NESSC School Redesign in Action

Over the last year, teachers at Baxter Academy in Portland, Maine, have built a successful teaching collaboration that has facilitated positive outcomes in terms of student productivity, behavioral dynamics, self-image, and engagement, as well as academic improvement in research methods and civics content.

Because Baxter teachers have been able to collaborate effectively, they have worked through common challenges related to co-teaching, such as time, scheduling, space/classroom layout, and differentiation. Presenters will share why they believe that, regardless of the resources (human and otherwise) that exist in a school, there are ways for all special education and general education practitioners to better leverage their colleagues’ assets through the deliberate building of effective, mutually respectful co-teaching relationships.

Through facilitated discussion, using the presenters’ story as a case study, participants will reflect on what they value in teaching partnerships, consider what they will strive for in the future with respect to teaching partnerships, identify what elements of those partnerships may prove challenging, and determine which steps to take right away to achieve their goals in meeting the needs of all learners.