A Webinar Series Sponsored by Goalbook
In this webinar series featuring renowned special education experts, we address the most important challenges faced by special education administrators in today's environment.
The nationally recognized speakers will provide real-world guidance based on research, best practices, and compliance to help you navigate the unique circumstances of the 2024–25 school year.
You’ll walk away from each session with fresh ideas, key concepts, and practical takeaways that you can implement with your educators and providers to help every student succeed.
Who should attend?
- Directors of Special Education/Special Services
- Supervisors of Special Education/Special Services
What is the cost?
It’s free! The Spotlight Series for Special Education Administrators is sponsored by Goalbook as part of our commitment to support the special education community and provided at no cost to you.
June 12, 2025
Transforming Co-Teaching with UDL: The “Journey Mapping” Strategy for Special Education Leaders
Featured Presenters
Andratesha Fritzgerald, Ed.S.
District Administrator and author of Antiracism and Universal Design for Learning
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Andratesha Fritzgerald is a former teacher, curriculum specialist, and administrator who is now the Director of Human Resources, Diversity and Equity in a large urban school district. As an international speaker, presenter, and facilitator, Andratesha exhibits audacious perseverance calling on organizations to evolve into inclusive antiracist safe zones for all learners. She is the founder of Building Blocks of Brilliance Educational Consulting Firm, and the author of Antiracism and Universal Design for Learning: Building Expressways to Success.
Janae Duclos, Ph.D.
Researcher and Special Education Expert
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Janae Duclos Francois, Ph.D., is an Assistant in Research at Florida State University in the Florida Center for Reading Research. Dr. Duclos is also an adjunct Professor of Special Education in the School of Teacher Education. Dr. Duclos has a research interest and professional experience in transition for students with disabilities, differentiating instruction, inclusion, access to the general education curriculum and educational leadership.
Katie Novak, Ph.D.
Former Assistant Superintendent and author of Equity by Design
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Dr. Katie Novak is an internationally renowned education consultant, author, adjunct professor, and former Assistant Superintendent of Schools. Katie has more than 19 years of experience in teaching and administration and has written eight books, including UDL Now!, Equity By Design, and UDL and Blended Learning. Katie helping districts across the country implement Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), and universally designed leadership. Katie's work is featured in many publications, including Edutopia, AMLE Magazine, the Huffington Post, ASCD Education Update, and School Administrator.
Kendra Yoch, Esq.
Special Education Counsel to School Districts
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Kendra partners with public school districts and charter schools to problem solve related to student issues, focusing on special education, Section 504, Title IX, and other civil rights. Kendra supports IEP and 504 teams and serves as lead counsel in special education mediations and due process hearings. She represents schools in complaints before the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and the Texas Education Agency. Prior to joining Thompson and Horton in Dallas, Kendra represented schools in Illinois, and prior to that, she served in the general counsel’s office for the District of Columbia Public Schools, handling hundreds of special education due process complaints. Before attending law school, Kendra taught seventh and eighth grade special education reading and language arts in Houston ISD.
Ruth Templeton
Implementation Specialist at CAST
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With over 30 years in education, Ruth has dedicated her work to centering students and creating spaces where all learners feel seen, supported, and given the tools to develop autonomy. She holds degrees in elementary education and psychology, along with a master’s in special education. Ruth is a certified Wilson instructor, a life coach, and an educational therapist—all roles that reflect her belief in the power of educating all learners and focusing on a strengths-based approach to learning. Whether she is working with students, teachers, or school leaders, her focus is always on building inclusive practices that honor each learner’s unique path.
Transforming Co-Teaching with UDL: The “Journey Mapping” Strategy for Special Education Leaders
Many special education administrators face the challenge of ensuring that co-teaching is truly collaborative and inclusive. Too often, the general educator designs the lesson while the special educator only supports its delivery, missing key opportunities to leverage Universal Design for Learning (UDL) during the planning process. This webinar introduces “Journey Mapping,” a strategic planning protocol that special education leaders can use to bring general and special educators together early in the lesson design phase. Journey Mapping helps co-teaching become co-designing, ensuring a more accessible and equitable learning environment for all students. Special education leaders will leave this session with actionable learnings they can turnkey to their teams, including how to:
- Use UDL as a shared language for instructional design between general and special educators
- Apply Journey Mapping to identify where all students need more options for access, engagement, and agency
- Pinpoint where students with disabilities require accessible educational materials (AEM), assistive technology (AT), or specially-designed instruction (SDI)
The Future Is Now: Adapting Special Education Compliance for a Future with AI
AI has rapidly entered education on multiple fronts: teachers are using it to create lesson plans and IEPs, students are leveraging it for essays and research, and districts are implementing it for student monitoring and communication translation. While AI tools offer tremendous benefits, they also present significant legal and compliance risks—particularly in special education—including potential violations of FERPA, IDEA, Section 504, and Titles VI, VII, and IX. As with previous technological innovations, AI implementation in schools has outpaced policy development and staff training, compounding these risks. This webinar addresses how to help navigate these potential hazards of AI in educational settings, with an emphasis on special education programs, and equips leaders with strategies to develop effective policies and practices for responsible AI use. By attending, you’ll learn to:
- Identify special education and other district policy updates to address the use of AI tools
- Determine critical training needed for different staff members related to the effective, ethical, and legal use of AI tools
- Develop practices to evaluate AI tools
- Respond to concerns from parents and other stakeholders related to the use of AI tools
Using UDL to Support New Teachers in Designing Instruction for All Learners
All teachers play a critical role in supporting students with disabilities, yet many new educators enter the field without the necessary tools to design instruction that removes barriers and fosters meaningful access to learning. Join Dr. Katie Novak in this session to explore how special education administrators can leverage the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to support new teachers—helping them proactively design instruction that works for students with the most significant support needs. Learn how to integrate UDL into teacher onboarding, provide practical resources to new teachers, and equip school leaders with tools to support all learners. During this session, you’ll gain:
- A deeper insight into the UDL framework and how Special Education Administrators can leverage it to empower all teachers to proactively design for students with disabilities.
- Strategies, tools, and resources for embedding UDL into district onboarding plans and ongoing professional development to set new teachers up for success.
- Guidance on using UDL look-fors to help administrators support and coach teachers in implementing inclusive instructional practices.
Rethinking Behavior: Moving Beyond Compliance by Designing for Engagement with UDL
Traditional behavior management in schools often prioritizes compliance and control while often failing to address the root causes of behavioral challenges, leaving administrators and educators stuck in reactive cycles. This session will challenge special education administrators to rethink behavior through the lens of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), shifting from a discipline-first approach to a proactive, instructional approach that supports engagement, self-regulation, and executive functioning. By identifying environmental barriers and implementing UDL-aligned strategies, administrators can foster more inclusive, predictable, and supportive learning spaces that reduce behavioral incidents and empower students. By attending, you’ll learn:
- Key environmental and instructional barriers that contribute to behavioral challenges.
- Turnkey UDL principles that can be applied to behavior support, moving beyond compliance to engagement.
- Concrete strategies for fostering student self-regulation and autonomy.
- Proven tools and conversation starters to support teachers in redesigning learning environments to better meet student needs.
Quick Registration
Please click each session that interests you and register for each session separately.
- Transforming Co-Teaching with UDL: The “Journey Mapping” Strategy for Special Education Leaders
- The Future Is Now: Adapting Special Education Compliance for a Future with AI
- Using UDL to Support New Teachers in Designing Instruction for All Learners
- Rethinking Behavior: Moving Beyond Compliance by Designing for Engagement with UDL