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.
April 8, 2025
What Special Education Administrators Need to Know About the Legal Landscape for Transition Services in 2025 and Beyond
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.
Brandon Wright, Esq.
Special Education Counsel to Boards of Education and School Districts
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Brandon K. Wright is a partner in the firm of Miller, Tracy, Braun, Funk & Miller, Ltd. 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. He has served as an Adjunct Faculty Member at Southern Illinois University, as well as at Eastern Illinois University. Brandon currently serves as the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys. Brandon holds both a Juris Doctor and a master’s degree in educational administration.
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.
Susan Shapiro
UDL Implementation Specialist at CAST
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In her role as an Implementation Specialist for CAST, Susan partners with educators to implement the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to practice. For over 25 years, Susan has consulted with in-service educators on issues related to inclusive learning design in her roles at both the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (UCED) and at the University of Vermont’s Center for Disability and Community Inclusion (UCED). She taught as an adjunct professor in the Special Education Department at the University of New Hampshire’s Graduate School for nearly a decade. Susan’s earliest jobs were in public elementary schools where she worked as a special educator, a general education classroom teacher, and as one of New Hampshire’s first Inclusion Facilitators.
What Special Education Administrators Need to Know About the Legal Landscape for Transition Services in 2025 and Beyond
The ultimate goal of IEP teams and educators throughout a student’s academic journey is to set them up for lifelong success and provide suitable transition services. Yet, when not properly planned and executed, transition efforts can quickly become legal battlegrounds. In this session, school attorney Brandon K. Wright will help demystify the legal landscape of transition planning by spotlighting key legal requirements and best practices through the lens of agency guidance and case law from around the country. You’ll gain useful information you can share with your IEP teams to make effective plans that help your students transition to post-secondary education, work, and independent living. By attending this session, you’ll learn:
- Often overlooked legal requirements and best practices for transition assessments
- How courts and hearing officers have viewed the sufficiency of schools’ transition efforts
- The link between transition services and assistive technology
- Turnkey methods to keep your transition planning future-oriented and results-driven
Bridging the Gap: A Proven Administrator Model for Effective Transition Planning for Student Success
Transition planning is a pivotal aspect of special education, ensuring students with disabilities are well-prepared for life beyond high school. In this comprehensive session tailored for special education administrators, we delve into actionable strategies to enhance transition plans, foster robust interagency collaboration, and empower both students and their families. Participants will gain insights into best practices, legal mandates, and data-driven methodologies aimed at elevating post-secondary outcomes. By attending this session, special education administrators will walk away with:
- Turnkey Strategies to Craft Compliant and Impactful Transition Plans
- Must-know legal imperatives under IDEA to maintain compliance while promoting genuine student involvement
- Practical techniques to improve collaborative efforts and build effective partnerships among schools, families, vocational agencies, and community organizations
- Proven methods to champion career readiness initiatives and implement experiential work-based learning opportunities
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)
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.
- What Special Education Administrators Need to Know About the Legal Landscape for Transition Services in 2025 and Beyond
- Bridging the Gap: A Proven Administrator Model for Effective Transition Planning for Student Success
- Transforming Co-Teaching with UDL: The “Journey Mapping” Strategy for Special Education Leaders
- Using UDL to Support New Teachers in Designing Instruction for All Learners
- Rethinking Behavior: Moving Beyond Compliance by Designing for Engagement with UDL