Tonya Barnes will begin duties as Director of Special Education for $234 on July 1.
Barnes was in District leadership; Emporia State University in 2015; Build level leadership; Emporia State University, 2010; Master of Science degree; Specialization: Special Education, K-12 Conduct Disorders; Emporia State University, 1997; And he got bachelor of science; Specialization: primary education; Pittsburgh State University, 1988.
She is the current Director of Special Education for $282, $283, and $286 Special Services Cooperative for Chautauqua and Elk Counties, since 2018.
She was the Director of Special Education from 2015 to 2018 for the Coffee County Special Education Cooperative.
Between 2012 and 2015 she was the Special Education Coordinator for the Flints Hills Special Education Cooperative.
Barnes was a special education teacher from 1995 to 2012 at the ANW Special Education Cooperative.
Fort Scott: Next step, coming to her home area
Barnes graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1984.
She is married to Kevin Barnes who is a teacher and coach for Woodson USD 366 at the Yates Center for 32 years. They have a son, John Barnes who is in his first year of teaching and training at Fort Scott High School.
Her parents are Karen and the late Ron Billiard, Ft. Scott, and her sister is Robin Hartman, Ft. Scott.
Her community involvement over the years has been focused on the family — church activities, youth events, 4-H parenting, supporting school district activities and sporting events, University of Kansas basketball fandom, spending time with family, and “spoiling our beloved pets,” she said. .
For Barnes, the best part about being a special education director is working with students and staff and learning their stories, she said.
“The relationships we’ll build together take time and intentional work,” Barnes said. “Our special education team has a wealth of experience and knowledge, and I look forward to learning from them.”
“The special education team (at U234) consists of approximately 30 licensed teachers and associated service providers and 80 aides,” she said.
“$234 has approximately 22% of enrollees in the district receiving special education services,” she said.
Her office will be in the 424 S. Main district office, Barnes said, and her time in the district office will be combined with time in buildings with different age groups.
“The biggest challenge in this position is the time to make sure the most important work is done, which is matching student needs to the most effective intervention or strategy, supporting teachers, service providers, and the knowledge, resources, time, and energy needed to deliver what is needed, and valuing their contributions.”
The following tasks will be:
* Build relationships with staff, students, parents, beneficiaries and the entire learning community;
* Partner with the area special education team to learn about the operations, successes, and strengths of the special education and programming staff in each building;
* As a team, access desirable and sought-after areas of professional development… to best practice in providing programming to students and families, as well as supporting their professional growth;
* Accessibility … communicating with staff … learning the culture, directly observing instructions to support our service providers in their work of providing robust learning opportunities to students;
* Work with the… Business Desk to learn the $234 private education budget and learn how to manage revenue streams, expenses, and financing,
* Assist and support the procurement of materials and resources to meet students’ needs;
* Work with the $234 management team to assist and support special education matters in their premises;
* Representing $234 in communications with local, state, and federal agencies on matters relating to special education;
* Assist and provide support in securing necessary employment for special education programs and provide orientation for new employees;
* Collaborate with building teams to ensure a comprehensive curriculum is provided;
* Work with all providers…to ensure students receive fair assessments, consistent services, access to research-based curriculum and instruction, while maintaining best practice;
* Attend required and selected professional development opportunities to support the… to provide guidance and leadership with special education mandates and new initiatives;
* Collaborate with building teams to provide the opportunities necessary for a successful post-secondary transition;
* Assist with the administration of available grants for special education funding and provide staff information to maximize state special education category assistance;
* Prepare and submit all reports within guidelines and timelines;
* Comply with the legal and regulatory requirements of various government agencies;
* Ensure all special education programs are performed within federal and state laws, and adhere to $234 Board of Education policies and procedures.