Welcome to the MITTIN Memo

I had the privilege of attending the National Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) conference in Savannah last week. I engaged with leaders from various state CASE units about their impactful state-level projects. Reflecting on Michigan’s MITTIN initiative, I’m grateful for the dedication and vision of our MITTIN committee, our invaluable partners, and especially our Project Manager, Kristine Gullen. Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of students with disabilities across Michigan.

As fall settles in, MITTIN has been busier than ever. We have hosted twelve MITTIN implementation events, four virtual Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), and our first in-person MITTIN evaluation professional learning session of the year. It is inspiring to see so many educators eager to bring MITTIN into classrooms across Michigan.

In this issue of the MITTIN Memo, we are excited to highlight a recent publication from our partner, Public Policy Associates, along with a couple of fantastic professional learning opportunities. Educators interested in earning a special education administrator certification can learn more about the Horizons+SE Leadership Academy, and we also share details about the upcoming SLIP Winter Conference in January.

Thank you for your support of MITTIN. We have great work ahead.

Best Regards,

Dr. Derek Cooley,

MITTIN Committee Chair

Public Policy Associates (PPA), a valued partner of MITTIN, offers essential support in building evaluation capacity, conducting literature reviews, developing logic models, planning assessments, and more. In their October issue of PPA eNews!, they featured an article titled, "PPA Proudly Partners with MITTIN to Enhance Independence for Michigan's Learners with Special Needs." This article highlights the innovative and forward thinking collaboration between MITTIN and PPA, as we work together to help students build strong independent living skills. We are excited to share information on this partnership and the impact it is having on learners across Michigan. You can read the full article by clicking on the link below.

An Alternative Path to Special Education Administrator Certification is now accepting applications.

Applications for the upcoming Horizons +SE Academy opened on Monday, October 21st! This academy provides a unique opportunity for individuals to gain approval for Special Education Administration while participating in the renowned Horizons Leadership Academy (HLA).

The Horizons +SE Academy integrates comprehensive special education content with HLA’s focus on leadership development, offering an alternative pathway to earn an Administrator Certificate with an endorsement in either Central Office or K-12, along with special education approval as a Supervisor or Director.

Key Details:

MDE Authorized: The program is authorized by MASA through the Michigan Department of Education.

Designed for: Aspiring Special Education Supervisors or Directors or those who are currently in those positions seeking Temporary Approval

Program Highlights: Engage in hands-on projects within your district, create a digital portfolio, and complete a 240/300-hour internship.

The SLIP Winter Conference supports the needs of supervisors of low incidence programs and center-based programming. Attendees will learn from presenters, listen/discuss topics with other attendees, and then designated time to complete action items. Supervisors are encouraged to bring teams.