In 1998, Dr. David Westling with the help of Dr. Karena Cooper-Duffy initiated a small program to help teachers use a collaborative approach to identify their problems and search for solutions. The program was designed to provide different types of assistance to special education teachers. Because of these initial efforts, Western Carolina University was awarded a three-year grant by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs to expand the program.
- The Teacher Support Program offers participants several support services including:
- Weekly collaborative problem solving/mutual teacher support (CPS/MTS) sessions
- On going electronic networking and communication through a TSP discussion forum
- Information and materials search conducted by project staff
- Online support through WebCAT course site
- Peer mentoring
- Participant designed staff development sessions
- On-site, in-class consultation and support (as requested) by project staff
- Weekly TSP services will be offered at varied locations plus on-line, allowing educators from all surrounding Western Carolina school districts to participate.
Take a look at us through the eyes of our participants.
Participants Comments:
The TSP has been enormously supportive through this trying year. The on-site visit in mid-year was the single most helpful assistance I could have received. I think that the program is only truly limited by each participant's ability to more thoroughly make use of it as a resource.K-8 Resource Teacher, Charter School