Looking for Special Education or Emotional Development Support 
in Your Schools?

We offer targeted, practical professional development sessions tailored for educators, paraprofessionals, administrators, and support staff, with the flexibility to choose from our specialized topics or request customized sessions to meet your specific needs. Our offerings include Co-Teaching Excellence: Collaborative Strategies for Success; Creating Inclusive Classrooms: Building Environments for Every Learner; Behavior Management Mastery: Proactive Approaches & De-Escalation Strategies; IEP Development & Standards Alignment: Tailored Support for Every Student; Grade Reporting for Students with IEPs: Accurate, Meaningful, and Compliant Practices; Mastering DLM Alternate Assessment: Navigating Essential Elements Standards for Success (available upon request); Understanding Autism & Neurodivergence: Embracing Our Diverse Learners; Social Thinking Strategies for Students with ASD: Building Connections and Understanding; Creating a Social Thinking Classroom: Fostering Inclusivity and Communication; Supporting Executive Functioning: Strategies to Help Students Succeed; Maximizing the Impact of Paraprofessionals: Effective Planning and Support; Maximizing Aids and Services: Effective Behavior Supports and Strategies for Success; Supporting Students with Mental Health Challenges: Understanding ACES and School Interventions; Restorative Practices for Positive Behavior: Building a Culture of Respect and Accountability; Building Strong Parent-Teacher Partnerships: Collaborating for Student Success in Special Education; and Enhancing Emotional Intelligence: Building Self-Awareness, Empathy, and Effective Communication.

Recognizing the high turnover rate in special education, The FIRST Education SEED Center offers a robust mentorship program designed to provide ongoing support and personalized guidance to new educators, equipping them with comprehensive training and professional resources to tackle the unique challenges of the field effectively. Our program focuses on key areas such as best instructional practices, effective classroom management techniques, and emotional and professional support, while also incorporating classroom observations paired with timely, actionable feedback to foster growth and confidence. The goal is to retain high-quality special educators by empowering them with the tools and encouragement they need to thrive, ultimately ensuring consistent, impactful learning experiences for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

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At The FIRST Education SEED Center, we provide an in-depth, comprehensive analysis of your current special education service delivery model, meticulously evaluating every facet of your program—from instructional practices and resource allocation to compliance with federal and state regulations. Our expert team collaborates with your administrators, educators, and support staff to assess strengths, identify areas for growth, and pinpoint opportunities to enhance student achievement and operational efficiency. Following this thorough evaluation, we deliver customized recommendations tailored to your school or district’s unique needs, priorities, and goals. These actionable insights are paired with strategic, hands-on coaching to guide your team through implementation, ensuring sustainable improvements in effectiveness, adherence to legal standards, and, most importantly, student outcomes. Whether it’s refining service delivery processes, optimizing staff roles, or aligning interventions with best practices, our coaching empowers your team with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to create a more impactful special education program that supports every learner’s success.

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We provide comprehensive support for co-teaching success, offering insights into various co-teaching models tailored to your environment, strategies for collaborative lesson planning that align with IEP goals and grade-level standards, and techniques for classroom management to ensure effective participation from all students in diverse settings. Additionally, we cover approaches for addressing the behavioral needs of students with disabilities in co-taught classrooms, complemented by ongoing on-site and virtual coaching to observe, provide feedback, and refine your co-teaching practices.