Area Special Education Cooperative

🎃👻 Happy Halloween from ASEC! 👻🎃 Wishing all of our students, families, and staff a safe and spook-tacular evening! #HappyHalloween #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether

We’re thrilled to share that Jennifer Modeen, one of ASEC's dedicated Behavior Support Specialists, presented at this year’s MSSWA Conference! Her session, "Equity & System Change - It's Up to US!" dives into the critical work of bringing student and family needs to the forefront. Jennifer shared strategies to engage, empower, and challenge inequity—reminding us all of the impact we can make when we work toward a more inclusive educational environment. Way to go, Jennifer! #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether

Today, our team came together for ASEC's Evaluation Bootcamp—a deep dive into the essential requirements for conducting thorough, compliant evaluations. Thank you to everyone who joined us in refining our skills to better support our students and families! We had great conversations and collaboration between service providers from our 11-member districts. A special thank you to Maggie and Natasha, two of our fabulous School Psychologists, for helping lead this professional development opportunity. #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #ResourcesInvestedInChildren

This year, our Behavior Support Team is providing paraprofessional training across our 11-member districts, equipping district staff with essential skills to support our students even more effectively. Recently, they led a fantastic training session at Fertile-Beltrami Public Schools. We are so grateful for the dedicated paraprofessionals who were engaged, asked insightful questions, and brought a wealth of knowledge to the table. Thank you for your commitment to making a difference in our schools! Way to go, Jennifer, Gabby, Rontray, and the Fertile-Beltrami paraprofessionals! Together, we’re building stronger teams to better serve our students and communities. #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #ResourcesInvestedInChildren

This week, one of our amazing staff members, Renee, attended the Closing the Gap Conference—an incredible opportunity to explore topics ranging from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to inclusive instruction, accessibility, and universal design for learning (UDL). The conference is packed with resources that will benefit both our team and the students we serve. It’s all about learning how to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities by incorporating the best tools, research, and practices into our work. #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #ResourcesInvestedInChildren

Our admin team and due process facilitator had the opportunity to attend the MN Administrators for Special Education - MASE Fall Conference this week. The theme of this year’s event centered around leadership, equity, and advocacy. We left feeling inspired and equipped with new tools and strategies to continue advocating for the diverse needs of our students. #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #mnMASE

Sunday night, The Victorious VikQueens trivia team joined forces with Region 1 & 2 Directors at the MASE Fall Conference for an evening full of laughs, friendly competition, and collaboration. 🤗Shoutout to Tiffany, Tanya, Sandy, and Erin for representing ASEC! #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #ResourcesInvestedInChildren #mnMASE

Calling all ASEC and member district special education staff! Are you ready to dive deeper into due process? 📝 Our Evaluation Edition Due Process Bootcamp is now open for registration! Visit our website for more details and to sign up: www.asec.net/events Let’s learn together and continue making a difference! 💡💙 #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #ResourcesInvestedInChildren

Here is our incredible Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapy team who recently attended the Minnesota School-Based OT/PT Institute! Our team is bringing back valuable insights and strategies that will help better serve our students and support their growth and progress. Thank you for your commitment to making a difference every day! 🙌🌟 #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #ResourcesInvestedInChildren

We’re so proud of our staff who attended the Part B and C Due Process Webinar Training today. Their commitment to expanding their knowledge and skills ensures that we continue providing high-quality support to our youngest learners and their families. Thank you for your passion and dedication to making a difference. #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #ResourcesInvestedInChildren

🎉25 Amazing Years at ASEC! 🎉 Join us in honoring Tammy Hemmah, who is celebrating an incredible 25 years as a School Psychologist! Tammy, your commitment to the mental health and well-being of students over the past quarter-century has made a profound impact. Your dedication has created a supportive, caring environment, touching countless lives and helping students thrive. We are deeply grateful for your invaluable contributions and for the positive, lasting mark you've left on so many. We are truly honored to have had you with us for 25 years and look forward to many more to come!💖 #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #SchoolPsychologist

