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2024 NDTAC Annual Conference

The 2024 NDTAC Annual Conference, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education (ED): Title I, Part D in Action, took place both in-person and virtually on May 20th, 21st, and 22nd in the Washington, D.C. metro area. 

Program and Agenda 

Please see the conference Program for details about keynote addresses, speakers, the conference agenda, Department of ED team, and NDTAC team biographies. 

Day 1: New Coordinators Convening Nuts & Bolts

Monday, May 20, 10:00 am - 11:00 am EDT

NDTAC hosted an introductory session for new State coordinators. This session, led by Dan Froemel, welcomed new coordinators, allowed attendees to hear from seasoned coordinators on lessons learned, and gave new State coordinators a chance to learn about key elements of Part D.

Presenter

  • Dan Froemel, Senior Technical Assistance Advisor, NDTAC, Longevity Consulting

Presentation and Materials

Day 1: Welcome

Monday, May 20, 12:10 pm - 12:30 pm EDT

The U.S. Department of Education and NDTAC formally welcomed attendees of the 2024 NDTAC Conference, as well as honored and recognized third, fifth-, and tenth-year State coordinators.

Presenters

  • Patrick Rooney, Director, School Support and Accountability, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Lynn Bauer, Project Director, NDTAC​, Longevity Consulting
  • Obioma Okogbue, TA Coordinator/Helpdesk Lead, NDTAC, Child Trends
  • Dan Froemel, Senior Technical Assistance Advisor, NDTAC, Longevity Consulting

Presentation and Materials

Day 1: Federal Program Updates

Monday, May 20, 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm EDT

The U.S. Department of Education TIPD Program Office provided an overview of anticipated program changes, delving into crucial topics such as the use of funds and data.

Presenters

  • Deborah Spitz, Group Leader, Teachers, Leaders, & Special Populations, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Heather Denny, Program Officer, Title I Part D, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Jeff Buehler, Program Officer, Title I Part D​, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Mark Ziegler-Thayer, Program Officer, Title I Part D​, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Presentation and Materials

Day 1: Keynote Address - Empowering Education: A Vision for Student Support and Equity

Monday, May 20, 1:45 pm - 2:30 pm EDT

Dr. Victor Martin, Executive Director of Student Support Teams for Alexandria City Public Schools, drew from his extensive experience as a leader in educational and secure settings in Virginia. He shared important insights on fostering equity, hope, and transformative practices within educational environments.  

Presenter 

  • Victor Martin, Executive Director, Student Support Teams, Alexandria City Public Schools (VA)

Presentation and Materials

Day 1: From Concept to Reality - An Honest Discussion on the Benefits and Challenges of Interagency Collaboration

Monday, May 20, 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm EDT

This session focused on interagency collaboration and how it can support students who are involved with the youth legal system. It covered topics such as information sharing, advocacy, and relationship building. The panelists used research and their professional experiences to show how collaboration can take shape in the academic journey of students involved with the legal system and related care systems. They also discussed the obstacles that might arise during this process.

Presenters

  • Nelly DeLuca, MSW, Family Services Specialist, City of Alexandria (VA)
  • Karen Kolivoski, PhD, MSW, Deputy Director for Research, Center for Juvenile Justice Reform (CJJR)
  • Victor Martin, EdD, Executive Director, Student Support Teams, Alexandria City Public Schools (VA)
  • Alexandra Miller, PhD, Deputy Director for Multi-System Operations, Center for Juvenile Justice Reform (CJJR)

Presentation and Materials

Day 1: Multi-Agency Collaboration - Re-Entry Transition Services in Rural and Urban Settings

Monday, May 20, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT

This session centered on Oregon's educational programs for juvenile detention centers and state-operated youth facilities. The panelists provided valuable lessons and tips for re-entry transition specialists and coordinators and shared insights into implementing re-entry transition services in both rural and urban settings. The discussion also covered the collaboration between schools and the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT:C).

