“This is work that is going to be very impactful and educators are implementing immediately. I'm ecstatic about how staff is 'diving into the process' and their commitment to use in making the best decisions for students. This professional learning has been not only engaging, but very powerful and useful as districts make decisions on ELs. (Not just a 'sit and get' and then participants put on the shelf and never revisit.) Additionally, I'm grateful we have these follow-up sessions to revisit and clarify as the educators implement the process.”
AM, program coordinator
“When you sit through one of Steve’s Data Matrix trainings, it becomes extremely clear how much school districts have lacked the expertise and methods for carrying out referrals and evaluations on students who are English Language Learners. I personally learned more in the 2-hour session about English Language Learners than I ever did in graduate school or my own practice. His work is thorough, eye-opening, and most importantly, practical.”
AG, School Psychologist
“Your book is wonderful--a very much needed resource in an area of great need. Thanks for sending us a copy! Although we are not specialists in special education, we have done enough work with doctoral graduates who are bilingual special ed. experts to know that your book has a system for appropriate assessment that is very much more comprehensive than anything else we have seen to date. Wow, you have reached many educators in the state of Washington through this training and providing this book to them! And you can indeed be proud of your work, reducing the number of English learners assessed as needing special education services, across the state of Washington.”
VC, Professor, Researcher, Author
“Steve uses research based content and district data in his presentation with both care and humor. He is conscientious to both recognize the passion of educators, while working to move them forward in their practice of evaluating students from second language backgrounds. This is such an important topic for staff and Steve’s work is critical in helping to move our district forward in this area. The protocol that Steve has developed should be required of any team evaluating an ELL student for possible special education eligibility.”
KH, Asst. Director of Special Education
“Thank you so very much for sharing such a wonderful presentation with Eastmont and our neighbors. Your insight is so valuable to our advocacy for diverse learners. I’m looking forward to teaming with our Special Education department to ensure students are appropriately served. You’re responsible for bridging our services. What a huge benefit for our student! Your wit, knowledge, and expertise made for such a worthwhile experience for all of us. Thank You! We really appreciate your time and efforts.”
AD, ELL Director
“Hi, Steve. I can't thank you enough for such a great experience working with you. Beyond your knowledge, expertise, and the research base that you bring, you are so personal and engaging. Additionally, your communication has always been amazing and your willingness to assist with 'extra questions/support'. For example, when I inquired about your understanding with IEPs from Puerto Rico and you recommended having a phone conversation. Your willingness to follow-up with items, essentially 'beyond the contract' is refreshing. You have been the easiest presenter I have worked with and had the best communication. You truly are about the kids and helping educators be better at our work. We've had excellent feedback on the learning, implementation, and your presentation style. Thank you, thank you!!”
JW, Program coordinator
“Steve’s presentation was clear, concise and built on foundational principles of Special Education, Civil Rights, and the science of language learning and was immediately relevant to the real work that we do every day as school practitioners facing complicated questions. His training and material was the catalyst that launched our district on a path toward more informed interventions for culturally and linguistically diverse students.”
BC, Special Services Coordinator
“Dear …,
I wanted to write to you to tell you how invaluable Steve Gill’s training was for our District yesterday. He presented to 63 staff members who sit on our building Guidance Teams: Principals, Deans of Students, School Counselors, School Psychologists, and Speech/Language Pathologists. He presented for a full day on ELL and Special Education and then remained for extra time to offer examples and specific guidance for the process he has developed to our school psychologists. He was a compelling speaker, he easily engaged and held the attention of all of the participants. He cited research and used data throughout. He used our own District data to inform us about how we are addressing dually identified students (ELL/IDEA) in our District providing us a road map for improvement. I want to thank you for allowing Steve to bring this important knowledge and practice to other Districts.
Thanks so much, on behalf of our staff, and especially, our students.”
SW, Special Education Director
“I’m sorry it has taken me so long to thank you for your wonderful ELL Pre-referral Presentation for us here in Battle Ground. I have heard so many positive comments about your presentation and the protocol/matrix that you have created.
Everyone I spoke to, which included School Psychologists, Reading Specialists and ELL Specialists said they thought the protocol/matrix was the best they had ever seen and should be used for all students.
You presented such a wealth of information and made so many excellent comments! One thing I heard over and over was that everyone should have this training. They said they had gained valuable information that has changed how they view ELL students’ language abilities and how they would assess ELL students in the future.
You are providing such a valuable service to the districts around the state and to our ELL students and families. We really are lucky to have your expertise.
Thank you for making the effort to come to our district and share your vast knowledge on the ELL Pre-referral process for ELL students.”