Date: Sept 18, 2023

  • Time: 4-5:30 PM

  • Location: Virtual

  • Intended Audience: Special Education Teachers, Providers, and Paraprofessionals

  • Registration Fee: Free and open to GOCSD Members and Nonmembers

About this Network

Are you a passionate educator or service provider committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of students with special needs? If so, we invite you to be a part of an enlightening and enriching experience, our GOSPED Network!

This network is a dynamic gathering dedicated to fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and growth within the special education community. This unique network is designed to provide a sensitive and supportive environment, where educators and service providers like yourself can connect, learn, and thrive together.

Why Participate?

Customized Agenda for Your Needs: This event is all about catering to your interests and professional growth. We encourage you to add to our collaborative agenda, which will be shared with you after registering. This way, we can ensure that the topics discussed are exactly what you need to enhance your skills and address the challenges specific to your role.

Timely Information with Actionable Strategies: Gain timely and relevant information that will empower you in your educational journey. Gain practical insights and actionable strategies to address challenges specific to special education.

Idea Exchange and Resource Sharing: Be a part of a network where ideas flow freely, and experiences are shared openly. Discover innovative teaching methodologies and resourceful tools.

Collaboration at its Best: Connect with like-minded peers and experts who share your passion for special education. Forge partnerships that can lead to fruitful collaborations, creating a supportive community that extends beyond the meetings.

Regular Gatherings for Continuous Growth: We understand the importance of ongoing support and learning in the ever-changing educational landscape. That's why this network will meet multiple times during the school year. By meeting regularly, you'll establish strong connections with fellow educators, enabling continuous growth and fostering a supportive community.

Facilitator

Christina O'Neil

Dr. Christina O'Neil
Special Services Teacher
Nixa Public Schools

Christina recently received her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Southwest Baptist University. She obtained her Bachelor's in Psychology and Child Development from College of the Ozarks. She went into the mental health field, working as a Community Support Worker for Burrell Behavioral Health. She made the switch to special education in 2009 when she took a job as a paraprofessional at Taneyville Elementary. There, she learned how much she loved working with children with social emotional and behavioral needs.

Christina went on to get her Master's in special education and teaching certification from Drury University. In 2014, she began teaching special education at Nixa Public Schools, where she currently teaches. She is graduating in May 2023 with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership.

Christina has been the President of Chapter 164 of the Missouri Council for Exceptional Children since 2020. In 2016 she founded Edcamp SpEd Nixa, an annual unconference, which provides a unique professional development opportunity for special education teachers from all over Missouri and Arkansas.

Special education is her passion. She loves this population and has committed her career to helping those in need. She specializes in working with students with social emotional and behavioral needs. She now feels called to work with adults, share her knowledge and experiences, and lead future generations of special education teachers.

GOLearn Professional Learning Framework

GOLearn

Our GOLearn PL Framework provides an overview of the learning experiences we offer. This systems approach supports continuous improvement and allows members to identify the offerings that meet their needs, providing a personalized experience. It includes three strands: Systems Thinking, Safe and Collaborative Culture, and Highly Effective Teaching and Leading.

We use the Learning Forward Standards for Professional Learning when designing our experiences to ensure that we provide professional learning that leads to high-quality leading, teaching, and learning for students and educators.

Review our GOLearn Framework to identify sessions that meet your needs, see what sessions are currently open for registration on our PL Events webpage, and access the content in our on-demand catalog to start learning now.