President’s Message
Gary Molenaar
It is my honor and privilege to start the 2015 – 2016 school year as the newly elected President of NJAPSA. As a professional organization since 1971, NJAPSA continues to serve you, our members, by advocating for your pupil service’s needs, and the needs of your students. I am very lucky to be a part of this talented and dedicated Executive Board who works on your behalf throughout the year. I would like to thank Ms. Pat Hovey for her two years of service as NJAPSA President. Her guidance and tireless efforts have made our association stronger. To be sure, a great deal of behind the scenes work takes place and this year will be no different.The NJAPSA Board held its annual summer planning meeting in July, and the need for collaboration and partnership were the major themes discussed. While these are well-worn themes, I would like to share them with you because I believe they take on renewed importance given the many issues and initiatives that will impact the delivery of pupil services in the 2015 – 2016 school year.
· The need to collaborate as a member of the NJAPSA Board to continue to serve the membership in a thoughtful, responsive, and professional manner.
· The need for collaboration and collegiality as an association of professionals is a must in this challenging field of special education in order to provide mutual support and guidance.
· The need for collaboration with our peers in order to effectively serve the constituent groups in our schools and districts.
· The need for partnership with the other professional associations throughout New Jersey as pupil services does not take place in a vacuum.
· The need for partnership with the NJ Department of Education which promulgates policy and code that impacts everything we do as pupil services administrators.
APA is still with us, go figure, as we move full speed ahead into Dynamic Learning Maps. Just as we began to figure out how to make the Common Core State Standards accessible to all students, it appears there may be significant changes going forward. The Next Generation Science Standards are still on the horizon which will again challenge us in being able to provide meaningful access for all students. PARCC, LRE, Disproportionality, enough said.
We have planned exciting professional development programs which this newsletter highlights. Additionally, we continue our partnership with NJASA in co-hosting the Spring Conference scheduled for May 11 – 13, 2016, so please save those dates.
In keeping with the renewed importance of collaboration, we have taken preliminary steps to create a new partnership with NJPSA in co-hosting a January 14, 2016 workshop, so please stay tuned. We have also planned meetings with the NJ DOE Office of Special Education Programs throughout the school year and we will solicit your questions and concerns to share with the state director. The NJAPSA New Director’s Cohort has begun with over 12 members.
Please check our ever-evolving NJAPSA website for updated and useful information. While you’re there, please subscribe to our Twitter feed. On the website you will find a directory of members and the NJAPSA Executive Board. Please feel free to contact any member of the Executive Board to let us know how we can serve you better or if you wish to volunteer your time and talents. Best of luck with the rest of the school year and thank you for being a member of your New Jersey Pupil Services Association.
Gary Molenaar, NJAPSA President /
2015-2016 Cohort Program
Ted Kozlik Ed. D.
Co-Executive Director
The NJAPSA initiative for its Cohort Program is designed to provide new and seasoned administrators in special education and student services with the skills and knowledge that are critical to success in their challenging, complex positions. This year’s Cohort (2015-2016) boasts thirteen Cohort members who are selected each year from educators who have obtained appropriate certification and who wish to expand upon the skills and experiences gained from their initial time in the position.
Our participants attend five full day training sessions scheduled throughout the school year. All sessions are led by a group of directors/assistant superintendents with extensive administrative experience and demonstrated skill in dealing with special education and student services issues. Topics of each session are planned to coincide with the needs of both new and seasoned administrators and we focus on a system of elements which are interrelated and interdependent. In this process, we field all questions and respond accordingly. We also strive to provide congruence with the district’s philosophy, policies/procedures, curriculum and other programs.
October 2, 2015 / Budget Development & Grant Writing, Getting started as a director, Executive and management skills, Who’s Who? What’s due when?, Dealing with the State, County, & local Board, Setting goals and getting helpNovember 13, 2015 / Recruit, Retain, Evaluate, Supervise. Review of all approved evaluation systems
January 22, 2016 / Special Education Procedures Best Practices
Utilizing Technology: Applications for students and administrators
March 4, 2016 / Legal Issues, hot topics preparing for litigation
May 6, 2016 / Parent and Community Relations: Improving outcomes for all learners and achieving “buy-in” from home and community resources
This year, we welcome and recognize the following Cohort Program members: Rajneet Bajnath from Robbinsville; Lisa Barrows from Hackensack; Erin Biancella from Barnegat: Lisa Capone-Steiger from Livingston; Jack DeWitt from Glen Ridge; Grace Johnson from Denville; Jo Ann Karamus from Allendale; Jamie Koransky from Mountainside; Brian Mistretta from Oradell; Frank Mauriello from Verona; Marilyn Mitchell from Newark; Derek Ressa from Green Brook; and Raymond Santana from Fairfield.
The application process for the Cohort program begins mid-June 2016. If you know someone who would benefit from this initiative, please share this information.