We had a great time at our Year 2 New Teacher Cohort Collaboration held today at our ASEC office in East Grand Forks. A special shoutout to our Kahoot winners who showed off their skills and knowledge on the IEP! 🙌 We’re so proud of this amazing group of educators who continue to grow and inspire each other. Keep up the great work! #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #ResourcesInvestedInChildren

We had an amazing day diving into the IEP process at our 2nd Due Process Bootcamp this fall held in Erskine, MN! ASEC and our member district staff came together for this professional development opportunity to collaborate and expand our knowledge to better support our students. At ASEC, we believe that continuous learning and professional development are key to providing the best services possible. It’s always inspiring to see the dedication and collaboration of these educators in action!🌟 Thank you to everyone who participated and made this day a success! #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #ResourcesInvestedInChildren

ASEC’s Executive Director, Tiffany Litman, is attending the 2024 MASA Fall Conference at Madden’s on Gull Lake alongside district superintendents Dan Dalchow from Climax-Shelly and Drew Kjono from Stephen Argyle Central. This year's theme, "Piecing Together the Future," highlights the importance of working together to integrate diverse strategies and technologies to create an inclusive educational environment. They’re joining fellow leaders from across the state to explore innovative solutions to the challenges we face in education. We’re excited to see the collaborative ideas and insights that come from this incredible event, which will help shape the future for our students, families, and staff! #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #ResourcesInvestedInChildren #mnMASA

Yesterday, we hosted Due Process Bootcamp in East Grand Forks. We had an awesome group of special educators and related service providers from across the co-op come together for a day of collaboration focused on all things IEP. It was a fantastic opportunity to share knowledge, strengthen our skills, and work together to ensure we provide the best possible student outcomes. We’re proud of this group for their commitment to continuous learning and growth. Thank you to everyone who joined us today! #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #ResourcesInvestedInChildren

ASEC Assistive Technology and Orientation & Mobility Consultant Patricia Liebswager works so hard to lead groups of students in learning valuable community skills—like riding the city bus! 🚌 Last week, Patti took the fabulous group of students from the ILC in EGF on an exciting trip where they learned how to make a bus transfer to get back to school. It was a great hands-on experience that taught important navigation skills. What a great way to build independence and confidence! #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #ResourcesInvestedinChildren

ASEC Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher Joann Papke always brings the fun wherever she goes! Last week she visited the Independent Learning Center (ILC) at East Grand Forks Senior High. Joann and AJ worked together to expand his cooking skills. Together, they whipped up a full breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast, which they enjoyed together. What a great way to start the day. Awesome work, you two! #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #ResourcesInvestedinChildren

Did you know ASEC's mission statement is "Resources Invested in Children"? Our staff live out this mission day in and day out. Our team commits to allocating time, funding, expertise, and other resources to support the development, education, and well-being of children. It reflects our organization's dedication to ensuring that children receive the necessary support to thrive in all environments. Our mission emphasizes the importance of investing in children as a priority, with the belief that such investments lead to better outcomes for individuals and society as a whole. #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether

At ASEC, we believe that the success of our students relies on the strength of the partnerships we build with our 11-member school districts. Collaboration between the special education cooperative and the school district is not just beneficial; it’s essential. Our motto, #WeAreASEC, reflects this commitment to unity. By working together, we pool our expertise, resources, and dedication to ensure that every student receives the support they need to thrive. Through collaboration, we create a cohesive support system that prioritizes the best interests of our students. Together, we make a difference.🌟🌟 #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether

🎉 Celebrating 25 Years at ASEC! 🎉 Today, we honor Julie Yutrzenka, who has reached the incredible milestone of 25 years as an Occupational Therapist at ASEC! Julie, your unwavering dedication has transformed countless lives. Your work has gone beyond therapy, bringing hope, independence, and renewed confidence to those you’ve supported. Your compassion and expertise have touched so many, and your impact will be felt for years to come. We are immensely grateful for you and are excited to continue this journey alongside you. #WeAreASEC #StrongerTogether #OccupationalTherapist