What is your educational background?

I hold a degree in Community Nutrition and Health from Kansas State University and am currently working on my Master's Degree in Early Childhood Special Education at the University of Kansas. I hold certification in American Montessori Society (AMS).

What other experiences, or staff development has prepared you for inclusion?

I have worked as a head teacher for seven years, teaching preschoolers with a wide variety of needs. I have received so much support from our special education coordinator, a variety of therapists and support staff. The support has been crucial in my awareness of children and their special needs. My experiences with inclusion over the years have made me a stronger, more passionate, Montessori teacher. Prior to completing my Montessori Internship at Raintree, I worked a year and a half as an assistant in a full inclusion classroom at Raintree. I gained an immense amount of knowledge and experience about inclusion during this time period. Inclusion had been a very rewarding experience for me.

What is your job role?

I teach in a 21/2 to 6 year-old classroom full of children with a variety of special needs. I also continually train assistants, support staff and practicum students working in my classroom.

What is your role regarding the inclusive component of the program?

I teach children from 2 1/2 to 6, including several children with disabilities. I help train practicum students, and am involved in the IEP process as a team member for children in my class with disabilities.

How has your role changed or have you adapted your role as it related to the inclusive program?

My role in our inclusion program has not changed much, but I am currently more knowledgeable about inclusion and I'm more confident about my teaching and educating the public about the Montessori philosophy. Over the past several years, I have received the opportunity to read our practicum students journals. This has been so helpful to me as a classroom teacher.

What were you biggest concerns about participating in an inclusive program?

Some of my concerns were educating new staff about Montessori philosophy, positioning, and handling issues with a child and would I hurt this child by lifting him wrong. I was also worried about working with therapists in my classroom.

What were your experiences related to these concerns once inclusive services were implemented?

By keeping a flexible, open minded, positive attitude, my concerns were quickly turned into very positive and educative experiences. I have said before and will say again, my experiences of working in an inclusive setting has made me a stronger, better teacher for all children.

What do you see as the benefits of moving toward inclusive services?

I think inclusive classrooms turn teachers into better teachers. It forces you to look at individual needs. I think in inclusion, there is much knowledge to learn from therapists and support staff. It is helpful to get another person's view point or experiences related to early childhood special education issues. I think inclusion is a very beneficial experience for typically developing children. It teaches children that all people have value and can be contributing members of society.

Can you offer one or more anecdotes that you feel illustrate the benefits of inclusion?

I remember when "L," who has cerebral palsy, was invited to her first birthday party by a friend at Raintree. Her mother cried...