Behavior Assessment Training
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STEM Education Research Center
Pulliam Hall, Room 212
Mail Code 4630
475 Clocktower Drive
Carbondale, IL 62901
618-453-4216
stem@siu.edu
Main Content
The Special Education Behavior Assessment Training (BAT) project provides comprehensive, professional learning for special education personnel on culturally responsive Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) practices, Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs), and Positive Interventions and Behavior Supports for students across all grade levels through monthly webinars, regional workshops, an annual regional conference, technical assistance library including archived webinars and other materials and online training modules.
The BAT Project provides tiered professional development and technical assistance for school districts and special education cooperatives requesting assistance on FBAs, BIPS, and Positive Interventions and Behavioral Supports. Priority will be given to districts identified with a disproportionate rate of suspension and expulsion for students with disabilities. State-level guidelines are currently being developed, per 105 ILCS5/14-8.05, to address culturally responsive, evidence-based behavior interventions for students across all grade levels. This project is funded by the Illinois State Board of Education through an IDEA Part B Federal Grant.
- BAT Regions and Staff
- BAT Professional Learning Events
- Technical Assistance Library
- TATE Assessment
- IL Technical Adequacy Tools
- Slide Deck
- CEC International Division on Autism, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DADD) conference - 1/20/2023
- Illinois Council for Children with Behavior Disorders conference 2/4/23
- Council for Exceptional Children (2023) National Conference - 3/3/2023
- A+ Conference - 4/26/2023
- Illinois Special Education Director's Conference - 6/8/2023
- Illinois Council for Children (ILCEC) conference 11/4/2023
- CEC International Division on Autism, Intellectual Disability & Developmental Disabilities (DADD) conference 1/17/2024
- SELA Zoom at Noon series - 1/31/2024
- Illinois Technical Assistance Projects (ITAPS) virtual conference 10/11/24
- Illinois Council for Children (ILCEC) conference 11/16/2024
- Conference Information
- Guidance Document and Resources
- July 19, 2022: Letter from Secretary Cardona to Nation's Educators, School Leaders, Parents and Students About the Importance of Supporting the Needs of Students with Disabilities
- July 19, 2022 OSEP Dear Colleague Letter on Implementation of IDEA Discipline Provisions
- OSEP FAQ: Addressing the Needs of Children with Disabilities and IDEA's Discipline Provisions
- Positive, Proactive Approaches to Supporting the Needs of Children with Disabilities: A Guide for Stakeholders
- OCR 504 Discipline guidance
- OCR 504 Discipline Factsheet
- Prior Webinars and Conference Archive
- Part 1: Implicit Bias & Stereotype Awareness: Viewing student behavior through a personal lens
- Part 2: Evaluating Our Own Bias: Viewing student behavior through a contextual lens
- Part 3: Legal and Ethical Requirements of FBAs and BIPs: Viewing student behavior through a professional lens
- Part 4: Viewing student behavior through an action plan
- Glossary of Terms
- Part 1: Culturally Relevant Evidence-Based Behavior Interventions
- Part 2: Culturally responsive evidence-based FBAs
- Part 3: Culturally Responsive Evidence-Based BIPs
- Part 4: Expanding on Major Themes
- Glossary of Terms
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Topic 10
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Topic 11
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Topic 12
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Topic 13
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Topic 14
- Session 1: Introduction to the BAT Project
- Session 2: Overview of Topic #1: Implicit Bias
- Session 3: Overview of Topic #2: Culturally Responsive Evidence-Based FBAs & BIPs
- Session 4: Overview of Topic #3: Collaborating with Family, Staff, & Community Members
- Session 5: Special Topics
- Session 1: BCBA Panel
- Session 2: K-12 Panel
- Session 3: The Impact of the BAT Project and Freeport School District #140
- Session 1: FBA Data Collection to BIP Translation
- Session 2: Troubleshooting Reinforcement
- Session 3: The TATE Assessment
- Meet the BAT Team
- Dr. Daniel Brown is a dedicated educator with extensive experience in P-12 administration, student assessment, curriculum development, and instructional leadership. His commitment to advancing STEM education is evident through his leadership role at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale's STEM Education Research Center (SERC), where he manages key initiatives aimed at enhancing STEM learning opportunities for students. Dr. Brown has played a pivotal role in designing and managing large-scale education projects, including behavior assessment training programs for special education and the development of high-quality science assessments. His passion for improving student outcomes is reflected in his innovative approaches to integrating technology, data analysis, and hands-on learning into the educational process.
