Jonathan Langsam

Vision for Special Education: Leading Change with Purpose and Progress

I am driven by the belief that education, especially special education, must be transformed to meet the evolving needs of students, families, and educators. My vision is to create systems and experiences that empower all stakeholders, embrace creativity, and foster meaningful connections. By rethinking traditional practices and implementing purposeful, progressive change, we can achieve success that once seemed out of reach.

The Foundation of My Passion: Personal Journey and Professional Growth

I did not enter education out of a passion for teaching or love for school; I entered it to make a difference. Early in my career as a paraprofessional, I discovered my ability to connect with students, particularly those with behavior challenges, and help them navigate their struggles. My journey as an educator was shaped by my own challenges as a learner, fueling my empathy and commitment to students who feel misunderstood or overlooked.

Pursuing a master’s degree in special education transformed my perspective. For the first time, I found passion in what I was learning, passion that continues to drive me forward. Over the past 30 years, I’ve worked in nearly every special education setting, developed district wide initiatives, and collaborated with educators, families, and students to improve outcomes. These experiences have given me a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities within special education.

Challenges in Special Education: Why Change is Needed

Special educators face immense demands, from writing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and behavior plans to teaching across multiple content areas while managing complex behavioral and emotional needs. These tasks often overwhelm teachers and create barriers to student success.

Moreover, systemic cycles of failure, where students, families, and even staff experience repeated struggles, are perpetuated by outdated models of teaching and learning. Burnout, disconnection, and lack of meaningful progress are common. If we want to retain educators and ensure students thrive, we must reimagine how we approach teaching, learning, and relationships in our schools.

A Catalyst for Change: Learning from Crisis

The COVID19 pandemic was a turning point in education. Forced to adapt to new methods, we uncovered innovative approaches to teaching and learning that had previously seemed unattainable. This experience sparked my determination to challenge the status quo and create systems that are student centered, creative, and empowering for all involved.

A New Model for Success: The Power of Creativity, Flexibility, and Relationships

Through my work on initiatives like the Compensatory and Recovery Services (CRS) project in Montgomery County, I witnessed the transformative power of thinking outside the box. By encouraging educators to be flexible, creative, and relationship focused, we saw students achieve breakthroughs that traditional methods could not provide. Families felt valued, and teachers rediscovered the joy of their craft.

One memorable success story involved Christian, a high school student disconnected from his school community. By providing him with an alternative, purpose driven learning experience, we helped him build confidence, engage meaningfully, and plan for his future. This reinforced my belief that small, intentional changes can profoundly impact lives.

Stakeholder Feedback from the CRS project: Stakeholder Feedback

Vision for the Future: Transforming Special Education

Reimagining Services

Hybrid Models: Offer flexible, individualized options for Extended School Year (ESY) and other services, integrating in person, virtual, and community based learning opportunities.

Experiential Learning: Engage students outside the traditional classroom through creative, hands on approaches that deepen relationships and foster personal growth.

Empowering Educators

Equip teachers with the tools, training, and support needed to manage the unique demands of special education. Foster creativity and autonomy, enabling teachers to design meaningful, engaging learning experiences tailored to their students’ needs.

Prioritizing Partnerships

Strengthen family school relationships through transparent communication, shared goals, and collaborative problem solving. Ensure families feel heard, valued, and empowered as partners in their child’s education.

A Call to Action

It’s time to move beyond the rigid structures of the 19th century school house and embrace a future where teaching and learning are adaptable, inclusive, and purpose driven. Together, we can create systems that prioritize relationships, creativity, and meaningful progress for every student.

This is my moment to lead change, and I invite you to join me in reimagining what education can be, for students, families, and educators alike. Let’s push education forward, boldly and intentionally, to create a better future for all. Qualified agent for change and collaboration with robust background in improving teaching strategies and curriculum development. Successfully implemented innovative coaching techniques that enhanced classroom performance and teacher satisfaction. Demonstrated expertise in mentoring educators and fostering collaborative environments.

The state of Maryland in a partnership with MCIE (The maryland Coalition of Inclusive Education) has created a teacher coaching model using the Elena Aguilar approach to coaching teachers and administrators. This approach is unevaluative and focuses on helping teachers learn where there gaps are and top try and add a skill one at a time through as coaching cycle.

I currently hold an Advanced Maryland Professional Certificate in Special Education