Thank you for your interest in the West Tennessee Special Education Conference. The various conference committees are working tirelessly to ensure that participants will be provided with a positive and productive professional development conference experience. As more activities and sessions are planned, we will post them here. Check back soon for updates.
Conference Highlights
This year’s theme is PBIS: Plan Before It Starts.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Terry Scott
Dr. Terry Scott is a Professor and Distinguished University Scholar at the University of Louisville where he directs the Center for Academic and Behavior Research. Terry M. Scott, PhD, began his special education career as a counselor in a residential treatment center adjudicated adolescent boys. After receiving his master’s degree in special education he taught in self-contained classrooms and directed public school programs for students with emotional and behavioral disorders.
Terry has authored more than 70 published articles, book chapters, and training media in the areas of behavioral disorders and behavioral support systems and is a past editor of the professional journal Beyond Behavior. In 2004, he received the Distinguished Early Career Award from the Research Division of the International Council for Exceptional Children. His main research interests are related to students with challenging behavior, with special focus on school-wide prevention, effective instruction, functional behavior assessment, and effective classroom and behavior management.
Entertainment (Thursday, September 17)
Shelby County Schools students from Oak Forest Elementary School and Colonial Middle School.
Lunch Speaker (Thursday, September 18)
JOEY HASSELL, Assistant Commissioner of Special Populations, TDOE
Joey Hassell is a graduate of Gibson County High School in Dyer, Tennessee. He went on to complete his bachelor's degree in special education from Lambuth University and his master's degree in educational leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University. He has also completed coursework toward his education specialist degree in curriculum and instruction from Tennessee State University and served as a 2008 Summer Fellow through Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of Education and Human Development.
Mr. Hassell taught students in pre-k through 12th grades in the Jackson-Madison County and Lauderdale County school districts. He has served in principal and superintendent roles in Lake County Schools as well as superintendent in Lauderdale County Schools. He is currently the Assistant Commissioner of Special Populations for the Tennessee Department of Education.
Mr. Hassell will share news and updates from the Tennessee Department of Education.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions
The West Tennessee Special Education Conference offers attendees many exciting, informative and engaging concurrent sessions from which to choose. Educators, innovators and service providers from all over West Tennessee will be offering a wide array of topics related to special education.
