All trainings provided by the MAEP are free to Montana Public School Educators and Service Providers.

May 2026 Training Series

In May 2026 (dates and locations to be determined) EdCOR Colorado will be offering training on the following topics for one day of each:Functional Behavior Assessments to Behavior Support Plans, Classroom Management for Elementary (general education and special education), and Classroom Management for Middle/High School (general education and special education). 

If you are interested in having one of these trainings hosted in your community please click on the button below. 

Executive Function: Impulse Control, Working Memory, Emotional Control | Virtual | December 1, 2025

Come take a deeper dive into strategies for supporting learners in these domains in our three part executive functioning series.

Effective Strategies for Classroom Support Staff | Virtual | December 5, 2025

Support staff have a significant impact on the success of the students they work with. One of the challenges educational teams and particularly educational assistants (i.e., teaching assistants, paraprofessionals) face as they support their students in working towards independence is determining how best to provide assistance during a lesson. This includes how and when to decrease or eliminate this help in order to empower their students’ skill development and autonomy.

In this workshop, we introduce essential strategies educational assistants can use to effectively support their students, from before a lesson begins, up until success. Through lecture, video example, discussion, and activities, participants will learn practical questions to ask to better understand how to help every student learn, and ideas for how to improve direct teaching interactions with their learners.

What you will learn

• How to identify practical information to gather about the learner
• How to implement strategies to set up the school day for success
• How to identify strategies for introducing non-preferred tasks
• How to identify ways to achieve greater independence for the learner

Implementing AAC Everywhere | Virtual | December 10, 2025

A student's AAC should go everywhere the student goes, but practically speaking, this can be difficult. This session will explore how AAC can be used to support students with a variety of needs across environments throughout the school day. We will discuss how universal design encourages accessible communication for all students. Examples will be provided for how educators can support multiple modes of communication across settings.

What you will learn

Participants will be able to identify three low- or no-tech communication options for use in school environments, learn three ways to support AAC use outside the classroom, and compare resources for creating communication supports.

Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Closson ASD 101 for Teachers and Paras | Virtual | December 18, 2025

Autism accounts for a significant group of learners in our schools. Learn about what autism is, what the cause is, the different levels of involvement, and the 3 Ms of autism intervention.

Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Closson Using Evidence Based Practices to Teach Safety Skills | Virtual | December 19, 2025 Safety is priority. Learn how to use different EBPs to teach your students safety information and strategies.

Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Closson Inclusive Classrooms for Jr/High | Virtual | December 22, 2025 Behavior is learned. For this reason, we need our learners included with their typically developing peers as much as possible - so they can learn pro-social behavior. Learn about some ideas, options, interventions, strategies, etc. to have your learners with autism and related disorders be included with their peers.

THE MAEP IS HIRING

The Montana Autism Education Project (MAEP) is seeking part-time consultants to join our statewide team.

Position Overview: MAEP consultants provide on-site and virtual coaching, professional development, and technical assistance to school districts across Montana. Consultants help school teams implement evidence-based strategies that support communication, social interaction, behavior, and adaptive skill development for students receiving IEP services.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide Individual and Classroom Consultation: Collaborate with school teams to assess needs, review educational and behavioral supports, and recommend evidence-based strategies and interventions.
• Develop and Deliver Professional Development: Design and facilitate training and coaching sessions for school teams focused on effective instructional and behavioral practices.
• Research and Curate Resources and Field Tools: Identify, develop, and share evidence-based materials, toolkits, and resources to support educators in implementing effective and sustainable classroom practices.
• Maintain Consistent Communication and Collaboration: Engage in regular communication with MAEP team members, OPI staff, and district personnel to coordinate services, share updates, and contribute to statewide MAEP initiatives.

Ideal Candidate:

• Graduate degree in special education, speech-language pathology, psychology, applied behavior analysis, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience supporting students with autism and related disabilities in school settings.
• Knowledge of evidence-based instructional and behavioral practices and ability to coach others in their implementation.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a statewide team.
• Ability to travel regionally within Montana 
• Availability during school hours for onsite consultation, meetings, and trainings

Position Details:

• Part time position through the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI)
• Flexible schedule with remote work options (10-15 hours per week)
• Travel reimbursement provided

Please email katie.mattingley@mt.gov if interested. 

The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.