Love Is a Classroom: Stories of Inclusion

Episode 1: Creating an Inclusive Community

In this episode, Rochelle shares her story about Archer and his family. We will talk about her preparation, her use of home visits to support inclusion, and the priorities she places on relationships. She will also share recommendations for teachers in inclusive classrooms or considering teaching in inclusive classrooms. 
Image Description: The image above is a woman named Rochelle with a child named Archer, both smiling. They are in a room with a bookcase and shelf in the background. Rochelle is wearing glasses and there is a book visible in the image. 
Resources mentioned in the episode
https://www.inclusiveschooling.com/
https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/children-disabilities/article/head-start-center-inclusion
https://mesacountypcf.org/
https://www.d51schools.org/departments/early_childhood_education
 
If you have a story you want to share, go to Loveisaclassroom.com/contact
 

Episode 2: A Foundation From the Start

In this episode you will meet Anita and Zach Hamilton, the parents of Archer Hamilton. Archer was introduced in episode 1 by Ms. Rochelle. Anita and Zach share their story about Archer’s transition from preschool with Ms. Rochelle into a general education kindergarten classroom. We will talk along the way about the necessity for communication, the importance of continuity, receiving a one to one aid, their fears, priorities and advocating for Archer. This is the first of a two part episode with Anita and Zach. Subscribe to receive a notification for the release of the second episode.

Episode 3: Archer As Archer

In this powerful episode, we resume the conversation from episode 2 when I spoke with Zach and Anita about their story and experiences with Archer's transition from Ms. Rochelle's preschool classroom into kindergarten. In this episode, we delve into the emotions experienced by Archer's parents when he is genuinely included in every aspect of life. If you haven't listened to the first two episodes, I encourage you to give those a listen before continuing with this episode. 
 
Archer's CP Adventures Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/archerscpadventures?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Episode 4: Who He Is Not How He Is

In this episode, Archer, Aubrey, and Aaliyah, the children of Zach and Anita Hamilton, whose stories you heard in episodes 2 and 3, share their experiences growing up together. Their words, particularly those of Aubrey, reinforce the positive enduring impact of Archer's inclusion in Miss Rochelle's inclusive preschool classroom in District 51. In Episode 1, Rochelle Said, her conversation with Archer was as good as any she had with anyone. She did not oversell.
Cover art by Josie Filippelli https://www.linkedin.com/in/josie-filippelli/
 

Episode 5: Leading an Inclusive Program

We started with one teacher, Rochelle Buniger. Episodes 2 through 4 showed that the acts of one teacher have an impact that goes far beyond the classroom. In this episode, I hope you, my listener, will see that high-quality meaningful inclusion is more than the love of one teacher and the positive outcomes of inclusion have the potential to go just as far for children without disabilities as it does for children with disabilities. Episode 5, the final episode in this inaugural series features Christy Donathan, the director of the early childhood education department in District 51. Her stories and the responses to my questions provide a glimpse behind the scenes into a school district that creates inclusive experiences like the one Archer and his family received.
Resources mentioned in Episode 5
Pyramid Model Resources: https://challengingbehavior.org/pyramid-model/overview/basics/
Inclusive Schooling: https://www.inclusiveschooling.com/
The Circle Makers by Julie Causton https://a.co/d/7QIVnKW
Kristie Donathan kristie.donathan@d51schools.org
If you have a story you want to share, go to Loveisaclassroom.com/contact
 
Cover art by Josie Filippelli https://www.linkedin.com/in/josie-filippelli/
 
 

Focused Episode: Advocating For Your Child With Disability

This focused episode is about advocating for a child with a disability or who is neurodivergent. It features a panel of three distinguished parent advocates. The panelists share their experiences, stories, and professional knowledge. They talk about building meaningful relationships with IEP and IFSP team members, advocating when, from a parental perspective the district data isn't sufficient, continuity between classrooms, schools, and district policies, and influencing changes in culture and policy through meaningful relationships. The advocacy panel was recorded as a launch event for my memoir Love Is a Classroom. The topics discussed come from experiences I shared in the memoir.  
 
About the panelists:
Kimberly Travers is dedicated to enhancing the lives of families and their children with disabilities along with the professionals who serve them by focusing on Early Intervention policy, practice, and research. Kimberly’s professional and personal experience and expertise are critical elements that she brings to many classrooms, councils, boards, and workgroups, as well as professional development activities. Her passion for family-centered, natural environments, and evidence-based practices can be seen during her presentations and advisory work, inspiring families and professionals to team more successfully. Kimberly has extensive experience at the local, state, and national levels in the field of early intervention. Kimberly’s work experience includes service provision and service coordination to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, training and technical assistance, and policy recommendations. Kimberly’s journey as a parent of a child with a disability elevated her understanding of the importance of the family voice and informed decision-making at all levels.
Sarah Davidon has over 30 years of experience in the field of policy, health promotion and prevention, early childhood models of impact, and children's mental health. She is a passionate and dedicated advocate for improving access to children's mental health care and creating effective public policies. As the Deputy Ombudsman at Colorado Ombudsman for Behavioral Health Access to Care (BHOCO), I provide leadership and co-create strategies to help those who are seeking care or providing care navigate complicated systems, investigate concerns and complaints, and assess recommendations for reform. In addition to my role as the Deputy Ombudsman, I am also the Principal and Owner of Davidon Consulting, LLC, a consulting firm that focuses on children's mental health and the intersection of mental health and educational systems. I have provided keynotes, presentations, facilitated dialogue, and policy strategy to various clients, including the Colorado School Medicaid Consortium, the Office of the Behavioral Health Ombudsman of Colorado, Georgetown Center for Child and Human Development, Community First Foundation (now Colorado Gives Foundation) and the Mental Health Center of Denver. I serve as an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University, where I advise multiple states on funding and policies related to early childhood systems and mental health consultation.
Beth Cole has worked in early intervention since 1996. I began as a parent advocate after my son was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2-1/2. I worked as a paraeducator for 6 years in the same K-8 school where my son was. I also worked at the local and state level in Colorado’s early intervention Part C program for children birth – 3 with developmental delays and disabilities. I was very involved in helping to develop Colorado’s Part C early intervention provider training and the telehealth training. I’ve now been working at WestEd since 2021, providing TA to state Part C programs on their fiscal systems and I’m a part of the team working on an OSEP-funded demonstration project that focuses on screening and referral to Part C or other early childhood programs. I received my masters in Nonprofit Management in 2004 and my Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Equity in 2019.
If you have a story you want to share, go to Loveisaclassroom.com/contact
Cover art by Josie Filippelli https://www.linkedin.com/in/josie-filippelli/
 
