Long live SIM in Florida!

In 1985, Marty Beech, Special Education Program Specialist for Learning Disabilities, State of Florida Department of Education, applied for a Personnel Preparation Grant from the Federal government. Her focus was to create a network of SIM professional developers (PDers) in Florida.

Marty invited teachers and school district personnel, professors of special education from the state university system (e.g., Drs. Cecil Mercer and Jenny Platt), Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) regional support centers’ personnel, and key administrators from school districts. This think tank determined that two groups were needed to launch the Florida effort. One group would become PDers and one would become model demonstration site teachers where other administrators and teachers could go to observe the SIM Learning Strategies.

In year 1, approximately 25 two-person teams were identified as the core group that would learn to use the strategies over a three-year period. The teams included teachers, administrators, FDLRS personnel, and university personnel. They came together three times a year across the three years for professional weekends.  During those weekends, they learned one or two strategies, then returned to their local districts, and taught  one new strategy to students. They submitted records of their implementation, student progress, and model videos that were evaluated by Keith Lenz and Fran Clark.

In year 2, participants became PDers.  During the professional weekends, they were given assignments to read articles and answer the Frequently Asked Questions. Ongoing discussions about their experiences made for very rich weekends, and Don Deshler, Fran Clark, and Keith Lenz always participated and further developed materials with them. Jean Schumaker, Ed Ellis, Ann Hoffman, Conn Thomas, and others participated as well. Eventually, local support groups were organized to meet and solve problems. Marty made site visits and provided technical assistance and state-level support. Presentations were made at many state conventions and the word about SIM spread.

As part of the federal grant, actions were taken to evaluate SIM as implemented by the 25 teams; student progress data were collected and information about graduation and drop out rates were assessed. These data were convincing to other districts.

By the end of Marty’s three-year grant, so much was going on that the state targeted funds for a person at each FDLRS center to be responsible for SIM. Marty was able to promote a budget for continued statewide work.  Standards for Learning Strategies courses were written into the state curriculum at
the middle and high school levels. Criteria for administrators to evaluate classroom teachers implementing Learning Strategies with students were disseminated.

SIM became instantiated in Florida and remains so today. SIM is an element of the current federally funded State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG), led by Cindy Medici and supported by Janice Creneti. This team has worked intensively with 30 feeder pattern schools in three Florida school districts in the state and engages nationally to grow SIM knowledge.

Today, the budget is used to support a statewide project with staff to provide the leadership and planning.  The support of Mary Ann Ahearn, Sallie Payne and the staff at the North East Florida Education Consortium (NEFEC) keep the  project vital.

_{— Originally published in 30 x 30 +: Thirty More SIM Stories of Success, Hope, and Innovation (30x30+, #30) © 2017. University of Kansas, Center for Research on Learning.}