Presenters

  • Sam Ko, Title I, Part D Specialist, Oregon Department of Education
  • Deanne Unruh, PhD, Research Professor and Associate Vice President of Research, University of Oregon
  • Joyce Douglas, Research Assistant, Secondary Special Education and Transition Research Unit, University of Oregon
  • Christine Otto, Bridges Director and Senior Administrator of Educational Services, Multnomah ESD

Presentation and Materials

Day 2: Meet Your Program Officers

Tuesday, May 21, 8:30 am - 9:45 am EDT

During an informal meeting, State coordinators met with Program Officers Heather Denny, Jeff Buehler, and Mark Ziegler-Thayer from the U.S. Department of Education. The sessions covered top questions from the states and then moved on to discuss general topics of interest.

Presenters

  • Heather Denny, Program Officer, Title I Part D, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Jeff Buehler, Program Officer, Title I Part D​, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Mark Ziegler-Thayer, Program Officer, Title I Part D​, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Day 2: Keynote Address - Compassion in Educational Programs within the Criminal Justice System

Tuesday, May 21, 10:00 am - 10:40 am EDT

Jeff Wallace, Founder of Jeff Wallace Speaks and a seasoned expert in youth welfare and criminal justice, shared his personal experiences with incarceration and educational opportunities in this keynote presentation. Wallace explored the potential of education and trauma-informed care and shed light on the transformative power of compassion in the criminal justice system. The discussion focused on resilience, redemption, and breaking the cycle of adversity.

Presenter

  • Jeff Wallace, Founder, Jeff Wallace Speaks

Presentation and Materials

Day 2: The Well-Being of Indigenous Youth

Tuesday, May 21, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm EDT

Veronica Willeto DeCrane, Training and Technical Assistance Manager at the National Native Children’s Trauma Center, shared important insights on addressing challenges encountered by indigenous youth within the criminal justice system. State coordinators emphasized the key factors influencing how indigenous youth respond to trauma. They also gained knowledge about the intergenerational transmission of healing and effective engagement strategies to enhance cultural connectedness among students.

Presenter

  • Veronica Willeto DeCrane, Training and Technical Assistance Manager, National Native Children’s Trauma Center, University of Montana

Presentation and Materials

Day 2: Lessons Learned from the Field - Coordinating Services for Our Most Vulnerable Youth

Tuesday, May 21, 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm EDT

Christy Hendricks, Federal Grants Coordinator and Foster Care Point of Contact at the Montana Office of Public Instruction, along with other state leaders, led a discussion on the significant changes in the juvenile justice and education system in the state. The conversation emphasized the importance of relationships between LEAs, Juvenile Detention Centers, Department of Corrections, and detailed processes such as MOUs, IEPs, record transfers, and transition plans. The discussion highlighted the collective effort needed to support vulnerable youth and provide them with the necessary tools for success, aiming to break the cycle of challenges they face.

Presenters

  • Christy Hendricks, Federal Grants Coordinator and Foster Care Point of Contact, Montana Office of Public Instructions 
  • Lance Boyd, Director, Student Services, Great Falls Public Schools (MT)
  • Shanna Bulik-Chrism, Administrator, Cascade County Juvenile Detention Center
  • Hank Richards, Lead Educator, Ted Lechner Youth Services
  • Teagan Stanley, Principal, Pine Hills Correctional Facility
  • Steve Ray, Superintendent, Pine Hills Correctional Facility
  • Marisa Britton-Bostwick, Education Director, Montana Department of Corrections Education
  • Travis Anderson, Education Director, Education Bureau Chief, Montana Department of Corrections
  • Alicia Doney, Youth Voices Support and Training Coordinator, Montana Office of Public Instruction

Presentation and Materials

Day 2: See Something, Say Something - Strategies for Interrupting Bias in the Juvenile Legal System

