Sandy Wilberger

Professional Experience

1998 - Present

Co-Director

Virginia Commonwealth University Training & Technical Assistance Center (VCU T/TAC)

Mange budget for Virginia Department of Education grant for training and technical assistance in Regions 1 and 8.  Oversee organizational operations and provide leadership to 14 program specialists providing training and technical assistance to personnel working with students with disabilities ages birth through 22 years.

 1996-1998

Program Specialist, Early Childhood Special Education

Virginia Commonwealth University Training & Technical Assistance Center (VCU T/TAC)

Provided training and technical assistance to teams working with young children with disabilities in areas including inclusive practices, curriculum and instruction, positive behavioral supports and assistive technology

1995- 1996

Inclusive Practices Specialist

Virginia Commonwealth University Training & Technical Assistance Center (VCU T/TAC)

Provided training and technical assistance to early childhood programs related to implementing inclusive placements for preschoolers with disabilities.

 1996 - 1999

Validator

National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, VA, Validated ECE programs seeking accreditation with the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs.

 1993- 1995

Lead Teacher, Inclusion Program for Preschoolers

Richmond City Public Schools

Developed and implemented a program to include preschoolers with disabilities into programs for preschoolers without disabilities, including Head Start, Virginia Preschool Initiative for 4 year olds and private child care centers

 •1981-1995                

Teacher, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher

Taught children ages 2-5 years with significant orthopedic and/or cognitive delays

Richmond City Public Schools

 •1979-1981               

Teacher, Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities

Amelia County Public Schools

Instructed students with mild to moderate disabilities ages 5-9 years.

Education

1990-present

Candidate for certification in  Administration and Supervision

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA

 1996

Master of Education Degree (M.Ed.), Early Childhood Special Education

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA

 1981

Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.), Special Education K-12

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Professional Organizations

Council for Exceptional Children, Affiliation with Division of Early Childhood (DEC)

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Validator for the accreditation program

Virginia Association of Early Childhood Education (VAECE)

Newsletter Publications

Wilberger, S. & Pruett, C. (Winter 2007). Measuring Progress one Child at a Time. Innovations and Perspectives, Virginia Commonwealth University Training and Technical Assistance Center.

Wilberger, S. (Fall 2006).  Early Childhood Inclusion Proves Essential. Innovations and Perspectives, Virginia Commonwealth University Training and Technical Assistance Center

Wilberger, S. & Palko, S. (Summer 2006). Autism Spectrum Disorders: What Works. Innovations and Perspectives, Virginia Commonwealth University Training and Technical Assistance Center

Wilberger, S. & Palko, S.  (Fall, 2005). Address Challenging Behaviors in Children, Innovations and Perspectives, Virginia Commonwealth University Training and Technical Assistance Center

Wilberger, S.  (Summer 2004). Young Children with Challenging Behavior:  A Synthesis of Knowledge, Innovations and Perspectives  Virginia Commonwealth University Training and Technical Assistance Center

Wilberger, S.  February, 2003).  Integrating Technology for Inclusion,  Innovations and Perspectives, Virginia Commonwealth University Training and Technical Assistance Center

Presentations

Inclusive Placement Opportunities for Preschoolers (IPOP): One State's Plan for Systems Change,  Division for Early Childhood  23rd Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs & Their Families Niagara Falls Ontario, Canada,  October, 2007

Flip That Class:  Universal Design for Learning in an ECSE Class, Virginia Council for Exceptional Children 49th Annual Conference, Charlottesville, October, 2007 

Team Madness:  Time Wasted or Productive Endeavor.  18^th Annual Symposium on Professional Collaboration and Inclusive Education, William and Mary School of Education, October, 2007

Promoting Social and Emotional Competency in Young Children. James Madison University Content Academy, Summer, 2007

Have presented at additional, state and local conferences on  co-teaching, collaborative teaming, planning for inclusion, functional behavioral assessments, positive behavioral supports, inclusion, developing school-wide positive behavioral supports, effective instructional strategies and recommended practices in ECSE.  Sample presentations are available upon request.