Launching the Project OASIS Substack (Kathy)
Introduction from the Co-Directors - Kathy Hoffman
My name is Kathy Hoffman and I’m the Executive Director of Innovation and Special Education Initiatives at Arizona State University in the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation. I’m also a Co-Director of Project OASIS, with Dr. Erin Rotheram-Fuller. We are excited to publish a new Substack as a way to expand our network and disseminate ideas.
But first: What is Project OASIS?
This is a multidisciplinary group based in the ASU Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching & Learning Innovation that will be tackling the big questions around the future of special education. Our guiding future-focused research question is:
How can we create a future educational model where special education and labeling disabilities are not necessary for all students to have the optimal experience?
My Journey to This Big (controversial?) Question
Back in 2017, I was a happy speech-language pathologist working in an elementary school in Phoenix AZ. I loved working in the public schools alongside passionate teachers to serve students and their families through special education, but I was keenly aware of the larger fractures of support at the state and federal levels. When Betsy DeVos was confirmed to be the U.S. Secretary of Education with zero experience in education, I was distraught. This is when I realized, we need educators to step up to run for office and lead schools.
Fast forward to November of 2018. Beating the odds as a first-time candidate and Democrat in a red state, I was elected to be Arizona’s Superintendent of Public Instruction. It was the first time in over 20 years that an educator was in this critical role to lead the Arizona Department of Education. I viewed my top priority to be a chief advocate for public education in order to improve outcomes for students and ultimately the future of our state.
In the years I dedicated to learning about schools across the state (achievements along with school funding issues, staffing shortages, etc), I continued to note the challenges in special education. To draw more awareness of the persisting problems for policymakers, we commissioned an audit or “cost study” of a representative sample of districts and charters, which was published in 2022. Some of the findings included the alarmingly high turn-over rate of special education teachers and support staff as well as the discrepancies between state/federal funds relative to the actual per pupil cost for students in special education. These were not surprising results, but a relief to finally have transparency and concrete numbers to work with.
Transition to ASU & Launching Project OASIS
The results of the 2022 election were not what I had expected for or hoped for. For a few months, I coped with the emotional ups and downs of the loss. It may have been difficult to recognize at the time, but this transition has come with many silver linings for my own personal and professional life.
In partnership with Dr. Erin Rotheram-Fuller, we launched the Project OASIS Learning Futures Collaborative in 2023 and it has grown to over 200 participants from across Arizona. Members include ASU faculty/staff, researchers, educators, district & charter leaders, business & non-profit leaders, public health experts, parents and community members, and we are continually adding more.
One of our priorities is to highlight the successes with inclusive practices and innovative models across the state. We create opportunities for the collaborative members to learn from each other through facilitated discussions, presentations, school tours, and visiting local organizations. Further, ASU faculty are establishing research and professional learning partnerships with districts/charters to evaluate and promote best practices.
(Photo is from a OASIS site visit to the Phoenix Elementary School District).
Under the umbrella of Project OASIS, we have 5 action committees:
Increasing and advancing inclusive practices in P-12 schools
Educator prep and professional learning
Preparedness for college, careers, and independent living
Innovative staffing models and positions in schools
Future preschool models
If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out directly to me: katherine.hoffman@asu.edu
Let’s Stay Connected!
Through this Substack, we aim to elevate the perspectives and expertise of our OASIS collaborative members. We will post their stories/articles along with OASIS updates from me and Erin.
Thank you for your interest in Project OASIS!