Other Training Supports
1) The Fine Art of Competitive Grant Writing:
Melinda Jennis received certification as a grant writer through County College of Morris and has achieved great success in writing grants that have increased funding not only to Pathways but to both Montville Township Recreation and School District. She has written grants and received funding from state departments and from both corporate and private foundations. The class will cover how to access and do searches to identify grant opportunities. It will detail how to write grants through understanding strategies, research, and outreach to grantors that will ultimately cultivate winning grants and producing outcomes. Melinda will also discuss various fundraising, ranging from small school district projects to large-scale events. ($25 per person with class limit 15 people)
2) What School Districts Should Know About Parents of Children with Special Needs:
Pathways for Exceptional Children has worked hard to get a panel of parents together to speak about life at home and what it is like living day to day with a child with special needs in the family. They will discuss the changes in family dynamics, the pressures on marriage and other relationships, and how siblings are affected. The parents will discuss strategies school districts can use to collaborate more with parents. The parent panel will share ways to improve communication, instill a better understanding of the IEP process, and provide positive but realistic explanations of evaluations. Some people on the panel have been very influential parent leaders and advocates for disability in their towns, schools and across the state and will discuss ways to promote parental involvement that can help achieve greater success and inclusion of children with special needs. ($200 for 2 hours - limit 25 participants)
