Special Topic Training Series
Free, virtual, open to all
Upcoming Offerings
Leading (Not Just Managing):
A Principal's Path from the Periphery to Practice
February 4th, 2026, live
Margaret Goldberg, Literacy Coach, Nystrom Elementary, Richmond CA
Jamie Allardice, Principal, Nystrom Elementary, Richmond CA
Live Session
February 4th, 2026, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PST)
Oregon Response to Instruction & Intervention (ORTII) invites you to join us for a special virtual event, designed especially for principals, coaches and other instructional leaders (and anyone else who wants to feel inspired!)
Principals often find themselves on the periphery of instructional change when they follow the standard advice—adopt the right curriculum, hire a literacy coach, and bring in consultants for professional development. But when instructional leadership is subcontracted out, improvements tend to be inconsistent across classrooms and the work is easily abandoned. So what can a principal do to be the leader of instructional change at their school?
In this session, Principal Jamie Allardice and literacy coach Margaret Goldberg will share practical strategies for school leaders who want to move beyond managing change to actively leading it. We'll explore the messy, rewarding work of hands-on instructional leadership. Bring your questions and challenges as we reimagine the principal's role in improving reading achievement.
Oregon elementary school principals who attend the LIVE session will be entered into a drawing for a free ticket to the April 15th pre-conference workshop day of the ORTII Annual Conference. There are 3 tickets available and if you’ve already registered for the conference, you can either use your winning ticket for someone else or receive a $200 refund.
Archived Special Topic Training Series Recordings
AEM for Inclusion: Consideration & Documentation of AEM in the IEP
April 11th, 2024, live, recorded
Debra Fitzgibbons, Coordinator OTAP/RSOI
Meghan Nilsen, Special Education Coordinator
Live Session
April 11th, 2024 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (PST)
There are four main activities involved in IEP team consideration of a student’s need for AEM, Accessible Educational Materials.
1.) Determine the student’s need for AEM
2.) Select the accessible format(s) the student needs
3.) Plan to acquire the materials
4.) Determine services and support that the student will need.
In this webinar, we will use the Oregon Standard IEP form to identify the ways that team decisions can be recorded in meaningful ways so that everyone on a student’s educational team understands the plan for AEM.
Debra Fitzgibbons, Coordinator OTAP/RSOI
Debra Fitzgibbons is the Coordinator for Oregon Technology Access Program (OTAP) and Regional and Statewide Services for Students with Orthopedic Impairments(RSOI). Deb carries a Master’s in Assistive Technology and more than twenty years’ experience in providing AT and AEM supports to students in K-12 and higher ed. She supports students and teams across Oregon in the selection, acquisition and integration of AT and Accessible Educational Materials, AEM across the lifespan. Deb leads the Oregon AEM Cohort in partnership with the National AEM Center to develop a statewide system for provision of AEM to all learners.
Meghan Nilsen, Special Education Coordinator
Meghan Nilsen has been working in special education for Baker 5J school district since 2012 and has served as Special Education Coordinator for the past five years. Before her time in Oregon, Meghan taught special education in the suburbs of Chicago since 2008. In her current role, she works closely with teachers and students to ensure that all learners receive the appropriate tools and accommodations necessary for academic success. Meghan has worked with the Oregon Technology Access Program (OTAP) team and the Accessible Education Materials (AEM) Cohort Grant since 2019.
Considerations for IEP Literacy Goals in a Response to Intervention System
April 11th, 2024, recorded
Sharyn Hoffert, ORTII Implementation Coach
Malory Turner, Special Education Professional Learning Coach, Traumatic Brain Injury Liaison
Recorded Session
April 11th, 2024
Learn how to collaboratively support reflective and responsive practices in the development and implementation of K-5 Individual Education Program IEP literacy goals that positively impact students across all tiers of instruction.
This session will be prerecorded and made available on the ORTII website. Register above to receive email updates as session recordings and materials become available.
Malory Turner is the Special Education Professional Learning Coach, Traumatic Brain Injury Liaison, and Regional Technical Assistance Provider at Northwest Regional Education Service District (NWRESD). Malory holds a Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education. In her current role, she supports special educators, specialists, and directors by providing professional learning opportunities and technical assistance related to their roles.
Sharyn Hoffert is a Professional Learning Coach for ORTII at Northwest Regional ESD after working as a K-5 classroom teacher for over 25 years. She provides technical assistance to Oregon school districts implementing Response to Intervention systems to provide targeted, evidence based effective instruction to meet the literacy needs of all students. She is the proud mama of a son with dyslexia which gives her a personal reason to be a passionate advocate working diligently to equip and empower educators with the tools and the resources they need to ensure our students become engaged literate citizens.
Meaningful Inclusion of All Learners in an MTSS Framework:
It Begins with Access
February 15th, 2024, live, recorded
Debra Fitzgibbons, Coordinator OTAP/RSOI
Live Session
February 15th, 2024 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (PST)
Inclusion of all learners begins by providing universal access to curriculum in all environments. Timely provision of AEM, Accessible Educational Materials ensures learners with disabilities can get the same information, engage in meaningful participation, and enjoy the same services as non-disabled students, with the same ease of use. Discover how accessible content enhances learning for all students and provides options for learners who “read” in non-traditional ways.
This session will:
Establish Common Vocabulary
Connect the Dots: Share scenarios and examples of Accessible Technologies and Accessible Educational Materials in a variety of environments.
Share tools available through the OTAP short-term loan library, including tools for access, executive functioning and communication.
This session will be recorded and be made available on the ORTII website.
Debra Fitzgibbons, Coordinator OTAP/RSOI
Debra Fitzgibbons is the Coordinator for Oregon Technology Access Program (OTAP) and Regional and Statewide Services for Students with Orthopedic Impairments(RSOI). Deb carries a Master’s in Assistive Technology and more than twenty years’ experience in providing AT and AEM supports to students in K-12 and higher ed. She supports students and teams across Oregon in the selection, acquisition and integration of AT and Accessible Educational Materials, AEM across the lifespan. Deb leads the Oregon AEM Cohort in partnership with the National AEM Center to develop a statewide system for provision of AEM to all learners.