“Providing Professional Development Opportunities of Excellence”
HISTORY
In the state of California, education staff and administrators in the San Joaquin Valley have found it costly and time intensive to attend or send staff to workshops and seminars with nationally recognized leaders in the field. Typically, this involved travel to the North, South or Coastal areas of our state and included not only registration fees, but additional travel, lodging, per diem, and often substitute teacher expenditures. Professional development opportunities of this expertise caliber were virtually non-existent in Central California.
Focus on Unity in Education was developed to fill that need. Our mission is to provide quality, evidence-based professional development opportunities provided by leaders in the field within Central California venues. In addition, our goal is to provide the workshops at low cost to participants.
In the state of California, education staff and administrators in the San Joaquin Valley have found it costly and time intensive to attend or send staff to workshops and seminars with nationally recognized leaders in the field. Typically, this involved travel to the North, South or Coastal areas of our state and included not only registration fees, but additional travel, lodging, per diem, and often substitute teacher expenditures. Professional development opportunities of this expertise caliber were virtually non-existent in Central California.
Focus on Unity in Education was developed to fill that need. Our mission is to provide quality, evidence-based professional development opportunities provided by leaders in the field within Central California venues. In addition, our goal is to provide the workshops at low cost to participants.
MISSION
The mission of Focus on Unity in Education (FOU-E) is to provide professional development opportunities on evidence-based instructional strategies and educational research in the field of special education for community educators and families. In addition, FOU-E provides a venue to foster collaboration, sharing and networking among community educators. Objectives and activities of the organization shall be dedicated to disseminating research-based knowledge to improve instruction, leadership, and positive outcomes for ALL students.
The mission of Focus on Unity in Education (FOU-E) is to provide professional development opportunities on evidence-based instructional strategies and educational research in the field of special education for community educators and families. In addition, FOU-E provides a venue to foster collaboration, sharing and networking among community educators. Objectives and activities of the organization shall be dedicated to disseminating research-based knowledge to improve instruction, leadership, and positive outcomes for ALL students.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Focus on Unity in Education's main purpose is in providing quality professional development trainings for educators, service providers, and families of students being educated in Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Tulare, and Kings Counties. Our efforts include partnering with other local entities such as Central Valley Regional Center, Diagnostic Center, Central California, and the local chapter of the California Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN). A few workshops we’ve coordinated and sponsored are as follows:
1. Dr. Peter Gerhardt: Transitioning to Competent Adulthood for Individuals with Autism
2. Dr. Leah Wood: Instruction for Students with Moderate & Severe Disabilities
3. Dr. Clayton R. Cook: Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Emotional Problems in ASD
4. Dennis Debbaudt: Autism Safety and Risk Management
5. Dr. William Jenson: Evidence-Based Practices for ASD & Externalizing Behaviors
6. Dr. Kevin Feldman: Multi-Tier Systems of Support
7. Dr. William Heward: Evidence-Based Practices for ASD
8. Dr. Catherine Lord: Perspectives on Autism Conference
9. Dr. Anita Archer: Informational Text Comprehension
We plan to bring many more experts to our community to grow in our collective knowledge.
Focus on Unity in Education's main purpose is in providing quality professional development trainings for educators, service providers, and families of students being educated in Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Tulare, and Kings Counties. Our efforts include partnering with other local entities such as Central Valley Regional Center, Diagnostic Center, Central California, and the local chapter of the California Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN). A few workshops we’ve coordinated and sponsored are as follows:
1. Dr. Peter Gerhardt: Transitioning to Competent Adulthood for Individuals with Autism
2. Dr. Leah Wood: Instruction for Students with Moderate & Severe Disabilities
3. Dr. Clayton R. Cook: Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Emotional Problems in ASD
4. Dennis Debbaudt: Autism Safety and Risk Management
5. Dr. William Jenson: Evidence-Based Practices for ASD & Externalizing Behaviors
6. Dr. Kevin Feldman: Multi-Tier Systems of Support
7. Dr. William Heward: Evidence-Based Practices for ASD
8. Dr. Catherine Lord: Perspectives on Autism Conference
9. Dr. Anita Archer: Informational Text Comprehension
We plan to bring many more experts to our community to grow in our collective knowledge.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT ACTIVITIES:
In addition to professional development opportunities, Focus on Unity in Education established a process that enables individuals to submit a proposal for fiscal support on a variety of educational ventures, pending Board approval. These have included support for:
1. Silent Sleigh – Holiday activity for children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing
2. AAC Summer Academy – Week-long summer school for students who use AAC devices
3. Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Kid’s Day - Special event to bring children and youth with disabilities together with community businesses and organizations
4. Clovis Botanical Garden – Purchased a tile for the sensory garden
5. Scholarships - Annual scholarships for graduating high school seniors who plan a career in education
6. CAPTAIN workshops – Statewide & Local - (California Autism Professional Training And Information Network) - Workshops and conferences focusing on evidence-based practices effective with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as Autism
In addition to professional development opportunities, Focus on Unity in Education established a process that enables individuals to submit a proposal for fiscal support on a variety of educational ventures, pending Board approval. These have included support for:
1. Silent Sleigh – Holiday activity for children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing
2. AAC Summer Academy – Week-long summer school for students who use AAC devices
3. Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Kid’s Day - Special event to bring children and youth with disabilities together with community businesses and organizations
4. Clovis Botanical Garden – Purchased a tile for the sensory garden
5. Scholarships - Annual scholarships for graduating high school seniors who plan a career in education
6. CAPTAIN workshops – Statewide & Local - (California Autism Professional Training And Information Network) - Workshops and conferences focusing on evidence-based practices effective with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as Autism
