Accelerating Education

The Future of Special Ed: AI & Empowerment, with Chad Rummel

The Future of Special Ed: AI & Empowerment, with Chad Rummel Accelerating Education Podcast 🎙️ Chad Rummel, M.Ed, CAE Executive Director of Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) with host Richard Capone Episode P2E3, Apr 13, 2026 Sponsored by Let's Go Learn https://www.letsgolearn.com About the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) CEC (Council for Exceptional Children) - https://exceptionalchildren.org/ Connect with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC): The CEC is the largest professional organization in the world for special educators, offering 18 specialized divisions and chapters in nearly every state. Summary In this episode of Accelerating Education, Richard Capone interviews Chad Rummel, Executive Director of CEC, about re-imagining support for special education teachers, the role of AI, and the future of the industry. They discuss innovative tools like the Teacher Empowerment Toolkit, challenges in workload, and strategies to empower educators. As IEPs grow from 4 pages to nearly 30, the "compliance trap" is causing record-breaking burnout. Chad explains how the CEC is fighting back with the Teacher Empowerment Toolkit (TET)—a new CEC member benefit resource designed to slash administrative workload and put the focus back on student instruction. Key Topics — Support for special education teachers — The role of AI in education — The Teacher Empowerment Toolkit and technology modernization — Workload reduction and workload management — Future trends and leadership in special education Chapters 0:00 - Introduction to Chad Rummel & CEC 1:18 - Moving from Compliance to Empowerment 1:58 - Launching the Teacher Empowerment Toolkit 4:41 - The Role of AI in Special Education 6:00 - AI in Special Education: Opportunities and Concerns 7:54 - How Administrators Can Support Staff 8:37 - Addressing Educator Shortages and Future Trajectories 9:10 - Solving the Educator Shortage in the Next 5 Years 11:51 - CEC's Evolving Leadership and Support for Teachers 12:32 - A Message to Overwhelmed Teachers 13:15 - How Do You Support Teachers Today? 14:43 - Rapid Fire: The Future is Positive 17:15 - The Importance of Supporting Teachers, Not Replacing Them 17:43 - What Gives Chad the Most Hope Today? #SpecialEducation #SPED #TeacherBurnout #IEP #EdTech #AIinEducation #CEC #TeacherEmpowerment #SpecialEdTeacher #LetsGoLearn

The "Closed" AI Model in Special Education, with Dr. Angie Balsley

The "Closed" AI Model in Special Education, with Dr. Angie Balsley Accelerating Education Podcast 🎙️ Guest: Angie Balsley, Ed.D. CEO of Unified Leadership UnifiedLeadership.org with host Richard Capone Episode P2E2, Feb 19, 2026 Sponsored by Let's Go Learn https://www.letsgolearn.com Summary In this episode of Accelerating Education, Richard Capone interviews Dr. Angie Balsley, CEO of Unified Leadership, discussing her extensive background in special education and the challenges faced in the field. They explore the importance of relationships and systems in special education, the innovative FAPE Compass tool designed to assist educators, and the future of special education leadership. Dr. Balsley shares insights on the impact of AI in education and the positive feedback from districts using FAPE Compass. Takeaways — Dr. Balsley's background in special education is deeply personal and rooted in inclusive practices. — Strong relationships are foundational to effective special education leadership. — The educator shortage is a significant challenge in special education. — FAPE Compass is an AI tool designed to provide instant answers to special education questions. — The tool enhances legal literacy for educators in real-time. — FAPE Compass is tailored to district-specific needs and procedures. — AI can help reduce the cognitive load on special education directors. — Feedback from districts indicates increased confidence and efficiency with FAPE Compass. — The tool aims to empower staff, reducing the need for directors to attend every meeting. — The future of special education may see more streamlined systems through tools like FAPE Compass. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Angie Balsley 01:06 Shaping Philosophy in Special Education 02:54 Challenges in Special Education Systems 04:35 Innovations in Special Education Leadership 06:21 Introducing FAPE Compass 10:00 The Future of FAPE Compass in Special Education 12:32 Feedback and Success Stories from Districts   #SpecialEducation, #LetsGoLearn, #AIinEducation, #EdTech, #FAPE

