Professional Services
SNU Professional Services (P.S.) provides professionals the opportunity to grow and learn in their field. We recognize the challenges employers face to meet the demands of ongoing professional development. SNU Professional Services is here to help!
Who can benefit from SNU's Professional Services?
SNU wants to ensure that all busy adults have multiple opportunities to learn best practices and continue to grow in their skills and knowledge.
Offered at convenient times with various in-person and interactive Zoom formats, SNU makes ongoing professional development achievable and affordable.
Registrants can pay online with a card or via cashier's check at the event. Space is limited. Sign up today!
Spring 2025 PPAT Workshops
Don't miss your last chance to get certified with the PPAT! A lot of people are asking, "Should I take the PPAT or wait and see what the replacement will be?" That is a great question, and below you will find points to help you decide.
To summarize, while the PPAT has its flaws there are just too many unknowns for what happens with the next assessment. In most cases, taking the PPAT Spring of 2025 and finalizing your certification is the best option!
PPAT Training & Best Practices in Teaching Seminars
In this hands-on workshop, teachers will learn how to organize and prepare for the PPAT and develop an understanding of the best practices in teaching. Participants should come ready to work as they will leave the session with some portions of the PPAT completed and develop an action plan for completing each task.
Half Day ($49) - This 3 hour session via Zoom provides participants with an understanding of how the PPAT works and how the tasks and artifacts translate to success in the classroom. Participants will learn tips and tricks as well as leave with an action plan for the most efficient way to complete the PPAT.
Full Day ($99) - This in-person professional development session provides teachers with an understanding of how the PPAT works but also how these best practices translate to success in the classroom. The full day interactive session allows for more discussion, work time to complete tasks, and multiple examples and videos.
Both sessions are taught by Dr. Brett Bradley, current professor and former principal and teacher. The PPAT was originally designed to be completed by student teachers. Therefore, Dr. Bradley combines his preparation of student teachers and experience of teaching and evaluating teachers in the classroom to prepare participants for success on the PPAT and in the classroom!
Dates
Spring 2025
1/22 - Half Day 3:00-6:00 (Zoom)
1/29 - Full Day 8:30 - 3:00 (Bethany, OK)
2/3 - Full Day 8:30 - 3:00 (Bethany, OK)
2/5 - PPAT Registration Due!
Thoughts to consider if taking the PPAT is right for you!
-We do not know what assessment will replace the PPAT. That decision will be made by the Summer of 2025. So by the time you know what the replacement assessment will be, it will be too late to register for the PPAT.
-The replacement assessment could be a performance based like a traditional test (think OSAT with a lot of multiple choice and written prompt) or it could be portfolio based like the PPAT. For those that are not confident in their test taking abilities, you may want to go with the PPAT because you have all of the questions upfront and will just need to complete the artifacts and writing prompts. There are a lot of artifacts and prompts, but at least you know what they are and can work on them at your own pace.
-Hopefully the replacement exam is cheaper than the PPAT ($300) but we won't know if it will be the same price, cheaper, or more expensive until after the opportunity to register for the PPAT has passed.
-The PPAT has been around long enough that there are people within your building or district or seminars like this one that can help you. When the new assessment is announced, it will take some time for universities and districts to figure it out so that they can adequately provide guidance and direction.
-Each person is on a different spot in the certification process and each district has their own formula for salary regarding adjunct contracts, emergency certification, alternative certification, etc. Some may be in their last semester to get certified before their provisional certification expires. For some teachers, waiting it out may be okay while for others waiting could keep them from earning an increase in pay!
-To summarize, while the PPAT has its flaws there are just too many unknowns for what happens with the next assessment. In most cases, taking the PPAT and finalizing your certification in the Spring of 2025 is the safest option!
SNU Professional Services (P.S.) provides professionals the opportunity to grow and learn in their field! Click to register today!
Assistive Technology (AT) in the Classroom and Grant Writing 101- Funding AT and Other Projects in your Classroom
A one-day, two-part workshop for all educators to learn the basics of Assistive Technology (AT)- what AT is, how to document AT in the IEP, and dispel myths surrounding AT. After learning about AT, participants will learn how to pursue funding through grant writing to bring AT into your classrooms, as well as find funding for other class projects. Participants will leave the workshop with concrete plans to bring AT into your classroom and several resources to begin writing successful grants.
Special Ed & Afraid
Special Ed and Afraid - It's a Jungle Out There!
Presented by: Dr. Lynette Thompson
Let us prepare you with tools to navigate through the jungle of special education!
This workshop will address several topics surrounding best practices, practical strategies, and review IDEA guidelines and policy. Each participant will have a better understanding of - Disproportionality, End-of-Year Reports, Holding IEP Meetings, Discipline, Working alongside Paras, OPRC, FAPE, FERPA, DDSD, ED Plan, Early Childhood Outcomes, Transition Services, Manifestation Determination, Resources, Classroom setup, Scheduling of students, EdPlan and much more.
