Date:     September 9, 2025
Time:     9:00am – 3:00pm 
Type:     In-Person

Location: WRESA
          200 Ridgefield Ct, Suite 206 
          Asheville, NC 28806

Fee:      No Fee

Audience: K-12 School Administrators
CEUS:     5 Contact Hours  

Description:

This full-day professional development seeks to challenge aspiring administrators and school administrators to examine the impact of their leadership on the educational and functional outcomes of students with disabilities within their schools. The session will address the many facets that face school administrators as they lead schools that support the education of students with disabilities, such as the impact of their leadership on the instruction, curriculum and environment for students with disabilities within their schools.

During the session we will examine implementation of IDEA and NC Policies through a leadership style and school culture lens. We will provide support for administrators in deepening their understanding of state and federal IDEA regulations as well as implementation of specially designed instruction, services and programs for students with disabilities.

Presenters:

Teri Queen currently serves as the Northwest and Western Region Literacy Consultant for the North Carolina Public Schools Office of Exceptional Children for the Program Improvement and Professional Development section. In this role, she facilitates building capacity and sustainability of the NC State Improvement Project grant through systems level coaching. In addition to providing guidance in the data driven continuous improvement needs, she works with professional, parent, and service organizations and Institutions of Higher Education to promote appropriate public education and improved services for students with disabilities for North Carolina Public Schools and private Universities. Teri has previously served as an

Exceptional Children Director, EC Program Specialist, EC Instructional Facilitator, Federal Programs Coordinator, Exceptional Children Transition Specialist, Accountability Coordinator and an Exceptional Children Teacher in North Carolina and Virginia over the course of 26 years.

Kelly Doppke is an IDEA Consultant for the Western Region with the Office of Exceptional Children, where she provides regional support to EC leadership and school teams in LEAs and Charters across the area. Originally from South Carolina, Kelly moved to Western North Carolina with her family in 2007. She holds an undergraduate degree in Elementary, Early Childhood, and Special Education from Lander University, a Master of Education from Southern Wesleyan University, and a Post-Master's Certificate in School Administration from Western Carolina University.

Kelly’s favorite job, aside from her current role, was serving as a camp counselor at Camp Spearhead, a camp for children and adults with special needs in upstate South Carolina. Throughout her career as a teacher, program specialist, and EC director, Kelly developed a deep passion for creating inclusive systems for students with disabilities. Her leadership focus is on reducing exclusionary practices for students with challenging behaviors and finding ways to ensure equitable opportunities for all students.

Traci Royal currently serves as the IDEA Consultant for the Northwest region with the Office of Exceptional Children. In this role, she directly supports EC Directors and Charter Coordinators and their staff through professional development, coaching, and technical assistance in all areas related to the provision of special education services as well as overall program evaluation and improvement. Traci serves on the NW Regional Support Team as well. Prior to transitioning to NCDPI in this role in 2020, Traci served in both small and large school districts as an elementary and high school EC teacher across multiple educational settings, assistant EC Director, EC Director, and Executive EC Director.

If you have additional questions, contact Candie Sellers  csellers@wresa.org