Episodes

  • Inclusive Leadership in Practice: Part 3
    Nov 10 2025

    Featuring: Natalie Doyle, Katie Madigan, & Shonda Ronen


    This is the third and final episode in a three-part series on inclusion and leadership. This series covered topics such as: getting started in inclusion, maintaining staff-inclusive beliefs, and how to keep the inclusive culture thriving in schools when changes occur. This third episode will focus on how to keep the inclusive culture thriving in schools when changes occur, with insights from professionals in positions of leadership in the early childhood field.


    Resources: STAR NET and Early CHOICES

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    26 mins
  • Inclusive Leadership in Practice: Part 2
    Oct 15 2025

    Featuring: Natalie Doyle, Katie Madigan, & Shonda Ronen


    This is the second episode in a three-part series on inclusion and leadership. This series will cover topics such as: getting started in inclusion, maintaining staff-inclusive beliefs, and how to keep the inclusive culture thriving in schools when changes occur. This second episode will focus on maintaining staff-inclusive beliefs, with insights from professionals in positions of leadership in the early childhood field.


    Resources: STAR NET

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    35 mins
  • Inclusive Leadership in Practice: Part I
    Sep 15 2025

    Featuring: Natalie Doyle, Katie Madigan, & Shonda Ronen


    This is the first episode in a three-part series on inclusion and leadership. This series will cover topics such as: getting started in inclusion, maintaining staff-inclusive beliefs, and how to keep the inclusive culture thriving in schools when changes occur. This first episode will focus on getting started in inclusion, with insights from professionals in positions of leadership in the early childhood field.


    Resources: STAR NET, Early CHOICES, CARA’s Kit


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    44 mins
  • A Conversation About Selective Mutism
    Sep 8 2025

    Featuring: Kathy Slattery, Megan Carlson, and Nikki Norman

    In this episode our conversation is on the topic of Selective Mutism. There is a wide range of information in this podcast about Selective Mutism as our guests share stories of their journeys learning about SM as professionals and family members. Below is a list of resources discussed in the podcast and on the topic.


    Resources

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    58 mins
  • A Discussion about the Illinois Resource Guide for Early Childhood Collaborative Itinerant Teaching Model
    Sep 1 2025

    Welcome back to the STAR NET Regions I & III Podcast. I’m Bridget Meis, an Early Childhood Special Education Professional Development Specialist. Joining me today is Kristy Doan from the Illinois State Board of Education. Today, we are going to talk about what the itinerant model looks like when related service providers embed services into the classroom setting and community based settings.

    Resources:

    Advancing Preschool Inclusion in Community Based Early Childhood Education Programs

    Policy Statement on Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs

    Dinnebeil, L.A., McInerney, W.F. (2011). A guide to itinerant early childhood special education services. Baltimore, MD: Paul H Brooks Publishing Co

    Dinnebeil, L. A., Weber, G., & McInerney, W. F. (2019). The challenges of itinerant early childhood special education: The perspectives of practitioners. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, 11(1), 18–30. https:// doi. org/ 10. 20489/intje cse. 583501 http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2012.03.001

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    24 mins
  • Supporting Children with Visual Impairments
    Aug 18 2025

    In this podcast, we will speak with Allyssa Harpist, a teacher for students with visual impairments in the Urbana School District 116, and Hong Phangia Dewald, PhD, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, about strategies that can be implemented for children with visual impairments in inclusive early childhood classrooms.

    Resources:

    Teaching Students with Visual Impairments

    ISVI Opening Doors

    Family Connect

    Seedlings

    Perkins School for the Blind

    Paths to Literacy

    Hadley

    American Foundation for the Blind

    Exceptional Teaching Aids

    Independent Living Aids

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • AI: Friend or Foe
    Aug 4 2025

    In this episode, we discuss the use of AI in preschool classrooms. We highlight some of the different tools out there, such as Large Language Models (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc) and MagicSchool.ai. We discuss ways to use these tools to support lesson planning, classroom environments, IEP development, BIP development, and writing Social Stories. Take a look at the resources listed below to see examples.


    Resources

    Beginning of the Year Lesson Plan with Paraeducator Guide

    Fire Drill Social Story - Text only

    Planning Based on Classroom Picture of Materials

    Preschool Teacher Persona Template

    AI Can Save Teachers Time and Stress.

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    12 mins
  • Starting a New Itinerant Position in Pre-K
    Jul 21 2025

    In this episode, we will discuss how Tania Swigart, a preschool itinerant teacher from Rantoul City Schools, transitioned into her new role within the district and what her daily interactions are like while pushing into the classroom to support students.

    Resource

    Resource Guide for Early Childhood Collaborative Itinerant Teaching Model

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    22 mins