CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Special Education program at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is charting bold new territory in the field of teacher preparation and behavioral intervention; 这股势头的中心是该领域的一颗冉冉升起的新星，特殊教育助理教授阿什利·沃格特博士。

“She’s doing truly remarkable work,” said Dr. Phyllis Robertson, Professor of Special Education. “The scale of what she’s accomplished in such a short time, and the impact it will have on teachers and students across the state, is extraordinary.”

Thanks to two major grants — Project SEASIDE, a $1.25 million award from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, and Project INSPIRE, a $1 million award from the Texas Education Agency — Voggt and her team are expanding the reach, depth, and future of special education in Texas.

培养下一代特殊教育工作者：SEASIDE项目

SEASIDE项目（学生参与和促进教育战略与创新动力）是一项具有单一使命的人才准备拨款：加强合格特殊教育教师的培养，同时使他们从第一天起就能在课堂上茁壮成长。 这笔赠款将在五年内每年资助八名岛民学生，提供学费援助、津贴和有组织的服务义务。 对于每一年的支持，学生承诺进行两年的教学，确保投资直接转化为课堂，为残疾学生带来更好的成果。

“Dr. Robertson and I are both products of these kinds of programs,” Voggt said. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without them, and that’s why it’s so meaningful to help the next generation of teachers follow the same path.”

罗伯逊强调了以本科生为中心的准备工作的更广泛含义。

“While graduate-level funding is critical, preparing new undergraduate teachers is where the pipeline begins,” Robertson said. “In a field often marked by high turnover and underprepared teachers, special education is a critical shortage area across the state and the nation.”

经济支持只是故事的一部分。 SEASIDE还建立了指导和辅导系统，以帮助教师度过他们职业生涯中最具挑战性的早期阶段。 Voggt称这种方法既实用又有远见。

“This grant doesn’t only reduce financial stress; it also provides guidance and support during those first three to five years when teachers face the steepest learning curves,” Voggt said.

SEASIDE将课程与基于证据的实践相结合，确保学生毕业时准备好应对他们将遇到的广泛的学生需求。

“We don’t look at students based on their disabilities; we look at them based on the supports they need,” Robertson said. “Every child is unique, and the greatest connections often form with students who present the biggest challenges.”

The program also offers undergraduate certification for the first time, meaning students will graduate with a bachelor’s degree fully credentialed to teach students with disabilities from ages 3-21.

“By the time our students enter classrooms, they’ll be equipped with the tools, confidence, and persistence necessary to make a real difference,” Voggt said.

全州影响：INSPIRE项目

在SEASIDE加强管道的同时，Project INSPIRE解决了一个跨越每个教室的挑战：如何通过协作、基于证据的策略来支持积极的学生行为。 INSPIRE（支持积极干预和响应性教育的跨学科网络）旨在创建一个全州范围内的行为支持专业发展框架。

“Behavior is communication,” said Voggt, the project lead. “To truly understand and support students, we need input from everyone who plays a role in their development. Project INSPIRE creates the space for that collaboration.”

INSPIRE致力于在教育者、辅导员、心理学家、学生和家庭之间建立联系。 从历史上看，专业人士在解决学生行为问题时都是各自工作，导致方法不一致，错失机会。 通过联合利益相关者，该资助鼓励对每个学生进行全面的观察，并采用合乎道德、有效和了解创伤的干预措施。

“This isn’t limited to special education classrooms; any student can present challenging behavior, and every teacher has experienced it,” Voggt said. “We’re equipping all educators with the tools to respond proactively and positively, reducing stress and burnout in the process.”

该项目包括开发跨学科培训模块、工具包、网络研讨会和应用行为分析资源，所有这些都将在全州范围内开放。 TAMU-CC的学生将通过试用资源、开发内容和将技术应用于现实场景来积极参与。 这种参与确保毕业生在进入课堂时准备好实施在实践中经过测试和改进的策略。

艾德丽安支持者博士,助理教授学校咨询,,随着罗伯逊,激发格兰特是一个合作者,相信该项目代表一个迟来的转向更加公平和有效的实践在学校。 除了直接影响之外，INSPIRE还弥合了研究与实践之间持续存在的差距。

“Current discipline practices can disproportionately impact special education students, and they’re often ineffective,” Backer said. “INSPIRE replaces outdated methods with approaches that support development, build stronger educator-student relationships, and enhance outcomes across Texas.”

这项补助金也代表着专业发展的重要一步。 通过将多个学科结合在一起，INSPIRE培养了一种合作和分担责任的文化。

“What’s powerful about INSPIRE is that it doesn’t just train individuals; it transforms systems,” Voggt said. “When educators, counselors, and families start speaking the same language around behavior support, you see lasting change. That collaboration is what drives real progress in schools.”

SEASIDE和INSPIRE共同代表了岛屿大学特殊教育的大胆新篇章； 一个由合作、创新和不懈追求为学生和教师带来更好结果的学校。