- For a decade, Michelle Connet dedicated herself to teaching special education from kindergarten through 12th grade. She served as principal for three years in a separate public day school. In 2022, Michelle took on a new challenge as the project coordinator for the BAT Project. Her commitment to education extends beyond the classroom; she is a a former school board member and an active member of several prestigious organizations, including the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders (CCBD), and the Division of Autism and Developmental Disabilities (DADD). Additionally, she contributes her expertise to the Towards Ending School Exclusion (TESE) Advisory Council, demonstrating her unwavering dedication to improving educational outcomes for all students.
- Michelle earned a Bachelor of Arts from Carroll University, an alternative certification in Special Education from Southern Illinois University, and Master of Education in Elementary Administration from William Woods University. She currently is licensed as a LBS1 and General Administrative. Michelle has begun her course sequence to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) from Southern Illinois University.
- Contact information: michelle.connet@siu.edu
- Dr. Louise Yoho is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education located at Southern Illinois University. Dr. Yoho areas of interests are behavior, secondary and postsecondary students with disabilities, policies and practices that impact on educational access and access. She earned her Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University.
- Contact information: louise.yoho@siu.edu
- Dr. Deborah Bruns is a Professor and Program Coordinator in the School of Education located at Southern Illinois University. Dr. Bruns earned her Ph.D from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Bruns' area of interests are effective practices in early childhood special education, addressing feeding difficulties in young children, and developing a profile of care and interventions for children with low incidence trisomy conditions including trisomy 18, trisomy 13, and trisomy 9.
- Contact information: dabruns@siu.edu
- Meet the BAT Regional Specialists
- Joseph Thoma has worked with teachers and students across the curriculum landscape for almost three decades. He has spent his career trying to find ways to support the needs of all students. He has served in many leadership roles including assistant principal at a large middle school, behavior interventionist coordinator at a special education cooperative, and high school teacher. As a teacher, he taught advanced placement, conflict resolution, and social studies. He developed a mentoring program to support the needs of students with disabilities and at-risk students. Joe has worked with teachers providing professional development in the areas of PBIS, crisis prevention, and restorative practices.
- Joe earned his B.S. in Social Studies Education, his M.S. in Special Education, and his post masters K-12 Principal License from Indiana State University. He is really excited to work with educators across Illinois.
- Contact information: BATregion2@siu.edu
- Paula comes to the BAT project with a multitude of experiences spanning over two decades in the special education field. Her career began in a dual role as a TMH classroom paraprofessional and as a 1:1 aide for a general education student with Asperger's Syndrome. These experiences across the special education continuum, among many others, led to a self-contained LIFE (Learning in Functional Environments) classroom within a special education cooperative, where she taught students with autism, multiple disabilities, and behaviors. Working predominantly with nonverbal students in this role, Paula always advocated to 'meet students where they are not where we think they should be'. Additionally, she was the Administrator of three Esser Grant programs for both ED and LIFE student populations.
- Paula holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from MacMurray College in Jacksonville; an LBS1 endorsement from the University of St. Francis in Joliet; and earned her Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Administrative certification from the University of Illinois at Springfield.
- Contact information: BATregion3@siu.edu
- Cassie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and former Special Education teacher. She is committed to accepting and supporting students who could benefit from learning new skills in the social emotional domain, those who need skills and practice interacting with others, and those with deficits in executive functioning. Cassie is a strong support of inclusive education all students to their own greatest extent possible by meeting students where they are, adjusting instructional methods, removing barriers, and providing supports. Her role as a BCBA has allowed her to share her knowledge of behavior analytic principles with teachers and other school staff in order to improve their competency and ability to manage their classroom environment for the benefit of all students. She has trained paraprofessionals to become certified as Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), nationally certified professionals, and mentored and supervised those paraprofessionals in the school setting to improve their capacity to support students in the classroom. She is familiar with special education law and has led collaborative teams through the evaluative process into maintenance and ongoing support of a student's IEP.
- Cassie earned her B.S. in Organization Leadership at Greenville University, her M.Ed. and teaching licensure in Special Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and will complete her post-masters education in K-12 principal licensure and director of special education certification from Eastern Illinois University in 2025.
- Contact information: BATregion4@siu.edu
- Jerrah Henson is a highly accomplished educational leader with a diverse background in teaching and administration. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Illinois State University in 2021, following advanced degrees from Eastern Illinois University, including a Specialist in Education and a Masters of Science in Education, both in Educational Administration. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Education, specializing in Special Education.
