You would imagine that as that final school bell rings, teachers would be running for the door alongside their students. However, teachers remained hard at work. Some teachers stayed behind to organize and wrap things up in their classrooms and schools, others enrolled in the Poudre School District Summer Institute.
Summer Institute is a way for Integrated Services educators to improve, build upon and strengthen their instructional practices for students with disabilities. They worked together, to problem solve or create plans for student’s areas of growth. In addition, it is a way for educators to earn credits which further their career path. This model originated with Mill Levy funds to allow staff in all curricular areas to have an opportunity to work together. The goal is to work on pieces that can be shared across grade levels and buildings and used in collaboration with other teams as well as general education.
This summer, Integrated Services (special education) offered a variety of courses including:
- Assistive Technology for students with extensive needs.
- Aligning IEP goals to Colorado Essential Skills.
- Integrated Services Behavior toolkit.
- Alignment of Speech- Language Intervention with General Education Curriculum.
- MCAT Intervention Guides for Speech-Language Pathologists.
- SED Professional Development Proposal.
- Administrative Intervention planning time.
- Classified Academy think tank.
- Transition curriculum development.
- ILS rubric development.
Summer Institute courses offered teachers and other support staff input, into different areas of special education in Poudre School District in addition to learning new skills and strategies. Once Summer Institute concluded, there would be tangible products which will be shared with all in the Fall. Here are a few examples of summer institute 2015 courses.
The assistive technology course for students with extensive needs, enabled participants to learn how to use Board Maker, Pics Writer and Sym Writer. These 
software programs offer symbols, pictures and words tobe printed or added to devices by teaching staff, to assist in communication. The intent came about as staff desired time to create more extensive and interactive lesson plans, to use as resources in supporting grade level curricular areas. The technology allows for content ranged from simple words to complex sentences. Poudre School District occupational therapists Trisha Atherly and Elizabeth Crawford 
and speech and language pathologist Anne Scott, created a course to teach educators how the technology can be used. Participants spent time learning about these programs, then were given the opportunity to work using them. They created assignments as well as boards to use in their own classrooms. They then had the chance to share what they had created with their peers and dialogue about their products.
Integrated Services Behavior toolkit was designed to discuss and create a wide range of resource materials related to supporting behaviors in the classroom. These materials will aid special education and general education instructors as resources. Poudre School District Integrated Services is committed to understanding behaviors students may exhibit as well as the function they serve, and offering resources so that educators are empowered to support all students. During the two week session, guest speakers were brought in to offer their expertise and help the group think through everything from working together effectively, understanding functions of behavior, data collection to then compile material on a google website in a way all teachers will be able to access.
In every district there is a group of support staff called classified employees. These amazing employees consist of paraprofessionals as well as administrative staff. This is a group whom has hands on experience with students throughout the school year. The Integrated Services Classified Academy are classes that exist to prepare classified staff for their various positions and continue their education. There are a list of learning plans that are required as part of their job. The Classified Academy Think Tank that was offered for Summer Institute created a space for classified staff to have input into what the academy includes and give input on courses to offer that would best support the work they do with students.
Transition Curriculum Development comprised of a group who work directly with older students (18-21) before and during transition programs. This is a group who are passionate about the future of students beyond Poudre School District. Their objective as educators, is to prepare students for their future to be successful with employment and independent living. The plan for the summer course was to brainstorm a way to streamline information about every student in a way that current and future support staff will all be on the same page. The desire is that education plans be done in a way that students are active participants. They developed a folder system that would follow the student through each IEP meeting and transitioning grades. They are also in the process of creating transition material for families. All information would be in one place so that nothing slips through the cracks. Their effort is to promote transition talks early to take away some of the fear that goes along with entering adulthood. 
The SED professional development proposal is a project directed by Aaron Vogt. The course consisted of people who work in programs for students with significant behaviors. The course was designed to put together a proposal to submit to Integrated Service director, Sarah Belleau. The proposal lays out a plan, including cost and format for a team, designated to work on professional development for all staff. It will be geared towards helping students who exhibit more intense behaviors. The team comprised of a group that has also been part of a PLC (Professional Learning Community). The PLC was a committee, compiled after an independent evaluation had been conducted. This is another way PSD Integrated Services is constantly striving for checks and balances to keep improving.
This is just a glimpse into the hard work our dedicated staff continues once the final school bells rings.
