As educators, some of us have been taught bullying tactics disguised as responsive learner instructional practices and interventions. The infamous excessive drill and practice exercises are one of those instructional practices that we either experienced as a learner ourselves or were taught to use as a part of our teaching pedagogy. Acknowledging October as Dyslexia […]
Felicia Rutledge
Felicia Rutledge, Ph.D. serves as a Regional Multi-Tiered System of Supports Coordinator at the University of Nevada, Reno, supporting educators with the implementation of tiered supports. She is a special education consultant & coach. Her leadership began in the classroom over 10 years ago serving students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing and their families. Dr. Rutledge is an Edu-activist for wellness, Deaf Culture, learners with diverse needs, and healing-centered, culturally affirming, relevant cultures and climates. She is a devoted mother committed to learner achievement, supporting families, human talent development, and the implementation of systems that are rooted in equity, access, joy, brilliance, and liberation. She is also a Teach Plus Nevada Senior Policy Fellow and a Nevada Succeeds InspirEd Global Fellowship Alumna.
Posted inSpecial Education
7 Steps to College Success A Pathway for Students With Disabilities
As a special education teacher, I recently had the pleasure of reviewing Elizabeth C. Hamblet’s book, “7 Steps to College Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities” (2023). The book focuses on the transition from K-12 services to higher education services, providing a clear and concise guide to help students with disabilities navigate the process. […]
Posted inOpinion
Embracing Deaf Representation: Strategies for Fostering Inclusivity in Education
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Picture this: I once taught at a school that served preschool through fifth grade, including students who were Deaf or Hard of Hearing. But despite our efforts to create an inclusive learning environment, there was a noticeable lack of understanding […]
Posted inOpinion
Being a Black Woman in Special Education is Traumatic. But We Can Change That
Education: To work in special education is never an easy feat. However, “educating within special education as a Black Woman is downright traumatic.” I thought this recently as I stood in the classroom, recalling countless conversations I’d had with my special education colleagues. Black students are referred and assigned to special education restrictive programming at a […]
Posted inOpinion
Where Are All the Teachers of the Deaf?
Facing a Crisis for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students and the Profession Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Teachers continue to leave the educational profession at alarming rates – further exacerbating the teaching shortage in schools across the country. Under overwhelming teaching conditions, those who remain […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
I Just Want to Live and Teach
My Colleague and Friend is Immunocompromised Imagine wearing a mask for COVID-19 protection in school when everyone else has decided they are no longer needed. You wear protective latex gloves, your hands are dry, sore, and severely chapped from overwashing, and you fear for your life as you enter the classroom each day. Well, this […]
Posted inParents
We Need to Talk: Family Communication Strategies for Educators of Color
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Imagine being a Black Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, and a family member of a student walks in distrustful of you – without cause. Immediately they demand to know if you know American Sign Language (ASL), request your […]
Posted inOpinion
Where’s the System of Support for Educators of Color?
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! We often discuss multi-tiered systems of support for students but rarely discuss multi-tiered systems of support for educators. Currently, we have significant teaching vacancies throughout the nation. The need is even greater with regard to teachers of color – […]