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As an educator for over 35 years, Donna has had many opportunities to plan, organize and implement a variety of programs, improvement initiatives and activities for staff, students and families while maintaining a strong academic focus and meeting the needs of all involved.

 

With over three decades in education, Donna taught a variety of students with varying needs, provided team focused leadership in a variety of programs at the school and district levels including special education, general education, Section 504, Gifted Education, Early Intervention, Preschool, Response to Intervention, Staff Development, Title programs, Charter System Development and Charter implementation. She has also served as a Georgia Learning Resources System (GLRS) director providing leadership including professional development and family support regarding special education, instruction, leadership  and student well being.   

Currently Donna continues her passion for education serving as a Site Director for Foothills Regional High School in Jasper County, Ga.  In addition to this work, she also provides consulting services that focus on special education compliance, instruction, legal issues, improvement planning/implementation, leadership development  and other professional learning as needed.  

 

One of Donna’s greatest accomplishments was reducing the number of special education cases in the Bibb County School System.  Working with other special education coordinators, teachers, school level administration and families, Bibb School System was able to reduce the number of special education cases with attorneys from over twenty to zero over a seven year span. Donna and her colleagues accomplished this through professional learning, effective communication and intense team work. 

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Areas of Consulting, Support and Professional Development Offerings

 

Special Education

• Writing Meaningful and Effective IEPs

• Specially Designed Instruction

• Accommodations for students with learning challenges

• Maximizing FTE earnings in Special Education

• Compliant Practices in Special Education

• Effective Progress Monitoring

• Transition Planning and Documentation

• Understanding Individuals with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome

• Effectively Strategies for teaching students with characteristics of Autism

• Surrogate Parent Training

• Parent Engagement in Improving Special Education services within schools and districts

• Communicating effectively with parents and guardians to avoid complaints and litigation

• Roles and Responsibilities of IEP Teams

• Making connections between psychological, behavioral, social, emotional and academic assessments

• Program Evaluation and Improvement Planning

• Managing a IDEA and state special education funds

• Allocation of special education staff based on FTE earnings and student needs

 

School Improvement Processes

• School & District Improvement Planning and Review of current plans

• Root Cause Analysis

• Assessment of Improvement Plan Effectiveness 

 

Federal Programs

• Title I, Title IIA, Title IV, Title V

• Equitable Services for Private Schools

•  Budgeting

•  Cross Functional Monitoring

•  Corrective Action Plans

• CNA & SIP – CLIP Process

 

Charter Systems

• Charter System Application and Approval Process

• Charter Implementation and Reporting Requirements

• Effective School Governance

 

MTSS

• Developing and Implementing Effective Multi-Tiered Systems of Support

• Progress monitoring the impact of interventions

• Connecting appropriate interventions with learning needs

 

STUDENT SUPPORTS

• 504 Eligibility, Accommodations and Discipline

• Emotional Poverty Training

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