District Administration - September 2012 - (Page 59)

jobs might suit you?’” Ewers says most of the high school students have the benefit of participating in the program in K8. “They’ve already had exposure to self-monitoring and self-advocacy skills, and they’ve had extended time to work on these skills,” she says. “The best time to start is at the elementary level. You can keep the skills gap from growing.” “We’ve definitely seen a lot of success stories, of students able to navigate schedules and meet the demands at the high school level, and finding a niche within the high school,” says Kies. Graduates often continue at community colleges, she adds. Marc Ellison, the center’s associate director. “The number one need that people have in varying degrees is developing social networks on campus.” For the past four years, the center has also offered a summer program at Marshall for almost a dozen autistic high school students nationwide entering their senior year. They live in a dormitory, take a class and get a feel for the campus when there are fewer people around, says the program’s executive director, Barbara BeckerCottrill. “They may not originally want to be college-bound, but they get a taste of it, have a good experience, and often want to pursue a college education.” Becker-Cottrill continues: “Nationally, there’s been a huge shift in the mindset of colleges and universities, as well as high schools and junior high schools. The expectations are being raised, and that’s great. If these students are not challenged, they will not respond.” DA Ron Schachter is a contributing writer to District Administration. To College and Beyond “We’re seeing more and more learners go on to college, typically with supports,” observes Goring from Autism Speaks, who notes that a growing number of colleges offer special programs for students with Asperger’s or other high-functioning forms of autism. Marshall University, in Huntington, W.Va., opened the West Virginia Autism Training Center 10 years ago. Today it serves 36 students (95% of whom will graduate), who spend 12 to 15 hours weekly at the center with a graduate student mentor, who helps them navigate class syllabi, organize workloads and develop checklists of what needs to be done. The mentors also help students cultivate their social skills. “The academic and social supports are both equally vital to a successful outcome,” says Resources AutismPro, www.tbh.com/autism-pro Cambium Learning Group’s Kurzweil 3000, www.kurzweiledu.com Computer Automation Systems, Inc., www.computerautomation.com Monarch Teaching Technologies’ VizZle, www.monarchteachtech.com Rethink Autism, www.rethinkautism.com TAPit, www.teachsmart.org/tapit Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication-related Handicapped Children, bit.ly/MjKwDF West Virginia Autism Training Center, www.marshall.edu/atc A Fast Track Traditional Ed.D. “The knowledge and skills acquired at Seton Hall and the network of cohort colleagues were essential elements to my career advancement.” Jason E. Glass, Ed.D. ’11 Iowa’s State Director (Commissioner) of Education Why more administrators have chosen Seton Hall University’s Executive Ed.D. Program: • National/International Reputation • Dissertation Starts on Day One • Cohort Model of 30 Students • Personal Care and Support • Intensive 2-year program: 10 Weekends, Two 4 week Summer sessions. For more information, call 1-800-313-9833, email execedd@shu.edu, or go to www.shu.edu/go/execedd 400 South Orange Ave. South Orange, NJ 07079 Now Accepting Applications for Cohort XVII September 2012 59 www.DistrictAdministration.com http://www.tbh.com/autism-pro http://www.kurzweiledu.com http://www.computerautomation.com http://www.monarchteachtech.com http://www.shu.edu/go/execedd http://www.rethinkautism.com http://www.teachsmart.org/tapit http://www.shu.edu/go/execedd http://www.bit.ly/MjKwDF http://www.marshall.edu/atc http://www.DistrictAdministration.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - September 2012

District Administration - September/October 2012
Contents
From the Editor
Letters
News Update
Curriculum Update
Inside the Law
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Product Focus
Resistance to High-Stakes Testing Spreads
Postgraduation for Special Needs Students
Rick & Becky DuFour
CIo News
Getting the Best ROI in Technology
Shaping a Digital Decade
Professional Opinion
Professional Opinion
Online Edge
Going Mobile
New Products
New Directions

District Administration - September 2012