Tuesday, May 21, 2:45 pm - 4:45 pm EDT

The stigmatization and dehumanization of young people in both the juvenile and adult legal systems create obstacles to their educational success. This negatively affects all young people in the legal system who are receiving educational services, and the impact is even greater for young people of color. In this interactive workshop, Kristin Henning discussed how racial and ethnic bias is a real and ongoing experience for young people of color (such as Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous youth) in the juvenile legal systems. The workshop aimed to help system actors (including Part D State Coordinators and subgrantees) identify dehumanizing language and attitudes, recognize bias when they encounter it, and take action from their influential positions. Through various interactive exercises, including Third-Party Interrupters and Check Our Bias worksheets, participants developed practical skills to address beliefs and values that contribute to the stigmatization and dehumanization of young people in these systems. They also learned how to intervene in microaggressions and other forms of bias that harm young people receiving educational services in secure settings.

Presenter

  • Kristin Henning, Director, The Juvenile Justice Clinic and Initiative at Georgetown Law

Presentation and Materials

Day 3: Empowering State Coordinators - Optimizing Part D Programming Through Data Insights

Wednesday, May 22, 9:00 am - 10:30 am EDT

Alex Gabriel from NDTAC moderated a session where State coordinators shared data tools and practices for program improvement and accurate reporting. Coordinators Dawn Carmody (MI), Erin Contrady (NY), David Sollami (UT), and Wes Blake (KY) shared their practical expertise and showcased their tools and analyses at various stages of development. Discussions covered effective strategies for improving Part D programming through data utilization. Attendees left this session with personalized guidance and practical approaches for making data actionable.

Presenters

  • Alex Gabriel, Senior Data Analyst, NDTAC, Child Trends
  • Dawn Carmody, Title I, Part D N&D Consultant, Special Populations Unit, Michigan Department of Education
  • Erin Contrady, Policy, Analytics, and Research, New York State Department of Education
  • David Sollami, Title I, Part D Coordinator, Education Specialist, Utah State Board of Education
  • Wes Blake, TIPD/TIPA Program Consultant, Kentucky Department of Education

Presentation and Materials

Day 3: Insights from Federal Programs Serving Related Student Populations

Wednesday, May 22, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm EDT

During this session, Eleanor Pershing from the TIPD Program Office moderated a discussion with Federal Program Officers from various program areas that intersect with youth involved in juvenile justice settings. Attendees gained insight through program overviews, learned how these programs support students affected by the juvenile justice system, and gained an understanding of other available federal resources.

Presenters

  • Eleanor Pershing, Management and Program Analyst, Title I Part D, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Leticia Braga, Team Lead, Title III English Language Acquisition, U.S. Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition
  • Bryan Thurmond, Team Lead, Title I Part A Foster Care, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Brianna Levy, Federal Policy Fellow, SchoolHouse Connection, U.S. Department of Education

Presentation and Materials

Day 3: Youth Success - From Lived Experience to Practice

Wednesday, May 22, 1:45 pm - 3:15 pm EDT

The success of youth in secure settings requires comprehensive support, including holistic programming and tailored supports that address the specific needs of each youth. Alexis Dixon from the Juvenile Justice Commission and Middlesex County Corrections and Youth Services, and Phyllis Lewis from the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey (ESCNJ), shared the development and outcomes associated with the Master Plan program in the state of New Jersey. This is a Title I, Part D funded program that is rooted in the lived experience of Chris Wilson, as well as other programs that have positively impacted justice-involved youth. This session featured examples from Chris Wilson’s Master Plan Workbook and underscored the importance of involving youth in their plans for successful reentry.

Presenters

  • Alexis Dixon, Education Program Development Specialist, NJ Juvenile Justice Commission/Educational Consultant, Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center
  • Phyllis Lewis, Principal, Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center, Education Service Commission of New Jersey (ESCNJ)

Presentation and Materials

Day 3: Closing Remarks

Wednesday, May 22, 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm EDT

Heather Denny from U.S. ED and Lynn Bauer from NDTAC concluded the conference with a series of calls to action, next steps as the conference concluded, and shared conference evaluations.

Presenters

  • Heather Denny, Program Officer, Title I Part D, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Lynn Bauer, Project Director, NDTAC​, Longevity Consulting

Presentation and Materials

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