Audryn Damron, NBCT

Granite School District • B.S./M.A. Special Education • Hope Street UT Teacher Fellow 2021-2023

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

USEAP also enjoyed a guest speaker from the state of Washington. Washington used to be at the bottom for inclusion with sped Ss, but has made intentional changes and is seeing progress! @UTBoardofEd

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

Meeting with my USEAP group today and we discussed ELA and Math state testing proficiency scores for 9th/10th graders with IEPs. Considering I teach 9th/10th grade resource math, this was interesting! 3-4% of sped Ss are proficient. Data is available online. @UTBoardofEd

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

@mrstowner9 @9thEvermore @DaniKSloan @sassmasterkmb @Coach_Rarick Running for State School Board was one of the most vulnerable things I’ve ever done, but changed me as a human and educator. Today I took my students on a field trip to the Capitol. I hugged legislators who have become friends and introduced my students to wonderful people.

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

@HSG_UT @DicksonSyd @tabitha_pacheco @9thEvermore They ARE the best!!

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I had plenty of leadership opportunities in my school, but I eventually grew out of them and wanted more. A huge barrier is lack of knowledge and confidence in what our teacher leadership options are. #utedchat

[Teacher Fellows @HSG_UT]

Question 4: What are some barriers to teacher leadership?

Time? Compensation? Imposter syndrome? How do you overcome them? #utedchat

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

@KBeddes It’s amazing what happens when teachers are helped into leadership. Programs like @HSG_UT help so much with educating and building confidence in teachers. This program changed my career.

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

@mr_seabiscuit I have always admired your ability to connect with legislators- and bringing them to your classroom and the education world!

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

You can talk to your administration and ask for opportunities in your school. You can attend school board meetings, Educator Day on the Hill, etc to get involved in policy. You can join your local teacher association. You can mentor other teachers. So many options! #utedchat

[Teacher Fellows @HSG_UT]

Question 2: How does one start being a teacher leader? How do you embody it within and beyond your classroom? #utedchat

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

Teacher leadership is working in the classroom AND leading others (throat mentoring, coaching, policy, example, etc.) There’s a whole Teacher Leadership document written by @HSG_UT with six great examples of leadership opportunities for teachers. #utedchat

[Teacher Fellows @HSG_UT]

Question 1: What does teacher leadership mean to you? Why does it matter? #utedchat

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

Ask yourself these questions regarding how you conduct test corrections:
How does it demonstrate understanding?
How is learning recorded?
What challenges do you anticipate? What ways are these benefiting the diversity of students.

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

Breakout Session 3️⃣: Test Corrections.

We started with some questions: How are we being culturally relevant in our tests? How are our tests failing us (content, language, stereotypes, representation, etc)?

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

There are ways to do test corrections that are more inclusive: traditional, project, interview.

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

Accessibility Solution: Spoken Math (this is something I want to look into more).

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

Breakout Session 2️⃣ Accessible Math (for Ss w/vision impairment). “Vision impairment is a spectrum” disorder.

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

Accessibility Solutions. Understand WHAT they see, WHERE they can see it, and HOW they access it.

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

The barriers for learning math as a Vision Impaired/Blind S are extensive.

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

If a student with a vision impairment often wears a hat, they could be protecting from light glare. Some students with vision challenges struggle reading black on white. Ask the S what their contrast needs are.

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

What separates Ss with vision impairments from the rest of the disability arenas is that they miss out on incidental learning. Explicit instruction really helps with incidental learning.

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

*Most deaf/blind students are not fully both - one of the senses is stronger.

[Audryn Damron, NBCT @audryn_d]

@TeacherWinters always knows how to bring the #ucet hype!! @ucet is in March this year. Check out his booth and see if you can get a selfie and learn more about this year’s upcoming conference.