 

Series Two Trailer

In the second series of Love Is a Classroom: Stories of Inclusion listeners will meet Brooke Walker, Wendy Bowman, Ms. Onofre, Ms. Anderson, and others. Together they tell the story of a team coming together to create classrooms inclusive to all children, especially Navee Walker - a deaf child not introduced to language until she was adopted at 4 1/2. But high-quality meaningful inclusion requires appropriate, individualized supports. As Navee goes into second grade, the availability of supports is in question. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

The Walkers

Love is a Classroom: Stories of Inclusion - Episode 1: The Journey of Navee Walker
In the first episode of the second series of 'Love is a Classroom: Stories of Inclusion,' Brooke Walker shares her experiences creating an inclusive environment for her deaf daughter, Navee Walker. Brooke discusses the challenges and successes of integrating Navee into both a private deaf school and a public school system, highlighting the importance of community support, specialized education, and advocating for the needs of children with disabilities. This episode sets the stage for a deeper understanding of inclusive education, the significance of the Teacher of the Deaf (TOD), and parental perseverance.
 
Questions to contemplate while you listen:
 
1) How does listening to Brooke change or challenge your perspectives around family partnerships when working with family members of children with an identified disability?
2) What part of this episode struck you as a significant point about creating inclusive classroom for children and their families?
 
If you're interested in embedding this episode into a training or course, go to https://loveisaclassroom.com/instructor-trainer-resources/ for a free guide.
 
00:00 Introduction to Navee's Journey
00:19 Welcome to Love is a Classroom
00:51 Meet the Team Behind Navee's Inclusion
01:18 Brooke Walker's Family and Navee's Adoption
02:09 Challenges and Triumphs in Communication
04:15 Navee's School Experience and Community Support
07:48 Transition to Public School
12:09 The Importance of a Teacher of the Deaf (TOD)
15:53 Advocating for Navee's Educational Rights
26:23 Reflections and Advice for Other Families
28:19 Conclusion and Future Episodes
 
If you have a story you want to share, go to Loveisaclassroom.com/contact
Learn more about the Walkers at https://www.facebook.com/share/YR77JYxWauTB3WqY/
https://www.tiktok.com/@naveesworld?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
 
Cover art by Josie Filippelli https://www.linkedin.com/in/josie-filippelli/
 

Navee's Kindergarten Teach

Embracing Inclusion: A Teacher's Journey with a Deaf Student
In this episode of 'Love is a Classroom: Stories of Inclusion,' host Ms. Onofre, a seasoned kindergarten teacher, shares her candid experiences with including Navee Walker, a deaf student, into her classroom. Through heartfelt stories and practical insights, she discusses the challenges and triumphs of creating an inclusive environment, advocating for necessary support, and the profound impact of inclusion on both students and teachers. The episode highlights the importance of mindset, collaboration, and love in fostering a truly inclusive educational experience.
00:00 Introduction to Inclusion
01:07 Meet Ms. Onofre
01:46 The Decision to Include Navee
02:55 Preparing the Classroom
07:01 Understanding Inclusion
12:29 Support and Advocacy
17:21 Welcoming Navee
26:49 Creating Connections
28:55 Reflections on Inclusion
31:52 Conclusion and Next Steps
 
For more information on the heartset, mindset, and skillset go to https://www.inclusiveschooling.com/
 
If you have a story you want to share, go to Loveisaclassroom.com/contact
 
Cover art by Josie Filippelli https://www.linkedin.com/in/josie-filippelli/
 

Navee's First Grade Teacher

The Transformative Power of Inclusion: Navee's First Grade Teacher
In this episode of 'Love is a Classroom: Stories of Inclusion', Christy Anderson, a seasoned teacher with a background in Deaf Education, shares her experiences of creating an inclusive first-grade classroom. Highlighting the impact of her student Navee, who is deaf, Christy recounts how inclusion enriched the learning environment for all students. Through stories of shared learning and mutual support, Christy demonstrates the importance of inclusive education, the challenges posed by standardized tests for Deaf students, and the benefits of collaborative teaching. The episode emphasizes the potential of every child and the need for educators' dedication to fostering inclusive, high-quality learning experiences.
00:00 Introduction and Impact of the Year
00:22 Welcome to Love is a Classroom
00:44 Recap of Previous Episodes
01:23 Introducing Christy Anderson
02:23 Navee's Inclusion Journey
05:00 Impact on Other Students
09:07 Challenges and Concerns
11:24 Solutions and Future Vision
18:59 Advice for Teachers
24:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
 
If you have a story you want to share, go to Loveisaclassroom.com/contact
 
Cover art by Josie Filippelli https://www.linkedin.com/in/josie-filippelli/