At the end of this workshop, participants will possess the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the vast jungle of Special Education. Each participant will receive charts, checklists, and other items to bring back to their District to assist them in starting the new school year.
Do you know Enough? Special Ed Training for Administrators
Presented by: Dr. Lynette Thompson
“Ignorance of the law or policies is no excuse for breaking them” – OCR Investigator. Administrators are faced with the responsibility of knowing the in/outs of IDEA and 504s. In the past, special education teachers guided administrators, however, with the teacher shortage, administrators must depend on their own knowledge and training. Key topics: Discipline, Manifestation, IDEA, and 504 Paperwork, Evaluations, Disproportionality Report, and how to stay out of Due Process and/or OCR litigation.
EdPlan Training for Administrators
Presented by: Dr. Lynette Thompson
This training will provide you with basic skills to navigate through EdPlan. We will cover the important sections you need to monitor, how to assist your new staff, items in EdPlan that can be advantageous for you to be able to access easily, reporting running, and how to locate monitoring and indicator information. You will also learn strategies to share with your teachers that can eliminate 30 mins to an hour of unnecessary work.
School Security
Presented by: Jim McBride
Instructor with the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland, Department of Homeland Security (2008 - 2020), Captain of Oklahoma Highway Patrol (1979-2008)
Back by popular demand!
This is a ½ day workshop designed to give school staff, resource officers, and first responders the knowledge and tools to be the leaders in their school's planning and preparation. We concentrate on the key elements of School Security:
- Proper Mindset
- Emergency Operation Plan
- Site Assessment
- The Mental Evaluation
LET US MAKE YOU SOMEONE WHO CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
Ethical Leadership
Presented by: Dr. Shari Rodgers
The school setting is the second most influential place in a child's life. Realizing an optimal learning environment includes building relationships with students, families, and colleagues. Cultivating relationships begins with insights into understanding the challenges to belonging and barriers to connection. Workshop topics will explore impacts on the belonging journey for students and strategies to support a school year of collaboration.
Progressing to Preventative Practices: Understanding autism and applicable behavioral strategies to change behavior in the classroom.
Presented by: Aubrey Ralstin, MEd, BCBA, LBA
During this training, participants will learn evidence-based strategies to help move from responding to challenging behavior to teaching skills needed to prevent challenging behavior. Participants will be able to identify 4 major categories of skills to assess with their students in order to decrease challenging behavior, as well as alternatives to traditional approaches to forced compliance. The presenter will also be reviewing characteristics of autism to help inform the implementation of teaching to address the strengths and challenges for individuals on the spectrum.
Contract Service Providers Guide to Navigate Special Ed in Public Schools
Presented by: Dr. Lynette Thompson
This workshop will provide contract service providers with an overview of ways to ensure they meet the school district's expectations. Contract providers are often left out of Professional Development and unaware of policy changes and practices that can place their district on the OSDE needs improvement list.
A former workshop attended said, “I left this training with a better understanding of how I can assist my districts in meeting their indicators. Plus, I was able to ask many questions about the IEP and 504 process. If this workshop is offered again, I would come again. I think staying up-to-date and just having someone to answer some of my questions were invaluable.”
Co-Teaching
More info coming soon!
Classroom Strategies to meet the needs of ALL Learners- A focus on ADHD, Autism and Students with Anxiety
More info coming soon!
Accommodations and Modifications: Ensuring ALL Students have the Opportunity to Learn
More info coming soon!
504 training for Teachers and Counselors
More info coming soon!
ED Plan Training for Principal and Asst. Principals - Zoom
More info coming soon!
Mild/Mod Training for OSAT
More info coming soon!
Severe/Profound Training for OSAT
More info coming soon!
PPAT Workshop
PPAT Workshop
Presented by: Brett Bradley
Are you confused or overwhelmed by the PPAT, or do you know someone who is? Consider attending the PPAT Training offered by SNU. Join Professor Brett Bradley as he breaks down the PPAT to clear up confusion and helps you develop an action plan so that you will leave the training session with confidence.
This hands-on workshop will walk your Alternatively or Emergency Certified teachers through the PPAT process. Teachers will learn how to organize and prepare for the PPAT and develop an understanding of the best practices provided through the PPAT process. Participants should come ready to work as they will leave the session with some portions of the PPAT completed and develop an action plan for completing each task.
These sessions are offered in two ways:
In-Person Session- This one-day session will be from 8:30 - 3:00 at SNU-Bethany or SNU-Tulsa Campus.
Zoom Session- This synchronous training over Zoom is split into two 3-hour sessions. I mean, who wants to spend an entire day on Zoom?! The first session gives an overview of the PPAT and focuses on Task 1. The second session focuses on Tasks 2, 3, & 4. These Zoom sessions cover the same material as the in-person sessions, and participants can still interact, ask questions, and leave with an action plan.
Do you have an idea for a training you would like to see offered? Let us know!
