The training was provided through the Virginia Murray Sowell Center for Research and Education in Sensory Disabilities.
A group of 27 teachers from 25 school districts in West Texas recently completed training as part of Project TEDD: Training Educators in Dual Diagnosis, an initiative to address a state need for K-12 educators who specialize in teaching students who have a dual diagnosis of an intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) and a mental health condition.
The participants completed a virtual, one-day workshop through Texas Tech University's Virginia Murray Sowell Center for Research and Education in Sensory Disabilities, learning necessary skills for recognizing, understanding and working with individuals with dual diagnosis. This workshop equipped them with specialized skills to also train other teachers on dual diagnosis.
"Project TEDD congratulates these special education teachers on participating in the training workshop on dual diagnosis," said Dr. Devender Banda, the project director and a professor of special education at Texas Tech. "These educators are a valuable resource in their respective school districts and can provide additional training and information on educating students with dual diagnosis."
The special education teachers who completed the training included:
| Ms. Krystal Woosley, Denver City ISD | Ms. Christy Puryear, Plains ISD |
| Ms. Patricia Mendez, Frenship ISD | Ms. Kate McCandless, Plainview ISD |
| Ms. Stephani Campbell, Frenship ISD | Ms. Karen Garner, Post ISD |
| Ms. Carla Sells, Hale Center ISD | Ms. Renee Thomas, Ralls ISD |
| Mr. James Allison, Idalou ISD | Ms. Kristi Griffith, Roosevelt ISD |
| Ms. Tracye Swafford, Lamesa ISD | Ms. Joyce Laurens, Sands CISD |
| Ms. Victoria Jones, Levelland ISD | Ms. Haley Ross, Seminole ISD |
| Ms. Heather Cortez, Lorenzo ISD | Ms. Mindy Shadden, Shallowater ISD |
| Ms. Sherri Moyers, Lubbock ISD | Ms. Bailey Richardson, Slaton ISD |
| Ms. Jessica Chambers, Lubbock-Cooper ISD | Ms. Brandee Hamilton, Spur ISD |
| Ms. Courtney May, Meadow ISD | Ms. Dana Conrad, Spur ISD |
| Ms. Erin Jones, Motley County ISD | Ms. Brandi Webb, Sundown ISD |
| Ms. Lynsey Skipper Copeland, New Deal ISD |
These teachers are the first to take part in Project TEDD, which aims to train a total of 400 special educators over five years using a "train-the-trainer" approach. Each participant is expected to train at least five additional educators, meaning Project TEDD will impact a total of 2,000 or more educators across Texas.
Project TEDD is coordinated by Texas Tech and funded by a $1.5 million grant from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD). The mission of TCDD is to create change where all people with disabilities are fully included in their communities and exercise control over their own lives.