Each year, nonpublic school and agency administrators, educators, direct service providers and staff from across the state attend the CAPSES Annual Conference. The CAPSES Annual Conference offers a variety of sessions on special education best practices, innovative new curriculum, current research relating to specific disabilities, new approaches to assessment and leadership, and the latest regulations and policy issues for nonpublic schools and agencies.
This year's conference will be held at Pacific Oaks College on March 31, 2017. Located in the heart of Pasadena, CA, this gold LEED-certified building offers a modern learning environment and is within walking distance of Old Town Pasadena. Students from all schools within Pacific Oaks will be on hand for the Pacific Oaks Research Forum to display their research presentations in the following areas: Curriculum, Speech Therapy, Behavior, Autism, Administration, and Counseling. The forum will be held during the lunch break, offering administrators the opportunity to meet face-to-face with potential employees.
The CAPSES Annual Conference offers a variety of savings opportunities on conference expenses. Group rates and early registration discounts are available. Administrators are encouraged to check with their Title Funds Administrator for available funding that may cover the registration costs. Friday, March 31, 2017, also happens to be a pupil free day for most of Los Angles area school districts, eliminating the need to cover staff while they attend the conference.
More details regarding the agenda, speakers, and accommodations will be posted here shortly - please check back regularly for announcements for updates!
CAPSES SPRING CONFERENCE
Friday, March 31, 2017
Pacific Oaks College
45 Eureka Street
Pasadena, CA 91103
Take Advantage of Early Registration and Group Discounts
PRESENTATIONS
Depersonalizing Student Behavior and Developing a Self-Care Plan
Presented by Puja Chhabra, LCSW, RYT-200, Clinical Director, Hillsides Education Center & Ryan Eisenberg, Ed.D. Executive Director, AchieveKids
Working in non-public schools offers unique challenges that enable us to grow as professionals. Tasked with helping the most complex students find learning, our environments present a level of stress and emotionality beyond that of a typical school or workplace. That paired with our need to keep student interests first, our ability to manage our own emotions becomes a critical component to our daily success and well-being, both in the workplace and at home. This workshop is aimed at investigating what makes behaviors feel personal, and how we are at risk for making decisions out of frustration instead of rational planning. After this investigation, we will discuss the development of skills to depersonalize student behavior and how to develop a plan of self-care. The goal of this workshop is to create reflective practices within the group and help develop the foundation to healthy habits of self-care.
That's the Wrong Coin: The False Dichotomy of Therapeutic and Corrections Mindsets and the Power of a Culture of Responsibility to Create Safety
Presented by Michael Penafiel, M.A., LMFT, Almansor Academy and Erik Quillen, M.S., LMFT (inactive), PPS, CWA
In attempting to create a safe school environment with behaviorally-challenged students with exceptional needs, educators often grapple with two seemingly disparate philosophies: the therapeutic model and the corrections model: compassion, on the one hand, compliance on the other. Some have suggested that success is found using these two strategies. In this session, Michael Penafiel and Erik Quillen will explore a key underlying assumption of these two philosophies, and how a competency model can bring success and safety to all learners.
Vouchers, School of Choice and the New Administration
Presented by Dr. Ron Reynolds, Executive Director of the California Association of Private School Organizations
The election is over, and a new US Secretary of Education has been confirmed. What does the future of public education look like under the new administration? Dr. Ron Reynolds, Executive Director of the California Association of Private School Organizations (CAPSO), will explore the potential effects that Washington's new leaders may have on the state's education budget, including the impact of vouchers and school of choice on k-12 special education across California.
Are Your Incident Reports Defensible?
Presented by Randye Eichler, Executive Director, Placer Learning Center
Can your incident reports stand up in a court of law? Special education providers face more challenges serving their students than ever before. Well written incident reports with accurate details are an organization's best safeguard after an incident has occurred. Randye has worked closely with law enforcement to develop the components of a defensible incident report. She'll share her knowledge of well-written reports with accurate details, descriptions that explicitly define the event, and the necessary follow-up actions. Anyone who documents the details in an incident report should attend this session!
What the Law Says About the Delivery of Mental Health Services to Students with Depression
Presented by Nancy Shea, Senior Attorney Mental Health Advocacy Services, Inc.
Depression is one of the most common emotional health problems among youth. In 2013, 30 percent of students in grades 7 – 11 nationwide reported a persistent feeling of sadness or hopelessness. Unfortunately, many of these students will not receive the mental health services that they need. This workshop will focus on those federal and state laws which can be used to impact the delivery of mental health services to students with depression.
Governmental Affairs: Updates on the Latest Legislative Issues Impacting Nonpublic Schools and Agencies
Presented by Richard Schnetzer, Mardan School & CAPSES Governmental Affairs Advisor & Teresa Malekzadeh, Executive Director at Beacon School in San Jose, CA and CAPSES Governmental Affairs Chairperson
The CAPSES Governmental Affairs Update has always been a session favorite. CAPSES Governmental Affairs Consultant Dick Schnetzer of Mardan School and CAPSES Governmental Affairs Chair Teresa Malekzadeh of Beacon School will be on hand to share the latest on state and federal policy issues and recently enacted legislation that impacts private providers of special education services. Topics include CDE Annual Audit Requirement for NPS/NPAs Update; Behavior Intervention Workgroup Update; Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the impact of Title Funds Distribution; SB 884 Special Education Transparency and Accountability Reform Update; SB 113 Demonstration Partnership for K-12 Mental Health Services Update, and more.
Trauma Informed Education in a School Setting
Presented by Pia Escudero, L.C.S.W., School Mental Health Director, Crisis Counseling & Intervention Services, Division of Student Health and Human Services, Los Angeles Unified School District
Ms. Escudero, a leader in the development, implementation, evaluation and dissemination of trauma-informed and trauma-specific services for children, will share her expertise and strategies to implement a trauma-informed education setting on the school campus.
(Check back often for new presentations!)
