Educators attend inclusion conference

Diocesan Catholic school educators from Sioux City, Carroll and LeMars attended the recent Inclusion in Action Conference in Kansas City, funded by grants from the FIRE Foundation of Northwest Iowa. Schools included Bishop Heelan High School, Cathedral Dual Language Academy, Holy Cross and Sacred Heart schools in Sioux City and Gehlen Catholic of LeMars and Kuemper Catholic of Carroll.
 
Many of the attendees agreed the most immediate and significant takeaway was the exploration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. Administrators and teachers learned how AI could adapt educational materials and readings to the students’ corresponding grade level. 

Paula Hamp, Bishop Heelan director of student services, explained, “Educators can effectively scaffold learning by adjusting the complexity of questions, generating tailored rubrics, and streamlining the development of universal design for learning (UDL) lessons, to foster a more inclusive and accessible educational environment.” 

Hamp’s comments were echoed by her counterparts at Gehlen Catholic. Special Education Strategist, Anita Collier, added, “AI assists students with disabilities feel included with their peers even though they may be learning at a different level.”
 
For Jody Ferris, principal at the Cathedral Dual Language Academy, her primary takeaway was implementing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in the classrooms. 

Dr. Ryan Allen“UDL encourages the use of diverse teaching strategies,” Ferris said, “that accommodate different learning styles and abilities. By incorporating flexible methods of presentation, engagement, and assessment, educators can create more inclusive lessons that benefit all students—not just those with special needs—by fostering greater accessibility, participation, and success," she said. 

All the schools believe more work needs to occur around UDL. Kuemper Catholic Special Education teacher Jennifer Roose said UDL is a best practice which works for all students.
 
Dr. Ryan Allen, FIRE Foundation of Northwest Iowa Board president, was happy to see inclusion in action in the respective schools. Foundation board members look forward to seeing these schools take more steps towards inclusive classrooms and schools as the needs continue to grow.