A Webinar Series Sponsored by Goalbook
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.
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.
Special Education Counsel to Boards of Education and School Districts
Alefia E. Mithaiwala represents school districts and educational agencies in all matters, including administrative trials, federal appeals, resolution meetings, expulsion hearings, mediations, and responses to Office of Civil Rights complaints, Department of Education compliance complaints, and Uniform complaints. She practices preventative law by consulting and training school staff on various IDEA, discipline, ADA, and Section 504 matters, and was instrumental in creating Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo’s Section 504 and ADA Procedures Manual. Ms. Mithaiwala has over 15 years of diverse experience in the field of education and education law. She received her Masters of Education degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Education in 2002, with an emphasis on special education policy. In 2003, she worked with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, to draft regulations for the 2004 amendments to IDEA.
Special Education Counsel to Boards of Education and School Districts
Brandon K. Wright is a partner in the firm of Franczek P.C. Brandon focuses his practice on school law, having developed a particular interest in the field of special education, due process, and cooperative school districts. He regularly speaks at local, state, and national conferences on special education. Brandon has served as an Adjunct Faculty Member at Southern Illinois University, as well as at Eastern Illinois University. He has served as the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys and is an active member of the National School Attorneys Association special education committee. Brandon holds both a Juris Doctor and a master’s degree in educational administration.
Special education consultant and former senior director of special education programs for a state Department of Education.
Kate Martin began her career as a reading specialist and special educator and then worked her way into multiple leadership roles at the district and state level. Kate served as the senior director of special education programs for a state Department of Education where she led state-level initiatives designed to improve implementation of special education programming. These included initiatives aimed at improving access to general education for students with disabilities while also improving the classroom culture and instructional design for all students. Kate is now an educational consultant and trainer via her company, Leverage Education, LLC.
K–12 Education Consultant and Author
Nate is a recognized thought leader with expertise in raising achievement and improving equity for students with disabilities despite tight resources. He frequently speaks at national conferences and has authored several books including “Six Shifts to Improve Special Education and Other Interventions,” published by Harvard University Press. As a consultant, he has helped over 250 districts in 28 states better serve students with special needs and reduce inequities and systemic racism. As former superintendent he led an effort to reduce the number of students reading below grade level by 65% and decreased the special education achievement gap by 66%.
Following the Supreme Court’s unanimous June 2025 ruling in A.J.T. v. Osseo, the legal landscape for Section 504 has shifted. Parents no longer need to prove “bad faith or gross misjudgment” to obtain monetary damages—they only need to demonstrate “deliberate indifference,” creating new urgency for districts to strengthen their Section 504 processes. When Section 504 Plans are created with a lack of meaningful data or teams take a “kitchen sink” approach, implementation fidelity suffers, opening districts to deliberate indifference allegations. In this critical session, school attorney Alefia Mithaiwala, Esq. will equip you with proven strategies to create legally defensible Section 504 Plans that your teams can implement with confidence and fidelity. By attending this session, you’ll gain:
The special education teacher shortage crisis continues to intensify as educators face unsustainable stress levels, complex responsibilities, and insufficient support systems. Special educators manage broader responsibilities, navigate stricter compliance deadlines, and often receive less institutional support than their general education colleagues, creating a perfect storm for burnout and turnover. Yet forward-thinking districts have discovered practical, cost-effective solutions that transform special education into a more sustainable and rewarding career path while improving student outcomes and protecting district resources. Join Nate Levenson, a recognized national expert and author who has consulted with hundreds of school districts across the country, as he shares actionable strategies from the most successful retention initiatives across the country. During this session, you’ll learn:
Student behavior management remains one of the most complex and legally challenging aspects of special education, with Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) at the center of increasing litigation. Recent case law and federal guidance have created new expectations for how districts must approach behavioral supports under IDEA, making it critical for administrators to understand evolving legal standards and their practical implications. When FBAs and BIPs fall short of legal requirements or fail to effectively address behaviors, districts face significant compliance risks and potential due process challenges. In this session, special education attorney Brandon K. Wright, Esq., will analyze key legal trends and provide practical guidance to help your teams develop legally defensible behavioral interventions. By attending this session, you’ll gain:
While many students with disabilities nationwide continue performing below pre-pandemic levels on NAEP assessments across all grades and subjects, one state has achieved remarkable success that breaks all previous records. Through strategic planning and effective implementation, Louisiana school districts transformed their approach to teaching students with mild to moderate disabilities, resulting in unprecedented growth that moved the state from 49th in the nation to exceeding the national average in mastery—the only state to show such dramatic improvement over a six-year period. This extraordinary achievement demonstrates that significant gains for students with disabilities are not only possible but replicable with the right strategies and commitment. In this inspiring session, Nate Levenson, who helped lead Louisiana’s transformation, will share the actionable strategies behind this historic success story that districts nationwide can adapt and implement. By attending this session, you’ll gain:
No two learners experience school in the same way. Yet too often, students are defined by test scores, labels, or subgroup categories—leaving educators with instructional approaches that overlook the full spectrum of learner needs. Embracing student variance is not just about serving students with disabilities, but about fostering general education collaboration of inclusive practices that move all students forward. In this session, educational consultant Kate Martin will explore how special education administrators can lead a shift in mindset and practice, equipping teams with approaches and frameworks that unlock student potential across diverse classrooms.
In this session, you will gain:
As an experienced administrator, you’ve likely navigated countless IEP challenges and built strong systems to support your teams. Yet from the courtroom perspective, school district attorneys are witnessing a concerning pattern: even well-run districts with seasoned leadership are making common IEP design mistakes that consistently result in legal disputes. With courts and hearing officers increasingly scrutinizing specific aspects of IEP design, administrators need updated guidance on the most widespread design mistakes that pose the greatest risk and how to steer their teams away from these dangerous waters. Join special education attorney Brandon K. Wright, Esq., for this session that cuts through fluff and complexity to give you a new perspective on the IEP design elements that matter most legally. During this session, you’ll gain:
For too long, schools have relied on the myth of the “average” learner, creating environments that overlook both student variability and the strengths diversity brings to a classroom. Special education administrators play a critical role in shifting this narrative—championing instructional design that fits students, rather than forcing students to fit the design. When educators design for difference, they unlock the conditions for all learners to demonstrate their full potential. In this session, special education consultant Kate Martin will provide special education administrators with practical tools to lead this shift across their schools and districts. By attending, you’ll gain:
Please click each session that interests you and register for each session separately.