October 31, 2018
When Halloween Triggers Emotions for Children
Here is a resource paper for educators who may encounter children struggling with grief as others celebrate Halloween.
Resources for Cultural Holidays from the Coalition to Support Grieving Children
Halloween is a holiday based on religious beliefs and cultural traditions that has become a much-celebrated part of our popular culture. Children and teens of all ages enjoy wearing a variety of costumes, being out at night, “trick or treating,” participating in pranks, and toying with frightful themes including death. Is this focus on death a concern for grieving students? It can be.

Here is a resource for educators to help students who are triggered by this holiday.

More resources can be found at their website grievingstudents.org.

Dr. David Schonfeld, Executive Director of the Coalition to Support Grieving Students, will present at AESA's Annual Conference to help members better understand the professional resources available through the Coalition.
Member Spotlight

After the Conference:
Turning Ideas into Services
Back Home

A trip to the AESA National Conference is about both sharing and receiving information. Hal Dunsavage, Superintendent of Somerset County Educational Services Commission, in Bridgewater, New Jersey, has seen both sides of the equation.

Last year he was a first-timer to the Annual Conference. He went home with new ideas that he implemented to enhance his ESA. This year, he is again attending the conference, and will return the favor when he presents on Saturday.

When AESA Executive Director Joan Wade heard about Dunsavage's efforts, she said, "We just have to share this great story because that's exactly what our conference is all about!"

Inspiring Hope at AESA's Annual Conference:
Rachel's Challenge
Darrell Scott, Rachel Scott's father, will present her story, and a story of hope for all schools and districts. See Mr. Scott at Thursday's Luncheon and at a Deep Dive, also on Thursday.

Yes, there is room for you at AESA's Annual Conference! Join Us!
Come for the learning.
Engage in the networking. 
Connect with thought leaders. 
Leave inspired.


Announcing the AESA Annual Conference Mobile App - Now Available
Again this year, AESA is providing a mobile application for the Annual Conference. When you use the mobile app, you will get up-to-the-minute information such as the latest agenda, updates from the conference planner, speaker information, maps, exhibitor and sponsor details, an attendee list, and more. 

To get the AESA 2018 Annual Conference mobile app:
       iPhone and iPad users—search “AESA Annual Conference" on the Apple App Store
       Android users—search “AESA Annual Conference" on the Google Play Store
       Blackberry, Windows, laptop users—go to this address (omit www):  https://aesa.gatherdigital.com

For message alerts, please allow "Push Notifications" on your device for this app.

Attendee-to-attendee messaging
Additionally, login to the app to participate in attendee-to-attendee messaging and the activity feed.

To login to the app, select “Login” at the top of the side navigation bar and then enter the email address you used to register for the conference and “ AESA2018 ” as the app password. Note: the password is case sensitive.

We look forward to seeing you at the conference and we hope you enjoy using the mobile app!

Your name, organization, and job title may appear on the attendee list in the app. Please note: No other contact information will be shown. Questions about information contained in the app, including attendee information and the conference planner’s privacy policy can be sent to the conference organizers at info@aesa.us
Federal Legislative Update
The House and Senate are on recess before the mid-term elections.

A new director of the Office of Special Education has been appointed for the U.S. Department of Education.

A new bill was proposed for building a wall on the southern U.S. border.

AESA weighs in on NAEP benchmarks

Recently, AESA joined other national organizations to oppose proposed changes to NAEP benchmarks.

New! Facilities Affinity Group
New Affinity Group: Facilities

School facilities have a profound impact on both teacher and student outcomes. The Facility Affinity Group will examine how facility operations and improvements can affect the health, behavior, learning, and engagement of building occupants while benefiting the district’s bottom line.

All interested parties are invited to join us as we explore energy efficiency, school safety, achieving state and federal compliance, and securing funding.

Throughout these ongoing video conferences, we’ll answer questions, share resources, explore challenges, and utilize each other’s expertise to elevate the safety and security of our facilities. Whether your ESA has well-established facilities management services, is in the early stages of developing services, or wants information on how to get started we hope you will join the conversation.  

The first meeting is Nov. 8, 2018. Please RSVP by Nov. 6.
Meetings will take place over Zoom on the 2nd Thursday of each month. The first meeting is scheduled for November 8, 2018.

Please RSVP to Charlie Schneider by Tuesday, November 6.