COOPERATE - The Community Newsletter of the DC Special Education Cooperative - October 2022

COOPERATE OCTOBER

2022

|

VOL.

2

The Community Newsletter from the DC Special Education Cooperative

Co-op staff during our most recent staff retreat

Welcome from the Executive Director Engage with the Co-op Like the schools we support, the Co-op is always innovating to implement high-quality programming that meets the needs of our community. In this issue, we’re highlighting two of our newest programs!

The DC3C Summer 2022 Intern Program provided a paid, work-based learning opportunity for six students with disabilities during July and August. Research shows that paid work, during high school, for this group of students has a positive impact on their post-high school employment rates. The Co-op is committed to creating access for as many students as possible. We can't do it alone! If you can engage with one of our students through paid employment or internship - please consider attending our DC3C Next Steps Fair in November (more detail on page 4!)

We love working with educators as much as we love working with our DC3C students. This year, the Co-op is facilitating our second Special Education Leadership Coaching Cohort.

We believe that strong leadership is the key to retaining skilled special educators and driving outcomes for students with disabilities. We are honored to partner with seven schools and their special education leaders during this pivotal year.

As we head into the Fall season, we are looking forward to what the rest of the school year 2022-2023 will bring!

With gratitude, Julie Camerata Executive Director

Highlights from this issue: DC3C's Summer Intern Program - pg.2 Special Education Leader Cohort - pg.3 Learn more about our DC3C Next Steps Fair - pg.4

"DC3C provided me options when no one else would hire me."

Empowering our Youth through Employment

Research shows that students with disabilities who participate in paid workbased learning experiences during high school are more likely to obtain and

For many teenagers, summer jobs are an

maintain employment after school -

expected rite of passage. As adults, we

highlighting just how incredibly important

remember summer jobs spent in fast

programs like DC3C are for our students!

food restaurants or clothing retailers

The DC3C Summer Internship Program

making minimum wage, and the feeling

brought together six high school students,

of accomplishment upon receiving that

from all four quadrants of the city and

first paycheck is deeply ingrained in our

hailing from both traditional and charter

memory. Unfortunately, obtaining a

schools to work collaboratively on

summer job is not so simple for students

presentations focused on self-identity and

with disabilities. Despite the ebbs and

career aspirations.

flows of the global economy, students with disabilities face consistent barriers to

During the program, we focused on

employment. Historically, the jobless rate

empowering and improving students’ self-

for those with a disability is about twice as

awareness, helping students apply soft skills

high as the rate for those without a

to co-working relationships, and increasing

disability. The Co-op is committed to

leadership and communication skills, which

developing programming to close the

are applicable in various work

post-high school employment gaps for

environments.

students with disabilities in DC. Our students worked diligently on their This summer, the Co-op DC3C’s program

culminating presentations, incorporating

created a unique summer employment

self-expression and their unique

experience by hosting a five-week

personalities into every ounce of their

Summer Internship Program exclusively

PowerPoint presentations!

for students with disabilities. Our goal was to ensure that this often overlooked population of students was able to gain a paid work-based experience this summer.

Read more here!

Empowering our SPED Leaders DC’s model Special Education Leadership Coaching Cohort

How can we expect special educators to instruct and advocate for our most vulnerable students when they feel undervalued and overworked?

As an organization made up of former

Across the country, schools are scrambling

special educators, we uniquely understand

to fill vacancies. Many schools have tried

the challenges that face this

incentives such as bonuses and other perks,

underappreciated workforce and the

sadly to no avail. These problems with

critical role these educators play in

retaining staff have existed for years but

improving outcomes for students with

have been exacerbated by the COVID-19

disabilities within the District of

pandemic and overall burnout -

Columbia.

particularly when it comes to special educators. Special education staffing has a

To ensure our member schools had a

pipeline problem as well as a retention

network of support for their special

problem.

education staff, the Co-op launched our Special Educator Leadership Coaching

According to a recent article in The 74

Cohort. This specific focus on special

Million, teaching candidates have reported

educators does not exist within the

a “dearth of incentives” for new teachers to

District of Columbia, either at the

work instructing children with disabilities

traditional public or charter level. In our

and a “chronic lack of support” to retain

inaugural year, we reached out to our

teachers in those positions. Depending on

expansive membership for initial interest.

their jurisdiction, special educators are

The response was overwhelming, to say

required “to go above and beyond the

the least!

average classroom teacher— earn more college credits, take on more student debt, and perform more work — while getting the same or fewer resources.”

Read more here!

"The coaching provided by the DC Special Education Cooperative has had a gamechanger approach on our school's ability to implement a high quality special education program."

OCTOBER 2022 | VOLUME NO. 2

DC3C Next Steps Fair 2022

Whether students are heading to college, a training program, or straight to the workforce, the DC3C Next Steps Fair has them covered! High school students with disabilities from across DC are invited to attend the Next Steps Fair to learn about various careers, local education and training opportunities, and community resources.

This year's DC3C Next Steps Fair will be an in-person event, held at the Armour J. Blackburn University Center located on the campus of Howard University.

Next Steps Fair will feature: Local educational and training vendors Disability support offices from local community colleges & universities Community resources and representatives from DC Government agencies Live demonstrations from local DJs, yoga instructors, chefs, hair stylists, and more!

Interactive photo booths and scavenger hunts Food is provided to all attendees!

Door prizes include AirPods, Gift Cards, Gaming Systems, and more!

Click here to register as a participant or as a exhibitor!

Please contact David Fridie (dfridie@specialedcoop.org) if you have any questions.

We look forward to seeing you at the DC3C Next Steps Fair 2022!

Connect and Engage with Us! Twitter/FaceBook: @SpecialEdCoop