Field Notes: Conversations in Special Education Leadership

Heading to the 2026 MAASE Summer Institute? Consider this your ultimate "Know Before You Go" guide!

In this episode of the Field Notes Podcast, incoming MAASE President Tina Lawson sits down with Summer Institute Committee Chair Renee Thelen to share insider tips, can’t-miss sessions, and everything you need to make the most of this year’s sold-out conference at the Grand Traverse Resort.

Host Abby Cypher also joins to ...

Why must special education remain rooted in the Department of Education?

In light of recent federal announcements, removing the administration of IDEA from the Department of Education, remembering the civil rights foundation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is more critical than ever.

IDEA is at its heart an education law—a civil rights landmark designed not to create separate silos, but to build bigg...

What does it take to move a statewide organization from reactive to visionary?

In this episode of the Field Notes Podcast, Abby Cypher, MAASE Executive Director, sits down with Ben Hicks, MAASE Associate Executive Director of Training and Development, to discuss the evolution of MAASE and the launch of its newest strategic plan.

They share their journeys from first-year administrators to statewide leaders, reflecting on the mentors...

What does it truly mean to put students first in state-level leadership?

In this episode of Field Notes, MAASE Executive Director Abby Cypher welcomes Michigan’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Glenn Maleyko, for an inspiring discussion on the future of education in our state.

From his early days as a third-grade teacher to leading the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Dr. Maleyko shares how personal connectio...

Think advocacy is too complicated or political?

Think again. In this episode of Field Notes, Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education (MAASE) Executive Director, Abby Cypher hands the hosting mic to MAASE Vice President Elect, Dr. Amanda Unger for a candid conversation about making legislative advocacy accessible.

Joined by Dr. Erin Senkowski (Advocacy Committee Chair), Matt Kurta (Lobbyist, Karoub Associates), a...

What happens when you stop seeing a student’s disability and start seeing their potential?

In this episode of the MAASE Field Notes Podcast, host Sarah Winslow sits down with Susie Rutkowski, co-founder of Project SEARCH, and a panel of Michigan leaders to explore this life changing school to work model.

Project SEARCH isn’t just a classroom program. It is a full immersion experience where interns spend their entire day...

Independence is more than a goal. It is a skill that can be practiced, refined, and mastered.

In this episode of the MAASE Field Notes Podcast, Executive Director Abby Cypher welcomes guest host Dr. Derek Cooley, Director of Special Education at Godwin Heights, for a deep dive into the MITTIN Project.

This statewide initiative is revolutionizing post secondary outcomes for students with disabilities by providing a free library of i...

In less than a year Michigan has successfully trained over 4,600 paraeducators through a powerhouse initiative that is officially setting a new national standard. In this high energy episode of Field Notes Abby Cypher joins Cheryl-Marie Manson and Karlie Parker to reveal the exact framework they used to move the needle from critical vacancies to a system of support that actually works.

Learn how this state funded model provides hi...

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Field Notes gathers a multi-generational panel of MAASE leaders—including Past, Current, and Vice Presidents, alongside respected MAASE legacy leaders Tom and Deb Koepke and Dr. Lois Vaughan-Hussain.

This emotional and insightful conversation explores the profound transformation of special education in Michigan and nationwide:

Before ...

In this episode of Field Notes, Executive Director Abby Cypher sits down with former State Representative, Sheryl Kennedy, to explore the complex journey of the Michigan State School Aid Budget. They discuss what it means for schools to navigate the revenue reality as Sheryl, who has seen the budget process from every side (teacher, principal, legislator, and MDE staff), walks through this year's timeline, from the Governor's Febru...

In this episode of Field Notes, guest host and past president Lauren Eardley sits down with our new president, Kirsten Myers, to explore her presidential theme: United Today, Stronger Tomorrow.

They discuss what it means to be united as an intentional community of special education leaders, leveraging a collective voice to overcome the isolation that often comes with the role. The conversation goes deeper, addressing the responsib...

Join us for an inspiring conversation on this month's episode of Field Notes: Conversations in Special Education Leadership. Host Abby Cypher sits down with Renee Thelen, a two-time MAASE past president, professional learning steering committee chair, and the newest recipient of the prestigious Marvin Beekman Award. This episode goes beyond the award itself, exploring what it means to be a visionary and transformative leader in spe...