Conversations with the Co-op

The BVI Category Explained: Tools, Access, and Empowerment

In this episode of Conversations with the Co-op, host Jeffrey Lee sits down with Louise Flickinger, Teacher/Consultant for Students with Visual Impairments at the Paul Bunyan Education Cooperative. With dual licensure in Learning Disabilities and Blind/Visually Impaired education, Louise brings both expertise and advocacy to this conversation focused on the BVI disability category. Together, they explore how students qualify for special education services under the Blind/Visually Impaired category by breaking down the two-part criteria involving both medical diagnosis and functional evaluation. Louise explains common misconceptions such as the belief that glasses fix everything or that digital means accessible, and offers practical strategies to support student independence, access, and success. Listeners will gain a clearer understanding of the barriers BVI students face, including curriculum accessibility, social cues, and public perceptions. The episode also highlights how educators can create inclusive learning environments through individualized support and instructional clarity. This episode is a must-listen for educators, case managers, and teams working to ensure that all students, regardless of vision, can thrive academically and socially.

Balancing Precision and Practicality: Two Views on Data in Special Education

In this episode of Conversations with the Co-op, host Jeffrey Lee sits down with Kate Hurd, ASD Coordinator for the Paul Bunyan Education Cooperative, to explore two distinct approaches to data in special education. Kate shares her perspective on collecting highly accurate, comprehensive data to inform programming decisions, particularly in Federal Setting III center-based classrooms. Jeffrey offers a more streamlined, functional approach often used in Settings I and II. Together, they examine the benefits and limitations of each perspective, the importance of context, and how teams can find the right balance to best support student success.

What Is Special Education? Defining the Work We Do

In this final episode of the 2024–2025 school year, Jeffrey Lee is joined by Lynn Krominga, Assistant Director of Special Education at the Paul Bunyan Education Cooperative, to unpack one of the most foundational and often misunderstood questions in our field: What is special education? Together, they explore: * What qualifies as special education and what doesn’t * The role and purpose of related services in schools * How teams determine when a student may no longer need special education * What supports remain available when academic struggles persist Whether you're a teacher, case manager, related service provider, or administrator, this conversation offers clarity and practical reflection on how we serve students and support teams. Thanks for listening this school year. We’ll be back in the fall with more conversations to inform and inspire your special education practice.

Behavior as Communication: What Are Our Students Telling Us?

In this episode of Conversations with the Co-op, host Jeffrey Lee is joined by Jim Kath, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Coordinator at PBEC, for a powerful conversation about how student behavior communicates unmet needs. Rather than viewing behavior through a lens of compliance or disruption, Jim and Jeffrey explore how educators can shift toward curiosity, empathy, and proactive support. Whether you're a case manager, classroom teacher, or administrator, this episode will help you: * Understand behavior as a form of communication * Recognize how unmet needs show up through actions * Consider strategies for supporting students more effectively Tune in to reflect on how listening to behavior, not just managing it, can strengthen student and team outcomes.

Testing Supports, Not Students: Shifting the Mindset in Special Education

In this episode of Conversations with the Co-op, host Lainey Sandberg sits down with Jeffrey Lee, K-12 Special Education Coordinator at PBEC, to discuss a powerful mindset shift in special education: Are we testing the student, or are we testing the supports? Together, they unpack how starting with the assumption that students can succeed—when the right supports are in place—can change the conversation around interventions and placement decisions. Jeffrey shares how educators can move from focusing on student deficits to critically evaluating the effectiveness of supports and interventions. Key takeaways include: * Why the default assumption should be that students can succeed in general education with proper supports. * How to reframe team discussions around data and interventions. * Practical steps teams can take to assess and adjust supports before making placement decisions. Tune in to learn how testing supports, not students, leads to better outcomes and empowers educators to continually refine their practice.