Conference Corner
Marci Grabelle
Co-Executive Director-Programs and Membership
While everyone was busy getting ready for the new school year and taking that much needed vacation, the NJAPSA board members were planning wonderful professional development opportunities for our members and fellow colleagues, as well as organizing our New Director’s Cohort for 2015-16. This year we have scheduled two mini-conferences at conveniently located banquet facilities. The first of which was a tremendous success. The conferences will be held from 2:00 – 5:00 pm with dinner served.
Winter Mini-Conference: Thursday, February 4, 2016 – Building LRE Increasing Creative Programming, Double Tree, Tinton Falls, NJ. Guest Panel Discussion including Pat Hovey, Director of Special Services, Roxbury Public Schools and Past president of NJAPSA, Arthur Frieman, former Director of Special Services for Bergenfield Public Schools and Director of the Year 2012, Dr. Paul Barbato, Director of Special Services, Dumont Public Schools, and Dr. Gerry Crisonino, Director of Special Services, Jersey City Public Schools and NJ Director of the Year 2014-15. The panel participants will discuss developing and sustaining in-district programming to meet state requirements of LRE and Board of Education budgets.
Isabel Machado, Esq.
NJAPSA Special Education Director’s Academy: Friday, March 11, 2016 – Hot Legal Case Law Topics in Special Education-Residential Placements, IDEA and Custody Situations, Transfer of privately placed (non-public) students, Independent Evaluations, Special Education Student Transportation, “Medical” Home Instruction vs. IEP Home Instruction, Due process/Mediation Processes (resolution period, mediation, settlement conference and pre-hearing scheduling order, Credibility Issues during due process hearings, Ocean Place, Long Branch, NJ. Guest Speaker- Isabel Machado, Esq.
Ms. Machado, Esq. is the founding partner of the Machado Law Group. Her practice involves all aspects of education law, including litigation at all levels of state and federal courts and administrative agencies. She has in-depth knowledge and background in special education law, board policy, and administrative matters. Ms. Machado primarily counsels and litigates on behalf of school districts regarding special education, employment/contract matters, and labor negotiations. She is an author and dynamic public speaker who has presented for a variety of audiences including NJASA, NJSBA, LRP Publications as well as in-service programs for Board of education members, school administrators, and staff in school districts throughout New Jersey.
SAVE THE DATE:
FEA/NJPSA/NJSAPSA CONFERENCE: January 14, 2016 – Inclusive Schools Climate Initiative, Monroe, NJ
NJASA/NJAPSA SPRING CONFERENCE: May 11 – 13, 2016 - Keynote Speaker TBA - Caesars, Atlantic City, NJ.
For additional information please visit our website www.njapsa.org. If you have any suggestions for future professional development opportunities, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at . It is our goal to provide relevant professional development and support for all our members.
New Update – Administrative Child Study Team Guide
Suzanne Bassett
Many years ago NJAPSA published a comprehensive Administrative Child Study Team Guide which was only available to NJAPSA members. The Guide was updated several years ago. At the NJAPSA Executive Board retreat this past July, a committee was formed to develop a comprehensive guide once again. The following are members of the committee:
Suzanne Bassett – Tenafly
Mitchell Badiner – Bergen County Special Services
Paul Barbato – Dumont
Danielle Hamblin – Sparta
The goal will be to have the revisions made for distribution after the first of the year. As in the past, it will only be available to NJAPSA members.
Having used the original guide for many years, I found it to be a helpful tool to train CST members, administrators and general education staff in all aspects of Special Education. As a director I found that it was a useful reference guide when I had a question. We are excited to bring this benefit to our membership once again.
Upcoming Events
Marci Grabelle
NJAPSA Presents:
Conference for Directors, Supervisors, CST, Principals and Administrators
Hot Legal Case Law Topics in Special Education
Isabel Machado, Esq.
Friday, March 11, 2016
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Ocean Place Conference Center - Long Branch, New Jersey
Light Snacks and Lunch Provided
Directions to the Ocean Place Conference Center
available @ www.oceanplace.com
For further information or groups of 5 or more, call (908) 832-9400 or contact
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Executive Board
Ms. Gary Molenaar President
Mr. Gregory Margolis President Elect/Treasurer
Dr. Paul Barbato Secretary
Ms. Patricia Hovey Immediate Past President
Mr. Mitchell Badiner Past President
Dr. Denise Ricciardi Past President
Dr. Howard Lerner Past President
Ms. Suzanne Bassett Trustee
Ms. Danielle Hamblin Trustee
Ms. Candida Hengemuhle Trustee
Ms. Meryl Gill Trustee
Mr. Michael Maschi Trustee
Ms. Susan Smahl Trustee
Ms. Tania Symmons Trustee
Ms. LaCoyya Weathington Trustee
Dr. Michael Weissman Trustee
Contact Us
Ted KozlikCo-Executive Director
/ Marci Grabelle
Co-Executive Director
Kathryn DeBaker
Administrative Assistant
(908) 832-9400