Audience

K – 12 Special Education Administrators and Teachers, EL Directors and Teachers;  Building Administrators; Teams are encouraged

Presenter Name(s)

Dr. Patricia Garcia, Assistant Professor, Lasell University

Dr. Claudia Rinaldi, Dean of Curricular Integration and Director of the RoseMary Fuss Teaching and Learning Center

Presenter Bio(s)

Dr. Patricia Garcia is an accomplished and dedicated educator with over 30 years of experience, including more than 17 years as superintendent of schools in Virginia, New York, and Connecticut. During her professional career, Dr. Garcia has served in a wide range of roles in the United States and overseas. Starting as a middle school teacher in her native country, Panama, she has since gained experience at all levels of the educational system, from classroom teacher to principal, assistant superintendent, regional superintendent, college professor, and superintendent of schools

Dr. Claudia Rinaldi is the author and co-author of several publications on Response to Intervention (RTI), behavior disorders, learning disabilities, and issues related to English language learners. Her most recent articles appear in the Journal of Education, the Journal of Multiculturalism in Education, Teaching Exceptional Children, Intervention in School and Clinic, Journal of Disability Policy Studies, and has a book called Practical Ways to Engage all Struggling Learners: A Multi-tier Instructional Approach to Using Hi-Lo Books by Saddleback Publishing, San Diego, CA.

Before joining Lasell University, Dr. Rinaldi was an Assistant Director at the Urban Special Educational Leadership Collaborative at Education Development Center, Inc., Assistant Professor in the Curriculum and Instruction, Special Education and Teacher Education Program at Boston College and, before that, in the Department of Special Education at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.

Description

Morning Session:  8:30am – 11:30am

Supporting Multilingual Learners: Best Practices for Prevention, Evaluation, and Specially Designed Instruction 

As the number of multilingual learners (MLLs) continues to grow across districts, special education leaders face increasing challenges.   During this two-hour session, you will receive information on best practices for supporting MLLs in general education, tiered interventions. conducting evaluations to determine eligibility for special education and key components to developing IEPs and services tailored to meet the unique needs of MLLs.  Structured small-group discussions will be incorporated to foster peer learning, share school and district-level insights, and generate practical ideas to bring back to your teams. 

Afternoon Session:  12:30am – 3:30pm

Building Bridges: Moving Beyond Co-Teaching Toward Integrated Collaboration

As schools work to meet the increasingly complex needs of multilingual learners and students with disabilities, collaboration can no longer depend solely on co-teaching models or isolated planning meetings. Sustainable support requires intentional schoolwide structures that promote shared ownership, collective problem-solving, and integrated instructional practices across general education, ESL, and special education classrooms.

This interactive session explores practical and scalable approaches for moving beyond traditional collaboration models toward structures and strategies that strengthen communication, instructional alignment and practices, and student support at the classroom, team, and school levels.

Participants will explore:

• Structures for collaborative problem-solving beyond co-teaching
• Shared student support systems among general education, ESL, and special education staff
• Protocols for instructional rounds, case consultation, and collaborative data inquiry
• Building teacher teams that focus on student outcomes rather than departmental roles
• The role of school leaders in creating time, systems, and accountability for sustained collaboration

Through authentic scenarios and practical tools, participants will leave with strategies they can immediately implement to strengthen inclusive and integrated practices within their classrooms and schools.

Synchronous / Asynchronous

Synchronous

Location

ACCEPT Collaborative, 4 Tech Circle, Natick

Dates & Times

August 17, 2026;  8:30am – 3:30pm

Participants can choose to attend either the morning or the afternoon session or attend both sessions.

PDPs

6

Credit

n/a

Cost

$195 per session for ACCEPT members;  $235 for non-members;  

$300 for the whole day for ACCEPT members; $400 non-members

Team Rates Available

Registration Deadline

August 3, 2026