Transforming Special Education Practices

Superintendents, central office administrators, principals, school board members and students in the field of education will find this book to be useful in guiding their own professional development and practice. The authors cover a variety of useful topics in special education, ranging from finances, how to systematically monitor the assignment of paraprofessionals, and transportation, to legal considerations and methods of promoting parent engagement. Co-editors Bittel and Young invited seasoned educators and professionals to share their expertise in a wide range of important subjects that collectively promote an understanding of how to transform special education programs and service delivery in public school settings. Chapter topics were intentionally selected to address the common special education program challenges facing school superintendents; and the focus throughout this book was on providing practical suggestions to improve actual practice. As such, current and aspiring educational leaders and policy-makers who are interested in learning more about how to successfully tackle some of the more complex challenges in special education while find this book to be an invaluable resource.
About the Author: Dr. Bittel is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Futures Education, a company providing special education and clinical services and management to districts across the country. Dr. Bittel is a Speech and Language Pathologist and has more than 35 years of executive leadership experience in the areas of special education, rehabilitation and developmental disabilities. He has taught on the primary, secondary, college, and graduate school levels. He serves as a Trustee at American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. Dr. Nicholas D. Young has worked in diverse roles in education for more than twenty years, serving as a director of student services, principal, graduate professor, higher education administrator, and superintendent of schools. He holds numerous degrees from Austin Peay State University, Westfield State University, Western New England University, Union Institute & University and American International College, including a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and an Ed.D. in Psychology. Dr. Young previously served as the President of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, completed a distinguished Fulbright Program focused on Japanese educational systems, and was recognized as the Massachusetts Superintendent of the Year in 2010. He has served for more than twenty-seven years to date in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserves; and he is currently the Commanding Officer for the 405th Combat Support Hospital, USAR, located in West Hartford, CT. Dr. Young is a frequent presenter at state, national and international conferences and has published widely on a number of topics in education, leadership and psychology.