What is your educational background?
I hold a B.A. from Friends University and am certified from kindergarten to ninth grade.

Other experiences, staff development that prepared you for inclusion.
When I chose to be part of the inclusion model at White, we had several inservices on teaming and the philosophy of the program. We had the opportunity to go to The University of Kansas and Emporia State University for further training. We also had the opportunity to present at several inservices which helped us put the pieces of the program together to share with others.

What is your job role?
I am a classroom teacher. I teach all of the students enrolled in my class, and am responsible for presenting the regular education curriculum.

What is your role regarding the inclusive component of the program?
I am responsible for getting my lesson plans to the other team members a week in advance, so that we have the opportunity to plan together. I implement adaptations as they need to occur in the classroom.

How has your role changed or have you adapted your role as it related to the inclusive program?
I feel that we reach more children because we are able to team teach. Lessons can be presented in whole groups, small groups, or one-on-one. I have other people to bounce ideas off of, and I have learned to share my space and children. I have learned to think as a team rather than as an individual.

What were you biggest concerns about participating in an inclusive program?
How would we (the adults) work together? How many children would I have? How do I do this?

What were your experiences related to these concerns once inclusive services were implemented?
I learned that working with others is wonderful! I can do more things in my classroom because I have support and help. The children truly belong to the class, and do more that I thought was possible.

What do you see as the benefits of moving toward inclusive services?
Children receive the biggest benefit. We can work with smaller groups to teach or reteach a lesson. The children help each other and accept each other as classmates. I enjoy being part of a team because I have the opportunity to brainstorm ideas, laugh with, problem solve, and build friendships with other professionals.

Can you offer one or more anecdotes that you feel illustrate the benefits of inclusion?
We were working on a class project with partners and I had paired a child with a special education label and another child. They were looking for words on a topic, and before I could show them how I wanted them to work together they had found a solution on their own. The child in special education was orally spelling the words while the other student was writing them down. It is this example and many other daily events that demonstrate the benefits of inclusion. Events such as, watching children learn to stay in line, use polite words, and learn to play a game that have been the rewards of the inclusion program.