Building Inclusive Schools: From Belief to Practice with Michelle Gardner ~ 1328

Michelle Gardner is the interim CEO at All In for Inclusive Education, an organization dedicated to fostering inclusive practices in educational institutions. With over 25 years of experience in the New Jersey public school system, Michelle has held various roles such as special education teacher, paraprofessional, assistant principal, and director of special services. Additionally, she has been an adjunct instructor at the College of New Jersey, teaching future educators, and earning acclaim for her leadership in inclusive education. Her efforts focus on supporting systemic change through coaching, consultation, and professional development for educators and administrators. In this insightful episode of "Think Inclusive," Tim Villegas hosts Michelle Gardner, interim CEO of All In for Inclusive Education, to discuss the intricacies of systemic change towards inclusive education. Tim and Michelle delve into how schools and districts can transform inclusive education from a mere belief to a practice embraced in every classroom. They explore core themes of systems change, capacity building, and mindset shift in educational environments, spotlighting the journey from exclusionary practices to inclusive excellence. Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/buil... Chapters 0:00 Introduction to Inclusive Education Systems Change 3:54 What Is All In for Inclusive Education? Mission & Origin Story 8:53 Real Win: How a School Improved LRE Rates by 10% in One Year 12:06 Step-by-Step Process for Increasing Inclusive Placement in Schools 15:00 Overcoming Resistance to Inclusion: Supporting Educators Through Change 18:59 Building Effective School-Based Inclusion Teams: Who Should Be on Them 22:41 Michelle Gardner's Journey: From Special Ed Teacher to Inclusion Leader 29:40 Practical Strategies for Directors of Special Education Leading Systemic Change 38:30 Family Engagement in Inclusive Education: Why Parents Are the Strongest Indicator of Success 44:31 The Future of Inclusive Education: Growing Momentum and Staying Hopeful