On August 10, 2021 the FIRE Foundation of Northeast Iowa hosted the Embracing Inclusion Conference in Cedar Falls, Iowa. There were over 250 educators, administrators, paraprofessionals and parents who attended the conference.
Thank you to the conference planning committee!
Thank you to our sponsors!
Dr. Paula Kluth, Consultant, Author, Advocate, and Independent Scholar
Keynote Presentation | “Don’t We Already Do Inclusion?: 5 Ways to Create Better Schools for All”
Breakout Session | “Universal Design Daily: Supporting All Students in the Diverse Classroom”
Breakout Session | “Joyful Learning: Using Active & Collaborative Structures to Support All Students”
Dr. Paula Kluth is a consultant, teacher, author, advocate, and independent scholar who works with teachers and families to provide inclusive opportunities for students with disabilities, and to create more responsive and engaging schooling experiences for all learners. Paula is a former special educator who has served as a classroom teacher and inclusion facilitator. Her professional interests include differentiating instruction, active learning, and inclusive schooling. She is the author of numerous books and products including Universal Design Daily, 30 Days to the Co-taught Classroom, Don’t We Already Do Inclusion?, From Text Maps to Memory Caps: 100 More Ways to Differentiate Instruction in K-12 Inclusive Classrooms, and You’re Going to Love This Kid!. Paula is also the director of a documentary film titled We Thought You’d Never Ask: Voices of People with Autism.
Dr. Deborah K. Reed, Ph.D., Director, Iowa Reading Research Center, Professor, University of Iowa
Breakout Session | “Dyslexia in Research and Practice”
Deborah K. Reed became the director of the Iowa Reading Research Center in 2015 and is on the faculty at the University of Iowa College of Education, where she is currently a professor in the special education program. Reed spent the first 10 years of her career as an English language arts and reading teacher as well as a reading specialist, working primarily with students exhibiting serious reading difficulties. Since 2003, she has been a researcher and technical assistance provider in numerous states. She has published extensively and continues to research methods for improving reading instruction and assessment, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Dr. William J. Soesbe III, Educational Consultant, Central Rivers AEA
Breakout Session | “Section 504: What It Is and How to Apply It”
Dr. Soesbe is an Educational Consultant with Central Rivers AEA and serves as the Section 504 Coordinator and directs the agency’s work with continuous school improvement. He has been in education for over 20 years and served as a middle school science teacher (Waverly-Shell Rock CSD) and a professor of education (Wartburg College) before transitioning to the AEA in 2015.
Monica Ryan-Rausch is a Clinical Social Worker, Autism Consultant, therapist, and educator
Breakout Session | “Social and Emotional Learning for the Everyday Classroom”
Monica has developed and carried out programs for Four Oaks, Hillcrest and Tanager Place. She has provided individual, family and group therapy to youth and their families to address issues related to anxiety, depression, attention-focus and separation issues. She interfaces with school, community connections, medical planning, and mental health planning. Monica is a wonderful listener and creative thinker and problem solver. Her expertise and vast array of experiences makes her a treasure member of school and family teams.
Sandra Drummey, Ed.D, Partner at ADAC
Breakout Session | The Heart of Inclusion is Differentiation
A lifelong special education practitioner, Sandi has served as a teacher, vice-principal, and principal. As an administrator, she established special education centers, and as the Assistant Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Fall River, she oversaw the creation and implementation of a first-of-its-kind diocesan-wide special education program. Sandi holds a bachelor’s degree from Suffolk University, a master’s degree from Boston College, and a doctoral degree from Boston College.
Shira Gebel, Assistive Technology, Team Representative, Central Rivers AEA
Breakout Session | Assistive Technology for the Inclusive Classroom
I am pleased to share that my teaching career began at Immaculate Conception Elementary in Charles City! After four years as IC’s physical education teacher, and substitute teaching in special education classrooms and coaching in the Charles City School District, I began working as an Adaptive Physical Education Teacher for Central Rivers AEA (Northern Trails AEA 2 back then). My work with assistive technology began long before any of current technologies became so readily available (we had to actually install using a floppy disk), which makes it easy to think that, now, anything is possible. I am currently a special education consultant for the agency and continue to pursue my love of teaching students with special needs, working alongside district teachers and staff, and striving daily to positively impact and/or help others impact students with special needs.
