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