Empathy and AI Innovation in Special Education with Angela Miller

Accelerating Education Podcast 🎙️ Angela Miller, Special Education Teacher, Case Manager, and SSD Coordinator Carlsbad Municipal School District, New Mexico with host Richard Capone Episode P2E1, Feb 19, 2026 Sponsored by Let's Go Learn https://www.letsgolearn.com Stop letting paperwork lead to burnout! Discover how Angela Miller is using the Airma AI Assistant to revolutionize the IEP process and reclaim the "heart" of special education. In this episode of Accelerating Education, host Richard Capone interviews Angela Miller, a special education teacher, case manager, and SSD coordinator in the Carlsbad Municipal School District in New Mexico. Angela shares her powerful personal journey from being a student with a reading disability to becoming a "Jill of all trades" educator motivated by her own son's autism diagnosis. We explore the "solution-based" strategies Angela uses to drive student success, including the use of Airma AI, an innovative educational technology tool. She explains how AI in education allows her to create highly individualized education programs (IEP) and progress reports with fidelity, while maintaining data privacy and FERPA compliance. Whether you are interested in social emotional learning (SEL), effective professional learning communities (PLC), or how to combat teacher burnout, this conversation offers a roadmap for meeting the needs of the "whole child". Takeaways —Angela's personal experience with special education shaped her career. —Empathy is crucial in building rapport with students. —Teachers often face burnout due to lack of support and resources. —Collaboration among educators enhances student outcomes. —AI can be a powerful tool for personalized learning. —Professional development should focus on the whole child, not just academics. —Finding one's 'why' can help combat teacher burnout. —Data-driven decisions can improve educational practices. —Students should be involved in their own learning processes. —Education is a community effort, requiring collaboration and support. Chapters 0:00 - Introduction to Angela Miller 0:49 - Angela’s personal journey: From student to teacher 1:42 - A mother’s motivation: Navigating an autism diagnosis 3:56 - Combating teacher burnout with empathy and SEL 7:19 - Collaboration: Building a bridge between SpEd and GenEd 10:48 - How Airma AI is transforming IEPs and data collection 12:04 - The Future of AI in Education 14:38 - Addressing AI privacy and FERPA compliance 17:15 - The future of AI: Giving students autonomy over their data 19:59 - Words of wisdom for hardworking educators Featured Resources Let's Go Learn: Diagnostic data platform for DORA (reading) and ADAM (math) assessments. Airma AI: The AI assistant helping teachers individualize instruction. #SpecialEducation, #LetsGoLearn, #AIinEducation, #EdTech

Teaching Kindness Through Animal Welfare with Richard Verlander

Teaching Kindness Through Animal Welfare with Richard Verlander Accelerating Education Podcast 🎙️ Richard Verlander, Board Member Goochland Pet Lovers in Richmond, VA with host Richard Capone Episode P1E10, Oct 30, 2025 Sponsored by Let's Go Learn https://www.letsgolearn.com Summary In this episode, Richard Capone interviews Richard Verlander, a founding board member of Goochland Pet Lovers, an animal shelter in Richmond, Virginia. They discuss the transformation of the shelter, the importance of kindness and empathy in education, and the innovative 'Teaching Kindness' initiative that integrates animal welfare into school curriculums. Verlander shares insights on building community partnerships and the impact of their programs on children's behavior and social skills. The conversation highlights the power of animals to unite people and foster positive change in society. Takeaways Richard Verlander shares his unexpected journey into animal welfare. Goochland Pet Lovers raised $1.5 million to improve their shelter. The 'Teaching Kindness' program uses animal welfare to teach empathy. Community partnerships are essential for program sustainability. The curriculum is designed to be repeatable and teachable. Animal welfare can help address bullying in schools. Volunteers play a crucial role in the success of the shelter. The program culminates in a visit to the animal shelter. Animals have a unique ability to unite diverse groups of people. There is a need for more positive stories in the media. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Goochland Pet Lovers 02:57 The Journey of Transformation 05:58 Teaching Kindness: A New Initiative 09:02 Building Community Partnerships 11:52 Curriculum Development and Implementation 15:06 The Impact of Animal Welfare on Behavior 17:57 Conclusion and Future Aspirations Teaching Kindness Program https://www.goochlandpetlovers.com/education Keywords #TeachingKindness, #AnimalWelfare, #EducationPodcast, #GoochlandPetLovers, #EmpathyInEducation, #letsgolearn , #behavioralskills , #AnimalShelter, #RichmondVA, #BullyingPrevention

Bridging the Knowing-Doing Gap: Teacher Ed, AI, & Future of Special Education w/Dr. Jennifer Sears

Bridging the Knowing-Doing Gap: Teacher Ed, AI, and the Future of Special Education with Dr. Jennifer Sears Accelerating Education Podcast 🎙️ Dr. Jennifer Sears, Associate Professor Department of Elementary and Special Education, University of North Georgia with host Richard Capone Episode P1E9, Oct 3, 2025 Sponsored by Let's Go Learn https://www.letsgolearn.com Summary In this conversation, Dr. Jennifer Sears shares her journey into special education, highlighting the importance of advocacy and the evolution of educational practices. She discusses the innovative teacher education program at the University of North Georgia, which prepares students for diverse classroom environments. The conversation also addresses challenges in teacher retention, the role of technology in education, and the importance of embracing new tools and ideas in special education. Dr. Sears emphasizes the need for open-mindedness among special education directors and the value of insights from new teachers. Takeaways —Dr. Sears' journey into special education was influenced by her family's advocacy for individuals with disabilities. —The IDEA legislation was significantly impacted by early advocates like Dr. Sears' grandparents. —Dr. Sears emphasizes the importance of practical experience in teacher education programs. —The University of North Georgia's program uniquely certifies students in both elementary and special education. —Teacher retention is a significant challenge, with many new teachers leaving the profession within five years. —Dr. Sears encourages students to remember their 'why' in teaching to combat burnout. —Maintaining a work-life balance is crucial for educators. —Technology can enhance teaching practices, but it requires proper training and integration. —New teachers often bring fresh ideas and technological skills that can benefit experienced educators. —Collaboration between new and experienced teachers can lead to innovative solutions in education. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Special Education Journey 03:11 Family Legacy and Advocacy in Special Education 05:08 Teacher Education Program Structure 12:10 Challenges in Teacher Retention 17:15 The Role of Technology in Education 24:59 Embracing New Tools in Special Education #SpecialEducation, #TeacherTraining, #TeacherEd, #IDEA, #EdTech, #ProfessionalDevelopment, #AIinEducation, #TeacherRetention, #DataDrivenInstruction, #LetsGoLearn