Inspiration To Action Symposium | El Dorado Charter SELPA

And that’s a wrap! Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2020 Inspiration to Action Symposium. This year, we celebrated the inclusive vision of education through the lens of individuals who have continually strived for systemic improvements in special education. Keynote speaker Jonathan Mooney provided an inside look into the academic and societal hurdles he has faced, but more importantly, how he overcame those challenges and defied the odds that were stacked against him. Featured speaker Dr. Nancy Dome hosted our first-ever student panel, showing how cultural awareness in our educational system is the cornerstone for today’s society.

Dr. Nancy Dome, Beth Foraker, and Patty Schetter led engaging breakout sessions and provided participants with essential resources and tools to improve programs within their schools. The 2020 Inspiration to Action Symposium showcased an invaluable opportunity to magnify perspectives, to zoom in on best practices, amplify success, and spotlight the opportunity we all possess to initiate meaningful change for all students. See you next year!

Our Speakers

Jonathan Mooney is a writer and learning activist who did not learn to read until he was 12 years old. He is a graduate of Brown University’s class of 2000 and holds an honors degree in English Literature. Jonathan has spent his entire professional career as a social entrepreneur developing organizations, programs, and initiatives to improve the lives of marginalized groups. In 1997, as an undergraduate at Brown University, Jonathan co-founded Project Eye-To-Eye, a non-profit advocacy organization for students with learning differences. As the founding president and Executive Director, Jonathan grew the organization from an undergraduate project conceived in his dorm room into a national organization, which currently has 38 chapters in 20 states working with over 10,000 parents, educators, and students. Jonathan has also worked extensively to create career and college pathways to move low-income youth and adults out of poverty creating the Los Angeles Energy pathway program; The Urban Teacher Fellowship; and the Promo Pathway, an initiative Vice President Al Gore called “a model for moving at-risk youth into the creative economy.”

Jonathan Mooney
Keynote Speaker

Dr. Nancy Dome has been supporting children and developing educators for over 20 years. She started her career as a childcare worker, supporting those students most at risk. Later, realizing the education track would allow her greater flexibility and reach than the social services track, she went back to school to become a teacher. From there she spent 10 years working in multiple capacities, ranging from classroom teacher, mentor teacher, and teacher on special assignment in the Juvenile Court and Community Schools in San Diego. These roles allowed her to train and support teachers in becoming more culturally competent educators for the diverse population they served.

Dr. Nancy Dome
Featured Speaker

Breakout Presenters

Patty Schetter

Universally Designing Instruction and Using Evidence Based Practices to Support the Inclusion of Students With Autism

Beth Foraker

Patrick's in College! The Backwards Plan for How to Support Students with Intellectual Disabilities on Their Path to an Inclusive Adulthood

Dr. Nancy Dome

The Connection Between Building Meaningful Relationships and Student Achievement

Agenda

Check-in: 7:30 a.m. — 8:30 a.m.

Event Begins: 8:30 a.m.

Breakout #1: 9:20 a.m.

Breakout #2: 11:00 a.m.

Hosted Lunch: 12:30 p.m. — 1:30 p.m.

Keynote Presentation: 1:30 p.m. — 2:45 p.m.

Event Ends: 3:00 p.m.