Each year, Ivymount staff pause for a special event that celebrates innovation, collaboration, and the pursuit of excellence in special education—the IvyShares Fair. This annual showcase provides a platform for staff to present the results to each other of research and curriculum development projects they’ve worked on for one or more years.
At the heart of this event are the IvyShares Fellowships , made possible through Ivymount’s Investing in Excellence Initiative. IvyShares empowers staff by providing them with the resources needed to bring their ideas to life. Whether it’s developing inclusive curricula, evaluating interventions, or sharing best practices across programs, IvyShares supports staff in making a meaningful impact both within Ivymount and in the broader field of special education.
The initiative is a key component of Ivymount’s Professional Collaborative, a learning platform designed to foster effective services, build connections, and grow the education community. Since its inception, IvyShares has awarded fellowships to 500 staff members, reinforcing Ivymount’s reputation as a nationally recognized leader in special education.
This year, ten IvyShares projects are currently in progress, each reflecting the creativity, dedication, and expertise of Ivymount’s educators and specialists. From culturally responsive education to adaptive health curricula and career exploration, these projects address a wide range of student needs and educational goals.
These fellowships not only elevate the quality of services provided but also inspire staff to pursue excellence and innovation in their work, to make even more of a difference in the lives of students and families.
Current IvyShares Projects:
- Jordan Clinkenbeard – Social Justice Curriculum
- Adnellys Perez Rodriguez – Culturally Responsive Education Group
- Eli Kolker – LGBTQ+ Adaptive and Inclusive Health
- Michael Stromberg – School-based Intervention for Students with Anxiety and Intellectual Disability
- Valeria Cogliani – Graduate Binder Project
- Skylar Paulik, Marisa Welsh, Heather Jennett, Lynn Cannon – Assessing and Teaching Learning Behaviors to Early Elementary Students to Enhance Classroom Management
- Lisa, Rebecca, Sara, Lynn Cannon – Dramatic Play
- Chris Jones, Brok Hess – Interactive Teacher Training
- Mandy Kousen, Brok Hess – A Calculated Comparison: A Comparison of Calculator Modalities to Determine Usage and Accuracy Given Mathematical Problems
- Maya Lewis – Career Exploration
