Ivy Street School's Excellence in Special Education Summit Promotes Best Practices, Research, Application
On September 30th, Ivy Street School held its second annual Excellence in Special Education Summit in memory of our Board member John Pratt. The goal of the Summit is to promote best practices in the field by highlighting innovative research and its real-world application.
During the day we held workshops at the school on topics relating to autism, brain injury, and transition programming, as well as a very special workshop featuring a panel of parents of our students giving their perspective on raising a child with special needs.
Later that evening, Ross Greene, Ph.D. delivered the John Pratt Memorial lecture at the Whitehead Institute. Dr. Greene is a renowned author and founder of the non-profit Lives in the Balance. Dr. Greene spoke on the importance of using a collaborative approach to solve problems with behaviorally challenging kids - an approach, he noted, that is equally as effective in dealing with all kids, as well as adults.
The evening also featured remembrances of John Pratt and his passion for the work of the Ivy Street School to help young people with special needs develop the skills they need to lead successful lives as adults. John cared deeply about furthering the special education field, and would have been thrilled to see so many great thinkers and practitioners brought together to share their expertise.
In John's memory, Staff Development Awards of $5,000 each were presented to two Ivy Street School staff members, Anastasia Kanistras and Allison Pennacchio, so that they may further their skills and knowledge in special education.
Thank you to the Whitehead Institute, to our speakers and participants, and especially to our co-hosts NESCA (Neuropsychology & Education Services for Children & Adolescents) and the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts.
