PD Provider: Smooth Sailing Professional Development Program - UMass Boston

Contact Information
Smooth Sailing Professional Development Program - UMass Boston 100 William T. Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125 Abbey Eisenhower Professor and Principal Investigator abbey.eisenhower@umb.edu Phone:617-287-6334 https://smoothsailingstudy.org/

Provider Details
Organization Type(s):	Institution of Higher Education
PD Format(s):	Course, Mentoring/Coaching
Audience(s) serviced:	Teachers
PD mode(s) of interaction available:	Online
# of PD in an average year:	10 events or fewer
Years of experience providing PD in MA:	0-5 years

Brief Description of Services
Smooth Sailing is an online professional development program, funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, aimed at helping K-2nd grade general education teachers enhance their skills for supporting autistic students. The program offers strategies to develop positive relationships with autistic students and their families. The UMass Boston program creators collaborated with teachers in districts across Massachusetts to develop this program. Enrollment is open to K-2nd grade general education teachers who have a student diagnosed with autism or suspected autism in their class during the school year in which they plan to participate. The fully remote, 6-week program includes weekly completion of online modules (1 hr/wk), three individual meetings with a coach via Zoom in addition to ongoing coach support, and in-class practice of strategies with one student on the autism spectrum and their family. Teachers complete three brief survey packets. Recruitment is ongoing; enrolled teachers will be randomly assigned to receive the 4-week program in either Fall or Spring of the school year. Parent consent from the identified autistic student is required and is obtained by program staff. In addition to PDP credits, teachers receive $300 for participation and survey completion.

Brief Description of Services

Smooth Sailing is an online professional development program, funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, aimed at helping K-2nd grade general education teachers enhance their skills for supporting autistic students. The program offers strategies to develop positive relationships with autistic students and their families. The UMass Boston program creators collaborated with teachers in districts across Massachusetts to develop this program. Enrollment is open to K-2nd grade general education teachers who have a student diagnosed with autism or suspected autism in their class during the school year in which they plan to participate. The fully remote, 6-week program includes weekly completion of online modules (1 hr/wk), three individual meetings with a coach via Zoom in addition to ongoing coach support, and in-class practice of strategies with one student on the autism spectrum and their family. Teachers complete three brief survey packets. Recruitment is ongoing; enrolled teachers will be randomly assigned to receive the 4-week program in either Fall or Spring of the school year. Parent consent from the identified autistic student is required and is obtained by program staff. In addition to PDP credits, teachers receive $300 for participation and survey completion.

Content Area(s)

Content Category	Details	Grade Levels	Educator Evaluation Standards
Special Education-General	Disability Related Topics; Evidence-based Best Practice; Family and Community Engagement	Lower Elementary (Pre-K, K, 1, 2)	T-I: Curriculum, Planning, and Assessment T-II: Teaching All Students

References

Type	Name
An Individual	Principal from Duxbury School District
An Individual	Principal from Medway School District
Educational Collaborative	Jumpstart
An Individual	Rebecca Alexander, Transitional Kindergarten teacher at Sycamore Hills Elementary

Regions Served

Berkshires	Central	Greater Boston	Northeast
Pioneer Valley	Southeast

Last Updated: March 1, 2015