Poudre School District Integrated Services Director: Sarah Belleau 2407 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521
The halls were a buzz at Rocky Mountain High School. It signified the end of the school year coming and school check-out for students who were graduating the following weekend. I was invited to visit the Alternative Cooperative Education 
or ACE class and learn about gardens they were planting collaboratively with student council for the community. Instead of slowing down in anticipation of the end, RMHS teachers were not only continuing with their great work, but also starting new projects to teach job skills and how to give back to the community. I went into the day already completely impressed by the opportunities they provide for students and their future but I had no idea what a special culture they have created.
able to sell for a profit; there is a concession stand, The Rock Stop, which students in the ACE program run and operate. The list of employment experiences goes on and on. There will be time to talk about all of the wonderful work and real life education opportunities within the program, but that will come at a later date. This article is focusing on the staff who create the amazing experiences for students at RMHS.
etching machine and fans. This particular day was filled with excitement for those that were moving on and a sigh of relief for those whose fate had been up in the air. In a classroom full of life I found the desks of Kim Nigro and Patti Haugen. It feels like visiting old friends, even though these are woman I have just met. They are beyond welcoming.
be on time and schedules would be kept but when students came to say goodbye work paused. Kim and Patti, as proud as though the students were their own children, gushed over each one who came through. It was sincere and loving. Students had found a home and people who loved them in a critical time between youth and young adulthood. Many who may have little support and encouragement at home came to this room, with these people, and found exactly what they were missing.
school. The last of those K-5th graders she had once known were bringing sheets for her to sign, signaling the end of their time together. As Kim and Patti talked about their students, I could see their heartbreak for what some students had been through and pride for how far they had come. They beamed as they discussed each student. As students walked away Kim would say, “just keep moving forward, not back.” These simple words carried weight as students knew what she meant and with that left with smiles and two cheerleaders beckoning “we love you”.
who care about students and their futures. Yet this day, I was blown away at how much that love for people drives these two individuals. Kim and Patti chose to finish the school year strong, giving all that they have to their kids. I hope with all of my heart that their students remember that day forever and when the time comes, they reference it as a time they were loved and valued, remembering it with the clearest details.
area. As I grew up in such a beautiful place, my favorite activities are mostly outdoor oriented. I enjoy hiking, playing with my dogs, biking, and just being outside. Luckily, Fort Collins is an outdoor town and a good place to pursue my higher education. I moved to Fort Collins to attend CSU for Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies. After graduating in 2010, I worked in an autism program in a nearby city and found the job that I was meant to do. The next year, I enrolled at UNC to obtain my teaching license and Master’s in Special Education. While going to school, I worked at O’Dea Elementary School in the autism program as a paraprofessional. When I graduated from UNC, I was so lucky to get a job in Poudre School District as a teacher in O’Dea’s autism program. My favorite part of my job is seeing the kids smiling faces every day. I enjoy watching my students learn new information and the excitement they express when they make a connection to the material.”
way to disseminate information in an interactive, way that is sure to impact student accomplishments. Teresa Ashton is a calm, supportive presence. Janet Klein encourages the educators through information focused on who it is at the center of everything we do… the students. Julie Woolner’s smile encourages teachers to participate and truly engage to optimize the opportunity. The group together creates an amazing trifecta that Poudre School District Integrated Services is truly lucky to have!
Nestled in a hallway between two grade levels at Bacon Elementary School is the energetic classroom of Jill Cottingham. When praised for the work she is doing with her students she is quick to shift attention from herself and share the praise with all her colleagues in the Poudre School District autism program. Her care and enthusiasm for her students creates a warm, welcome environment. Here is more about Jill:
something different … something special about the community. The hallways are sprinkled with blue puzzle pieces. On the puzzle pieces are messages of encouragement written by the small hands that fill the school. To the students and staff of O’Dea Elementary, autism is a word free of any stigma. It is a word that may be used to help understand and appreciate their peer sitting at their table or a friend from the playground. Odea Elementary is a place that has a smile around every corner. In the classroom of Megan Conahan, there are an abundance of smiles! “Megan is a bright ball of light at O’Dea! She brings such a level of enthusiasm and love to her position working with our children with autism. There are days that can be very challenging, yet Megan continues to bring positive energy to her work. ” Says O’Dea principal Laurie Corso.
I was hired as a teacher in the program at Boltz shortly thereafter and I absolutely love it here. Since then, the other autism teacher, Bonnie Beach, the ILS teacher Stacy Denham, paraprofessionals and myself have worked together to support all of our students with extensive needs as a team instead of as separate programs. What I love most about my job is that there is never a dull moment and not one day is ever like another. I love watching my students learn, have fun, laugh, and seeing them take pride in what they have learned. We all have so much fun together, and students and staff really just work as one big team here.”
Integrated Services Poudre School District 