A year-long professional learning community designed to equip new special education teachers with the knowledge, tools, and confidence needed to serve students with disabilities while meeting compliance requirements and fostering inclusive, engaging learning environments.
Format:
4– 2-hour sessions held virtually
4 – full-day sessions held in-person (September, December, February, April)
Register for all cadre dates at once
In person: 9/2/26, 12/3/26, 2/4/27, 4/1/27
Virtual: 10/1/26, 11/4/26, 1/7/27, 3/4/27
Contact susan.hall@ckec.org with questions.
This professional learning cadre brings together those who work with and support students with disabilities as they prepare for life after high school. Through collaborative learning, resources, and best-practice strategies, participants will deepen their understanding of effective postsecondary transition planning. Topics will include college and career readiness, independent living skills, community-based opportunities, and connecting students with agencies and supports. The cadre will highlight practical tools, state and federal requirements, and real-world examples to help teachers design meaningful, student-centered transition plans. Educators will leave equipped to guide their students toward successful and fulfilling futures in education, employment, and independent living.
Contact sydney.green@ckec.org with questions.
Postsecondary Transition Cadre
This professional learning cadre brings together those who work with and support students with disabilities as they prepare for life after high school. Through collaborative learning, resources, and best-practice strategies, participants will deepen their understanding of effective postsecondary transition planning. Topics will include college and career readiness, independent living skills, community-based opportunities, and connecting students with agencies and supports. The cadre will highlight practical tools, state and federal requirements, and real-world examples to help teachers design meaningful, student-centered transition plans. Educators will leave equipped to guide their students toward successful and fulfilling futures in education, employment, and independent living.
Contact sydney.green@ckec.org with questions.
Beyond the Basics: ASD Cadre
Supporting the Whole Student
Explore strategies to support sensory needs, communication, and social emotional development. In this session, you will understand sensory needs and their impact on learning, explore ways to support communication across all settings, learn strategies to promote social-emotional growth and regulation, and leave with practical tools to support the whole student.
Participants will receive a 3 hours PD/EILA credit certificate.
Participation in all cadre sessions is encouraged but not required.
For any questions, contact erica.price@ckec.org.
Beyond the Basics: ASD Cadre
Every Student Can Learn: Systematic Instruction for Meaningful Progress
Learn how systematic instruction can support skill development, engagement, and long-term academic success. In this session, you will understand the key components of systematic instruction, see how systematic instruction supports skill development, explore strategies to increase engagement and participation, and learn ways to promote independence and long-term success.
Participants will receive a 2 hour PD/EILA credit certificate.
This session continues in the Beyond the Basics: ASD Cadre. Participation in all cadre sessions is encouraged but not required.
For any questions, contact erica.price@ckec.org.
Beyond the Basics: ASD Cadre
Teaching on the Edge of Trauma and Autism
Educators will explore how trauma-informed practices and specially designed instruction intersect to support autistic students. You’ll gain practical, brain-based strategies to foster self-regulation, reduce behavioral challenges, and build inclusive environments where all students can thrive. In this session, you will understand the impact of trauma on autistic students, explore trauma-informed, strength-based practices, learn brain-based strategies to support self-regulation, and reduce behavioral challenges through proactive support.
Participants will receive a 6 hour PD/EILA credit certificate.
This session is the third in the Beyond the Basics: ASD Cadre. Participation in all cadre sessions is encouraged but not required.
For any questions, contact erica.price@ckec.org.
Beyond the Basics: ASD Cadre
Seeing Success: Using Video Modeling to Teach Skills and Independence
Teachers will discover how video modeling can build skills, increase independence, and promote positive outcomes across settings. In this session, you will understand the power and purpose of video modeling, explore steps for creating effective video models, learn strategies for teaching a variety of skills, and apply video modeling across settings to support independence and success.
Participants will receive a 2 hour PD/EILA credit certificate.
This session continues in the Beyond the Basics: ASD Cadre. Participation in all cadre sessions is encouraged but not required.
For any questions, contact erica.price@ckec.org.
Building the Foundation: The Foundational 5 for Student Success.
Teachers will explore the essential five EBPs that support meaningful learning, participation, and independence for students with ASD. In this session, you will explore the foundational 5 evidence-based practices (EBPs), understand how these practices support meaningful student outcomes, and learn practical strategies for implementation in your own educational setting.
Participants will receive a 3 hour PD/EILA credit certificate.
This session is the first in the Beyond the Basics: ASD Cadre. Participation in all cadre sessions is encouraged but not required.
For any questions, contact erica.price@ckec.org.
Strong inquiry doesn’t happen by accident — it’s designed. Rooted in the Science of Reading, true comprehension happens when students actively synthesize knowledge through structured inquiry and writing. In this session, explore how to build compelling questions and structure an inquiry arc that moves students through evidence toward deeper understanding. Discover low-stakes writing routines that help students “think on paper,” lock in complex vocabulary, and turn background knowledge into durable comprehension. Designed for K–12 social studies, these approaches strengthen the architecture behind every inquiry and are ready to use on Monday.
Historical thinking doesn’t stop at the page. Grounded in the Science of Reading, literacy is about far more than just decoding text—it’s about building background knowledge, making connections, and extracting deep meaning. In this session, explore strategies that extend inquiry beyond primary and secondary text sources by reading images, artifacts, and data, while using discussion structures that push students to reason, question, and build understanding together. Designed for K–12 social studies, these approaches widen the toolkit for inquiry-based instruction and are ready to use on Monday.