Episodes

Held annually since 2014, the Governor’s STEM competition challenges student teams to research, design, and present a project that can improve the lives of Pennsylvanians. As part of a three-part series, joining PaTTANpod to share their perspectives on the competition is Pennridge School District teacher and STEM competition advisor, Melissa O’Brien.

Held annually since 2014, the Governor’s STEM competition challenges student teams to research, design, and present a project that can improve the lives of Pennsylvanians. As part of a three-part series, joining PaTTANpod to share their perspectives on the competition is East Stroudsburg High School North teacher and STEM competition advisor, Jacqueline Edelbaum.

Held annually since 2014, the Governor’s STEM competition challenges student teams to research, design, and present a project that can improve the lives of Pennsylvanians. As part of a three-part series, joining PaTTANpod to share their perspectives on the competition is Bishop Shanahan High School teacher and STEM competition advisor, Dr. John Janasik.

This episode will highlight the story of one building administrator who is committed to attracting and retaining staff through building strong relationships, positive school climate and culture through collaboration and teaming. In addition, this episode will highlight servant leadership and dedication to providing comprehensive mentorship and supervision for all staff. This episode will also focus on staff retention and why the staff working with these buildings leaders chose to stay in the fie...

This episode will highlight the story of two different building administrators who are committed to attracting and retaining staff through building strong relationships, positive school climate and culture through collaboration and teaming. In addition, this episode will highlight servant leadership and dedication to providing comprehensive mentorship and supervision for all staff. This episode will also focus on staff retention and why the staff working with these buildings leaders chose to sta...

This video will highlight the story of three different teachers that have recently become or have remained passionate about serving students with disabilities. This episode will focus on retention and why these Special Education Teachers chose to stay.

Ground-breaking musician and co-founder of the Deaf Professional Arts Network (D-PAN), Sean Forbes joins PaTTANpod to discuss how determination and persistence help shape dreams into achievable goals.

Training and Consultation (TaC) services support LEAs by providing professional development, technical assistance, and consultation regarding Pennsylvania's special education initiatives. PaTTAN's Training and Consultation to Implement Computer Science (TACTICS) team is a voluntary program for TaC who want to grow their capacity as leaders in Pennsylvania's computer science (CSinPA) education initiatives. Joining PaTTANpod to discuss how TaC support CSinPA are Tom Esposito from Lancaster-Lebanon...

Pennsylvania’s multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) is a comprehensive school improvement framework that includes a continuum of evidence-based academic, behavioral, and social-emotional supports to meet the needs of all students, including students with disabilities. Joining PaTTANpod to share a success story about Tier 2 supports in literacy are Shelley West from Shaler Area School District and Laura Miller from AIU3.

PaTTAN is the home of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s AIM Center, which produces Braille, large print, and formatted PDF materials for eligible school-aged students. Joining PaTTANpod to discuss the importance of accessible instructional materials and accessible educational materials is Dr. David Bateman from Shippensburg University.

PaTTAN is the home of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s AIM Center, which produces Braille, large print, and formatted PDF materials for eligible school-aged students. Accessible instructional materials play a crucial role in ensuring all students have equitable learning opportunities. Joining PaTTANpod to discuss the importance of prioritizing access for all students is David DeNotaris.

A previous episode of PaTTANpod explores cultural navigation, a model for providing linguistically and culturally relevant support to English Learners and their families. Operationalizing cultural navigation requires collaboration among multiple LEA and community partners. Erin Conahan, Mark Simms, and Loice Byler join PaTTANpod to discuss how school and district leaders play a crucial role in the implementation of cultural navigation in the School District of Lancaster.

Culturally-Relevant and Sustaining (CR-SE) Education ensures equity for all students and seeks to eliminate systemic institutional racial and cultural barriers that inhibit the success of all students, particularly those who have been historically underrepresented. School psychologist Dr. Charles Barrett joins PaTTANpod to explore socially just practices as a component of CRSE.

A positive school climate helps increase educator perseverance and retention. In alignment with Pennsylvania’s dedication to attracting, preparing, and retaining practitioners in education, specifically in special education, Dr. Alison Mellott joins PaTTANpod to discuss school and personal strategies to build positive environments and increase educators perseverance.

School climate is a key factor in social, emotional, and academic outcomes for students, but what about their teachers? In alignment with Pennsylvania’s dedication to attracting, preparing, and retaining practitioners in education, specifically in special education, Dr. Salome Thomas-El, better known as “Principal El,” joins PaTTANpod to discuss the relationship between school culture and teacher retention.

Teachers of students with visual impairments (TVI) are uniquely qualified educators who support students who are blind or have visual impairments. In alignment with Pennsylvania’s dedication to Attracting, Preparing, and Retaining practitioners in education, specifically in special education, joining PaTTANpod are Amanda Whelan from Bucks County Intermediate Unit, Scott Burfield from Central Intermediate Unit 10, and Holly Russell from the Western Pa School for Blind Children.

Certified orientation and mobility specialists have a unique role in supporting students who are blind or visually impaired. Orientation and mobility specialists address orientation and travel needs of students not only in the school setting, but at home, and in the community, too. In alignment with Pennsylvania’s dedication to Attracting, Preparing, and Retaining practitioners in education, specifically in special education, joining PaTTANpod are certified orientation and mobility specialists (...

a wide range of devices, as well as services to support the selection, acquisition, and use of AT devices. AT consultants play a crucial role in these services.

The Short Term Loan (STL) Program at PaTTAN provides local education agencies (LEAs) with devices to assess the assistive technology (AT) needs of students with disabilities. AT kit categories include: augmentative and alternative communication, blindness/visual impairment, computer access, deaf/hard of hearing/deafblind, switch access/environmental access, and technology for print/reading/writing support. In this episode, Beth Christopher, Greg Gerhart, and Mike Onofrey provide an overview of t...