Laurel Peltier, Ed.D. is a Curriculum and Instruction Specialist in Special Education at the Collaborative for Educational Services. Her work focuses on special education leaders and leadership, and particularly on facilitating the IEP team process with people inside of schools and in community settings who support kids who have disabilities. We recently asked Laurel whether at this time, the role of special education team leader is more important than ever. She responded, “Special education funding has been an issue for as long as I have been in the field of education, and while...

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Elementary School In Berkshires Revamps Culture With Trauma In Mind
Other than its bucolic setting in the Berkshire mountains, Lee Elementary seems like any other public school. Case in point: On a recent morning, as children were scuttling to classes, stuffing their backpacks in their lockers, the loudspeaker announced the day’s...
Juuling in school: E-cigarette use prevalent among local youth
NORTHAMPTON — Over the last decade, middle and high school students have been smoking cigarettes less — rates have dropped significantly since 2011. The bad news is that a new vice is on the rise with young people: Juuling. If you don’t know what that is, you’re...
In Historic Win, Nationally Recognized Teacher Jahana Hayes Elected to U.S. House
Jahana Hayes, the 2016 National Teacher of the Year, has won her race for a U.S. House seat, representing Connecticut’s 5th district. A former high school history teacher and current district administrator, Hayes, a Democrat, will be the first black woman from the...
PVRS students walk out in support of transgendered individuals
NORTHFIELD — Ninety-three students walked out of class at Pioneer Valley Regional School Tuesday morning and stood in the rain to show support for transgender people, while the state voted on Question 3, a referendum on a law against discriminating on the basis of...
Rural School Aid awarded to local districts
DALTON – State Sen. Adam G. Hinds and state education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley announced that 33 rural school districts will receive part of a new $1.5 million appropriation to help cash-strapped rural schools in sparsely populated communities. In Franklin...
Smith Academy principal leaving for bigger school
HATFIELD – Andrew Berrios is leaving his position as principal of Smith Academy for a job as a middle school principal in Connecticut. “There’s nothing negative to say about here and why I’m leaving,” Berrios said of the decision. “It’s strictly for growth.” With...
Raising the bar: Belchertown elementary school to provide piano education to all students
BELCHERTOWN — A new piano lab set to be installed at Swift River Elementary School will provide all students with a basic piano education by the time they finish third grade. The collegiate level piano lab, which is planned to open at the school in February, will...
Crocker Farm teacher awarded 2018 Roger L. Wallace Excellence in Teaching Award
AMHERST — On Tuesday afternoon, Crocker Farm Elementary third grade teacher Lauren Mattone pointed to three photos on the board: a forest, a beach and a landscape. You just arrived here and this is what you see, she tells her students. “What do you think?” she asks...
Frozen yogurt and a chance to celebrate working for healthy communities
Northampton, MA – Over 40 representatives from a diverse array of Healthy Hampshire community health projects to promote healthy food and active lifestyles assembled at the Collaborative for Educational Services on a recent sunny afternoon in October, to celebrate...
Afterschool and Out-of-School Programs Woefully Underfunded
A release from the office of State Senator Brendan Crighton: The Legislature's Afterschool and Out-of-School Time (ASOST) Coordinating Council has found that years of underfunding have left too many Massachusetts children without access to the afterschool and...
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