SPED Leader Cohort

Welcome back to the 2026–2027 school year, everyone!

For those who are new to the cohort, I’m Kaci Coats. I’m a special education teacher and leader who has worked in Colorado’s charter sector for more than 20 years, and I have the pleasure of facilitating the League’s Special Education Leader Cohort again this year!

Whether you are a special education lead, coordinator, director, related service provider, or administrator overseeing student services or special education programming at your school, this cohort is designed to be a valuable support system throughout the year. Together, we’ll focus on building strong, sustainable special education programs while also creating a trusted community of thought partners who can help one another navigate the complex cases and challenges that inevitably arise.

I can’t wait to see everyone at our first meeting this Thursday, September 17, from 9:30–10:30 a.m. MDT.
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88415827413
Our First Topic: Leading with Vision — Building Your School’s Special Education Foundation
We’ll start the year by looking at why strong special education leadership matters more than ever in today’s charter landscape. We’ll consider some of the legal, political, and systemic pressures facing charter schools—from OCR complaints and reports about special education access and outcomes to broader scrutiny of charter schools—and discuss why having a clear vision for special education is foundational to building a sustainable, high-quality program.

By the end of our time together, you will have:
A special education vision statement aligned with your school’s mission and model
Greater clarity about where your school’s model may need to flex to meet the needs of students with disabilities
A sharper understanding of your role as a leader in defining, prioritizing, and strengthening special education programming
If your school already has a mission-aligned special education vision statement, please bring it with you! It would be wonderful to have some strong examples from the field that we can learn from together.

I’m looking forward to reconnecting with returning members, welcoming new leaders into the group, and building a strong community together this year.
Please reach out anytime if you have questions or need support. I’m excited to get started!
Kaci Coats
[email protected]

Created: September 15, 2026 10:09:32 AM