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DNC Bridging the Gap: A Guide for Navigating Schools and Partnering for Success

December 11, 2025

8:30 am to 3:30 pm

SCOE: 5340 Skylane Boulevard, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

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Date:  12/10/25 & 12/11/25 (Both Days REQUIRED)
Time:  8:30 - 3:30pm both days 
Format:  In Person
Location:  Sonoma County Office of Education
5340 Skylane Blvd. Santa Rosa, CA 95403
 
**LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED**

Intended Audience

  • BCBAs
  • School Administrators
  • Preferably these would be BCBAs and Administrators that work together or will work together during the school year

Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) play an essential role in supporting students in public schools, yet they often face challenges in integrating their expertise within the educational system. Schools operate within a complex framework of policies, procedures, and multidisciplinary collaboration, which can sometimes create barriers to effective behavioral support. Likewise, school administrators must balance student needs, staff resources, and compliance requirements while striving to create a positive and productive learning environment.

This two-day workshop is designed to bridge the gap between behavior analysis and educational practice, equipping BCBAs with the tools to navigate school systems effectively while fostering stronger partnerships with administrators. By developing a shared understanding of responsibilities, challenges, and strategies, participants will leave with actionable plans to enhance collaboration, improve student outcomes, and create sustainable behavioral support models.

Day 1: Understanding the BCBA Role in Public Schools (BCBAs Only)

On the first day, BCBAs will focus on building a strong foundation for working effectively within school systems. This session will provide practical guidance on how to align behavior analytic practices with school culture, understand the broader educational landscape, and ethical considerations for behavioral assessment.

Day 2: Strengthening BCBA and Administrator Partnerships (BCBAs and Administrators)

On the second day, BCBAs and school administrators come together to bridge the gap between behavior analysis and school-based implementation. While BCBAs bring expertise in behavioral assessment and intervention, administrators provide insight into school systems, policies, and resource limitations. This session fosters collaborative problem-solving to ensure behavior support strategies are effective, feasible, and sustainable in real-world school settings.

Participants Will
 
Day 1: Participants will:
  • Understand the structure of public schools and clarify the BCBA's role within the system
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  • Understand how to interpret educational assessments and IEPs to guide behavior planning within the BCBA scope
  • Learn the components of an effective and legally defensible Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
  • Prepare for collaboration with Administrators for day 2
Day 2: Participants will:
  •  
  • Strengthen understanding between BCBAs and Administrators as they learn more about each other's important roles in supporting student behavior
  • Clarify the BCBA's role in the IEP process and in larger school systems of support
  • Collaborate to identify current behavior challenges and priorities, align behavior supports with school goals, and ways to allocate BCBA resources to maximize effectiveness
  • Learn strategies for sustaining and improving BCBA and Administrator collaboration

View Event Document