USD 265 Goddard Public Schools -

When parents see the lasting, positive impact that an educator has made in their child’s life, it can be emotional. Bonds are formed and connections are made when staff and families work together to help students learn. Great teachers reach far beyond simply accommodating a student's physical needs - it’s about creating a truly transformed environment in which each student can succeed. As students progress academically, Goddard teachers and staff know that their respective advancement socially, physically, emotionally, culturally, and intellectually is equally important. One thing that consistently moves students forward is embracing and encouraging a culture of collaboration within the classroom and school. 


Special Education teachers and staff across the District work collectively to meet the needs of students by creating connected and caring atmospheres. “All the staff strive to build positive relationships with students,” shared Traci Smith, Special Education teacher at Eisenhower Middle School (EMS). “My colleagues at EMS excel at providing differentiated instruction, as well as being a positive role model for their students.” While each student’s journey is unique, and their needs will shift along the course of their educational career, there are distinct opportunities along the way that allow parents and teachers to work together to meet each student where they are. Adjusting the curriculum and specific coursework to succeed in this endeavor requires a high level of care and commitment. “Since all students learn differently, I like to incorporate activities that support student’s unique learning style(s),” Smith said. “I also treat my classroom like a family and if someone in the ‘family’ is having a rough day, I encourage empathy and support.” Goddard Special Education teachers not only have the keen ability to keep students of all levels advancing toward their individual goals, but also how to encourage collaboration between peer groups of all abilities. 


Cultivating an inclusive environment, where learning can be collaborative and fun, while still meeting the individualized instructional needs of each student requires careful coordination. King Sanders, another Special Education teacher at EMS, shares his experience, “I like to focus on empowering students to develop their independence and sense of responsibility at school. I try to foster a sense of personal strength (grit, perseverance, etc.) when students are struggling. I encourage students to be aware of both their behavior and their academic performance.” In his fifth year of teaching in Goddard Public Schools, all spent in Special Education, Sanders noted that one of his favorite experiences is seeing students progress enough to graduate from their Individualized Education Program (IEP). “It is a proud moment when I am able to exit a student from Special Education services,” Sanders said. “The student has done all the work.”


Sanders also utilizes techniques and strategies from Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH), a social-emotional approach that aims to strengthen students’ connectedness to others by enhancing healthy bonds with teachers and establishing consistent rules of conduct. “The staff has always been focused on students,” he said. “But this new program gives us a structure to follow.” The CKH process assists schools in building a culture founded on relationships and focuses on five core indicators of school performance: increased student achievement, increased student attendance, decreased discipline referrals, increased graduation rates, and increased teacher satisfaction and retention. A few of the key routines and implementation practices of CKH include social contracts, good things, affirmations, daily greetings, and the EXCEL (Engage, X-plore, Communicate, Empower, Launch) teaching model.


The Goddard Special Education Cooperative (which includes Goddard, Clearwater, Cheney, and Conway Springs) provides targeted programming to meet students' specific specialized educational needs. From school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, social workers, occupational therapists, and physical therapists, there is a whole spectrum of education professionals ready to help students succeed. The Goddard Special Education Cooperative provides strategic and comprehensive resources and a rewarding experience for students who qualify. “Goddard has an excellent reputation for being a district with fantastic educators,” Smith said. Programming like Circle of Friends at EMS pairs students with more specialized needs with their peers and creates bonds that last a lifetime. Other services include the T.I.E.S. (Transition to Independence, Employment, and Success) program for adult interns in the 18-21 age range, which provides job readiness and skill-building. Whether at the earliest stages, the middle school level with instructors like Sanders or Smith, or at the upper levels within the walls of the high schools, our #265Family continues to grow and develop together towards the future. Sanders’ experience isn’t singular, which makes it all that much more rewarding: “It means everything to me to be part of a system that welcomes all staff and students from a variety of cultural backgrounds, and encourages success in all of its members.”