- Dr. Henson has demonstrated a commitment to professional development throughout her career. Notably, she served as a Teaching Assistant in Leadership for Social Justice at Illinois State University, where she co-instructed and planned content activities, providing valuable feedback to students. Her administrative experience includes roles such as Elementary Principal and Director of Special Education, where she facilitated school improvement processes, data analysis, and the creation of inclusive environments for students with special needs. Dr. Henson's leadership and dedication have been recognized with awards such as the 2018 Rising Star Leadership Award from the EIU Alumni Association and model classroom recognitions in 2005 and 2007.
- Her extensive work history includes positions such as a Yoga Educator, various teaching, and administrative roles in elementary setting throughout the southern region of Illinois. Dr. Henson has been active in presenting at state conferences on topics like PBIS and co-teaching, and she has contributed to cognitive guided math instruction initiatives.
- Contact information: BATregion5@siu.edu
- Meet the BAT Limited Content Writers
- Although Angie is an early career special education teacher, her career in education began several years ago as a paraprofessional. She has supported students within a separate public day school and in a classroom embedded in a district school. Angie is deeply passionate about understanding how childhood trauma affects education. She is committed to exploring how these experiences can help students and teachers develop positive "survival" qualities that enhance our educational journey.
- Bachelor of Science - Special Education from Southern Illinois University. Angie has begun her coursework in the Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction program with an emphasis on teacher leadership at Southern Illinois University.
- Kim recently retired as an administrator, capping off a successful 35-year career in special education. Her decades of experience touched on nearly every area of this field and included frequent collaboration with general education staff and administrators. Her specific roles included, but were not limited to, teaching students with moderate to severe disabilities; supervising special education staff and programs for member districts in a special education cooperative; and administering low incidence special education programs (Early Childhood and LIFE), as well as three other departments (Supervisors, Developmental Screening, and Diagnostic Clinic) within the same cooperative. Kim's career has been found by a passion and motivation for instruction that ensures all students' needs are met within the classroom and consistent support for students and programs from all areas of need, including concentrations in autism, multiple disabilities, and behavior. She lose forward to sharing her experiences and knowledge with the BAT team for a second year and to continue to support these students and programs across the state.
- Bachelor of Science in Special Education-Illinois State University. Master of Science in Educational Leadership - University of Illinois - Springfield
- Currently, Aaren is a Kindergarten-2nd grade Special Education teacher. Prior to teaching, Aaren gained 10 years of experience in a special education classroom as a classroom paraprofessional for a school at an in-patient treatment facility for at-risk youth. This work provided experience with a wide variety of behaviors in the classroom stemming from social-emotional needs. Aaren has worked with students who are non-verbal, exhibit self-harm behaviors, physically aggressive, and have been unsuccessful within the general education environment. She is also a parent of a child who qualified for special education services from kindergarten through graduation which offers a unique perspective from both sides of the IEP meeting table. One of Aaren's interests is the importance of data collection in the IEP writing process and writing inclusive goals for Behavior Intervention Plans to include students with disabilities in school-wide incentive programming. Aaren is serving her first term as a school board member in her local school district.
- Bachelor of Arts in English from University of Illinois-Springfield, Master of Education-Special Education from Grand Canyon University.
BAT Regional Offices of Education (ROEs) and Regional Specialists |
|||
Region | Regional Offices of Education (ROEs) | Regional Specialist |
Email Contact |
1 | 8, 4, 47, 49, 28, 33, 48 | TBA | TBA |
2 | 44, 34, 16, 31, 19, Cook, 56, 24, 35, 32 | Joe Thoma | BATregion2@siu.edu |
3 | 26, 1, 51, 40, 41, 53 | Paula Stewart | BATregion3@siu.edu |
4 | 17, 39, 9, 54, 11, 3 | Cassie McConkey | BATregion4@siu.edu |
5 | 12, 13, 50, 45, 30, 21, 20 | Jerrah Henson | BATregion5@siu.edu |
BAT Regional Offices in Illinois |
BAT Professional Learning Events
Examples of Behavioral Interventions Across the Continuum
Positive Behavioral Supports and Interventions
Positive Behavioral Supports and Interventions are prevention strategies and are preferred because of the low rise of negative side effects, and the high priority placed on teaching behavior opposed to managing and controlling behavior. They may be used without the development of a written behavioral intervention plan and without documentation in the individualized education program (IEP).