INCLUSION REVOLUTION: A Coast-to-Coast Movement to Welcome God’s Children Panel
Presented by: Dr. Christie Bonfiglio, Director of the Program for Inclusive Education at Notre Dame; Beth Foraker, Founder/Director of The National Catholic Board On Full Inclusion; Lynn Hire, Executive Director for FIRE Foundation of Kansas City; Tom Olson and Steve Perla, Principal Partners for ADAC; Bruce and Erin Schmitz, Founders of FIRE Foundation of Northeast Iowa
Lynn Hire, Executive Director for the FIRE Foundation of Kansas City
Lynn Hire has served, since 2013, as the executive director of FIRE Foundation (firefoundation.org) , a Kansas City-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources and advocacy in support of inclusive Catholic education. She is a seasoned nonprofit leader with a background in marketing / communications and a passion for helping parishes, schools and families build welcoming and successful faith-based learning environments for students with disabilities.
Beth Foraker, the Founder/Director of The National Catholic Board on Full Inclusion
Beth Foraker is a mom to four children: Jack, 28, Mary Kate, 25, Patrick, 21 and Caroline, 14. Her third child, Patrick has Down syndrome. Beth is a former classroom teacher who currently works for University of California, Davis in the School of Education with beginning teachers in their Multiple Subject Credential/Masters Program. She is the Founder and Director of the National Catholic Board on Full Inclusion – a non-profit that works with families and schools to fully include students with intellectual disabilities in Catholic schools. Her big dream is to build Continuums of Inclusion: communities that offer preschool through college inclusion so that full, independent adulthood is possible beginning with every Catholic elementary school, every Catholic high school and every Catholic college and university offering an inclusive program for these students.
Dr. Christie Bonfiglio, Director of the Program for Inclusive Education at Notre Dame
Dr. Christie Bonfiglio is faculty for the University of Notre Dame. She directs the Office of Professional Standards and Graduate Studies for the Alliance for Catholic Education and launched the Program for Inclusive Education in 2016. Bonfiglio teaches across multiple programs related to her work in inclusive education and provides professional development in this area to schools and diocese across the country. Prior to her work at the University of Notre Dame, Bonfiglio was the director of the Education Department at Goshen College following her work in public schools as school psychologist. Bonfiglio’s area of expertise include behavior and academic interventions through a Multi-Tiered System of Support. She is also well-versed in collaboration and child study teams. Bonfiglio served a variety of students through programming across the academic and behavior spectrum ranging from gifted to struggling to those eligible for special education. She is grateful to be using her knowledge and skills to serve Catholic schools in the pursuit of inclusive education.
Bruce & Erin Schmitz, Founders of FIRE Foundation of Northeast Iowa
Bruce and Erin have three children, Hayden, 12, JD, 9 and Jacob, 7. At birth they found out that Jacob happens to have Down syndrome. At the point of his birth, they had already decided to go down the path of Catholic education for their children. After a lot of research and exploring they found inclusive Catholic education IS happening throughout the United States. They also realized there are a lot of parents like them desiring Catholic education for all of their children, regardless of their abilities. In 2016 they founded FIRE Foundation of Northeast Iowa.
Bruce’s professional background is in IT work, he currently serves as a Business Intelligence Developer for Homebridge Financial Services, Inc. and farms on the side. Erin’s professional background is in tourism, non-profit / trade association management, and meeting planning. She owns E&B Management.
Tom Olson, Principal Partner at ADAC
Tom has successfully overseen development efforts, augmented donor commitment, and cultivated major gifts for a variety of organizations over the years. Tom’s professional competencies include published writing and public policy research. Tom holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross and Master’s degrees from St. Louis University and Boston College.
Steve Perla, Principal Partner at ADAC
One of the nation’s foremost leaders in Catholic education, Steve has served as the Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Worcester and the Diocese of Fall River. In addition, he has served as Executive Director of the Parents Alliance for Catholic Education and Senior Director of the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education. Steve holds a bachelor’s degree from Lesley University and a Master’s degree from Boston College.
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