Monday, November 23, 2009

Breaking News: I Get to Interview the Assistant Secretary of Education Dr. Alexa Posny

I am very pleased and honored to announce that I have been selected to interview the Assistant Secretary of Education for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Dr. Alexa Posny. My interview with the new OSERS Secretary in a couple weeks was made possible because of your support. The credibility of this blog is greatly enhanced by our large number of subscribers and the activity and participation by the members of the related special ed law groups on Facebook and the other social networking sites that we have created and nurtured. So thanks for supporting the blog. Please keep reading.

I already have more questions than time for the interview will permit, but I need your help. I'd like to include some questions from readers. So what would you ask the Secretary?

This interview is a big honor and a fantastic opportunity for me and for us. Thanks again for helping to make it possible.


Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from U.S. Cellular

13 comments:

  1. If you've read my blog, http://specialneeds08.blogspot.com , you know I have not been impressed with Sec. Duncan. Besides the usual rhetoric that Sec. Duncan is committed to all students, I'd like Dr. Posny to explain how her role fits in with the overall direction and focus of DOE -- and how she thinks reform of NCLB will affect students with disabilities.

    Also, most of what I hear Sec. Duncan talk about, on the few times he does mention special ed, he talks about getting more students with special needs to graduate. But many will not -- what is DOE's responsibility to those students and their parents?

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  2. Fantastic news! I will anxiously awaiting your posts on this. I am sure you already have a lot of questions queued up and ready to go, but a couple of issues I remember percolating around the time I went on leave had to do with seclusion/restraints and "maintenance of effort" and how that was affecting the use of stimulus funds. We're also nearing IDEA reauthorization time -- I'm sure that there'll be delays there, but it could be something to ask about, anyway.

    So glad that your blog is getting positive attention!

    Christina Samuels
    Education Week

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  3. Thank you for the invitation to contribute. I wonder if there is any plans to change the classification of Autism to ASD at the federal level. Those with ASD who are classified as SI and OHI are being undercounted at the state level. This leads to less trained therapists and teachers, especially in the rural areas. If there were an accurate accounting of the population than districts could attract the teachers and clinicians that are needed. Also, in many cases, a state's Dept of Health uses the DOE classifications to headcount the population. Thank you for your wonderful blog.

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  4. I'm not a politician or policy maker so I do not know all of the ins and outs of these issues. However, I would like to know about a commitment to increase education of all teachers in every classroom so that they are special ed skills level of savvy. Learning how to teach to a variety of styles of learning, so as to best access all children in every classroom I think is important to everyone in this country. It is a goal to contribute to world peace. It fosters tolerance, inclusion and diversity. (You can translate that to political legalese if you wish,lol)

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  5. PS- thanks for including us! Also, don't forget about upgrading paras to professionals NOT babysitters!

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  6. Thanks Mark

    I appreciate your input,

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  7. Hey Christina.

    It's always good to hear from you.

    Thanks for your thoughts.

    Jim

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  8. Thanks Veronica,

    I appreciate your thoughts.

    Jim

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  9. Thanks Starlife,

    Please explain more about upgrading paraprofessionals.

    Jim

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  10. Well, it is one of the issues I always make a point about when my daughter is assigned a para. That my daughter is not a pet and a para is not a substitute for a primary relationship with the head teacher. I like the puddle para model where the para is used as an adjunctive teacher for many children who might need a bit more support. I think they should be trained better, more professionally, around special needs ed etc. Does that make sense?

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  11. Hi Jim,

    Good luck with your exciting interview iwth Alexa Posny. I would like to know if there is a better system of communication for the public to communicate with the Department of Education and it's offices regarding special education. I have been on the phone all week and ususlly it's a bunch of anwering machines. Very frustrating when trying to conduct buisness and get answers. Most people who answer the phones are not very educated and should have basic knowledge of who is the assistant secretary of special education and things like that since Dr. Alexa Posny is not on the DE Website. Again I have had individuals not know basic information that is frustrating like a consultant for special education from the Department of Education not knowing what 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq. is or means and telling me that the federal regulations 34 CFR 300 is the LAW. She had to look up the IDEA law citation on Pete Wrights website to know what I was referring to. This was not an isolated experience of mine and I am just a parent why don't these people know these basic facts?
    Heidi

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  12. Thanks, Heidi,

    Your comment is very troubling. Thanks for sharing.

    Jim

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