Reactive Nonrestrictive Interventions
Reactive nonrestrictive interventions assist in supporting behaviors and in preventing escalation of inappropriate behaviors.
Differential Reinforcement | Extinction | Non-Contingent Reinforcement (NCR) | Redirection | Overcorrection |
Escape Task | Planned Ignoring | Satiation | Response-Cost |
Highly Restrictive Intervention
Highly restrictive interventions are permitted in schools only to maintain a safe and orderly learning environment and should be used only when necessary to ensure the safety of students and others. These interventions should not be used as a form of punishment for individual students. For further information, please see ISBE Restraint and Time Out and ISBE Discipline.
Expulsion | Time Out | Isolated Time Out | Physical Restraint |
Examples of Data Collection
Examples of Technical Adequacy Tools
Online Resources
Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)
IL Technical Assistance Projects
Council for Exceptional Children
National Center on Intensive Intervention
Outside Conferences
2024 Conference - Stay Tuned!
Behavioral Interventions in Schools: Guidelines for Development of District Policies for Students with Disabilities - Coming soon!
Companion Handbook: Evidence-Based Culturally Responsive Behavior Interventions and Practices for Students with Disabilities - Coming soon!
Resources:
Video Library of All BAT Video Recordings
Prior Webinar Slide Decks and Supporting Documents
Topic 1: Implicit Bias
Topic 2: Culturally Relevant Behavior Interventions, FBAs, & BIPS
Topic 3: Restorative Practice: Building a Restorative Leadership Vision through Challenging Times
Topic 4: Staff, Community & Family Collaboration to Address Implicit Bias
Topic 5: Impact of Trauma and Other Adverse Circumstances
Topic 6: The Impact of Significant Behavioral Needs on the FBA/BIP Process
Topic 7: Review of FBA & BIP Best Practices and Replacement Behavior
Topic 8: Culturally Responsive Data Collection
Topic 9: Implementation Fidelity
Topic 10: Recommendations for Implementing Evidence-Based and Culturally Responsive FBAs and BIPs
Topic 11: Early Childhood through Multiple Lenses
Topic 12: A Rock and a Rug: Restorative Practices and its use throughout the K-12 Educational Experience
Topic 13: Early Development and Challenging Behavior
Topic 14: Internal States and Dysregulation within Early Childhood
Prior Conference Slide Decks and Supporting Materials
2023 Autumn Special Education Behavior Assessment Training Project Conference
2022 Fall Conference (November 29 - December 1, 2022)
Day 1 Slide Decks & FAQs
Day 2 Slide Decks & FAQs
Day 3 Slide Decks & FAQs
Behavior Assessment Training Project Manager
Dr. Daniel L Brown
Contact information: daniel.l.brown@siu.edu
Michelle Connet
Behavior Assessment Training Content Experts
Dr. Louise Yoho
Dr. Deborah Bruns
Regional Specialists
Region 1
TBA
Region 2
Joseph Thoma
Region 3
Paula Stewart
Region 4
Cassie McConkey
Region 5
Dr. Jerrah Henson
Limited Content Writers
Angie Hargrave
Kim Nelson
Aaren Ruten
Upcoming Events:
Webinars: 3rd Wednesday of each month from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM (Central) via Go To Webinar. Free!
- 9/18/24: Topic 12: A Rock and a Rug: Restorative Practices and its use throughout the K-12 Educational Experience (2 HOURS)
- 10/16/24: Topic 13: Early Development and Challenging Behavior (1.5 Hours)
- 11/20/24: Topic 14: Internal States and Dysregulation within Early Childhood (1.5 Hours)
- 1/15/25: Topic 15: Implementing SEL within FBA and BIP Best Practices (1.5 Hours)
- 2/19/25: Topic 16: Practical Ways to Combat Exclusionary Discipline (1.5 Hours)
- 3/19/25: Topic 17: Disrupting the Escalation Cycle for Challenging Behaviors for Students with Disabilities (1.5 Hours)
- 4/16/25: Topic 18: Practical Tips for Data Collection: Strategies for School-Based Professionals (1.5 Hours)
- 5/21/25: Topic 19: Mastering the Essentials: A Comprehensive Review of the New ISBE Guidance Document for the Development of District Policies and the Companion Document on Evidence-Based Culturally Responsive Behavior Interventions and Practices (1.5 Hours)
Online Learning