Georgia Southern to host free mini-conference for special education professionals, registration limited to 100

March 10, 2020

Special education professionals and teacher candidates from across the state are invited to Georgia Southern University on April 4 for the Georgia Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Mini-Conference to be held at the College of Education on the Statesboro Campus from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

“For the past few years, the Georgia CEC has provided grant funding for the Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) chapters to host mini-conferences,” said Karin Fisher, Ph.D., SCEC faculty mentor and GA Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) board member. “This year, Georgia Southern SCEC volunteered to host the mini-conference to give teachers and pre-service students in the southeast an opportunity to network with special educators from across the state and hear from a special education expert.”

The keynote speaker for the mini-conference will be Georgia Department of Education’s (GaDOE) Franeka Colley, who serves as the content integration specialist for special education programming. Colley is a Georgia Southern alumna, earning a bachelor’s in special education from the University in 2007. She also completed an Ed.S  in curriculum and instruction from Lincoln Memorial University and an Ed.S. Certificate in Educational Leadership and Administration from Valdosta State University. Prior to joining the GaDOE, Colley served as a special education classroom teacher, exceptional student education administrator and special education department chair in the Atlanta area.

Attendees will have the opportunity to choose from sessions on topics including: behavior strategies, co-teaching, self-determination, classroom support curriculum, math strategies, the Orton-Gillinham (OG) approach for middle and high school levels, family engagement, and technology.

“While we are inviting special education teachers, preservice teachers, administration and related service providers to join us, all are welcome,” said Fisher. “We are all special education teachers.”
The mini-conference is free to attend and lunch will be provided. Registration is limited to 100, and the deadline to signup is March 27. To register, visit https://forms.gle/dmMJuD6thmKjesmr9.

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 26,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.