{"id":12384,"date":"2023-09-05T15:19:16","date_gmt":"2023-09-05T15:19:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mysourcefunding.com\/leadership\/how-creatively-focused-is-using-technology-to-help-special-educators-everywhere\/"},"modified":"2023-09-05T15:19:16","modified_gmt":"2023-09-05T15:19:16","slug":"how-creatively-focused-is-using-technology-to-help-special-educators-everywhere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mysourcefunding.com\/?p=12384","title":{"rendered":"How Creatively Focused Is Using Technology To Help Special Educators Everywhere"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>Recently, I was asked to participate in a short interview about my career in journalism and how I got here. My career\u2019s origin story actually has nothing to do with journalism. I\u2019ve always loved (and excelled at) writing, but I never went to journalism school nor do I possess a college degree of any kind. If you look at my recently-redesigned portfolio page and scroll towards the bottom, you\u2019ll notice my background is in special education and early childhood development. This past May marked my 10th year as a journalist, but the previous decade was spent working as a paraprofessional in special education classrooms at various levels. As a lifelong disabled person, I spent my life receiving special education services, so working for the very same school district I grew up in was a full circle experience. What\u2019s more, my start in tech journalism was kickstarted by writing about accessibility and assistive technologies\u2014namely, iPads\u2014we used with students to augment the curriculum.<\/p>\n<p>What took me from the classroom to the news media was burnout.<\/p>\n<p>Burnout is exactly the sort of thing the team at Creatively Focused tries to prevent. The Minnesota-based company, in business for the last six years, describes its mission on its website as \u201c[helping] special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators feel connected and supported in the world of special education as it continues to change.\u201d The startup accomplishes this by way of software they\u2019ve built called axis3, billed as a \u201cmultifunctional resource created specifically to address the things special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators are tasked with each day.\u201d In using axis3, special educators can take advantage of services such as person-to-person support, time management, professional development, and more.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a former special education director, I\u2019ve witnessed the burnout that plagues many educators in the field. I distinctly recall a teacher sharing with me that she didn\u2019t want to leave the profession but felt trapped,\u201d Elizabeth Orme, founder and chief executive officer of Creatively Focused, said to me in a recent interview conducted via email. \u201cCreatively Focused was started with an unyielding commitment to addressing this issue because I\u2019ve experienced it firsthand and I\u2019m dedicated to making a change. [By] cultivating the feelings of value, expertise, and connection, we can revolutionize the education system, allowing educators to not only thrive but also evolve as lifelong learners.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The decision to pursue a life in special education, Orme told me, is more than a career choice. It\u2019s a personal commitment. Orme said \u201cthere are far too many special education classrooms staffed with educators who simply don\u2019t have the tools and support they need to be successful.\u201d The lack of support isn\u2019t burdensome only on the school staff; it also has lasting rippling effects on students and their families. Creatively Focused, Orme said, strives to \u201c[address] the challenges in special education head-on, ensuring that educators can thrive, and in turn, provide the best possible support to those who depend on them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><fbs-ad position=\"inread\" progressive=\"\" ad-id=\"article-0-inread\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\"><\/fbs-ad><\/p>\n<p>Creatively Focused\u2019s mission is a deeply personal one to Orme.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been in the shoes of the very special education teachers and administrators we\u2019re supporting today,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve experienced the relentless burnout, the late nights, the early mornings, and sacrificing weekends to tackle endless paperwork. It\u2019s not just about teachers and paraeducators; it\u2019s about students and families who all deserve better.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Technology in the classroom can be a \u201clifeline,\u201d according to Orme. Educators already are saddled with juggling so many responsibilities, \u201cthey deserve a reliable resource that guides them on what to prioritize, how to accomplish it, and when to do so.\u201d A reliable resource for teachers and administrators is what Creatively Focused aspires to be.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAn educator\u2019s cognitive load directly impacts their ability to build relationships with students,\u201d Orme said of the heavy workloads. \u201cIf we [at Creatively Focused] can reduce the load on the educator and ensure they have everything they need to feel successful in their role, regardless of experience, we will see a great impact on student outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In terms of feedback, Orme was happy to report it\u2019s been \u201cincredibly positive.\u201d She added teachers are excited by the level of autonomy they have in choosing the learning that addresses their needs rather than rely upon the opinions of others on what they should learn. Orme shared a testimonial from one user, saying the person marveled at how Creatively Focused was a \u201clifesaver\u201d after years of trying to develop a good system for keeping track of all the paperwork involved in teaching special ed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur approach to supporting teachers is holistic, encompassing the executive functioning skills required to effectively manage the demands of their role,\u201d Orme said of Creatively Focused\u2019s philosophy for its tools.<\/p>\n<p>Asked about the future, Orme told me her company is \u201cprepared to support every school district across the United States,\u201d adding their focus is steadfast on what changes need to be made to prevent educators from feeling like they need to leave the industry. Moreover, Orme said Creatively Focused will put its creativity towards continually building tools that help special educators flourish instead of flounder.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe relationship between teacher and student is what is invaluable. That connection cannot flourish unless our educators stay fulfilled and confident in their roles,\u201d Orme said of the impetus for change. \u201cNurturing their fulfillment and expertise isn\u2019t just what we aim for. It\u2019s the very bedrock upon which the future of education stands.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Read the full article <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/stevenaquino\/2023\/09\/05\/how-creatively-focused-is-using-technology-to-help-special-educators-everywhere\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recently, I was asked to participate in a short interview about my career in journalism and how I got here. My career\u2019s origin story actually has nothing to do with journalism. I\u2019ve always loved (and excelled at) writing, but I never went to journalism school nor do I possess a college degree of any kind. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12385,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-12384","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-leadership"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Creatively Focused Is Using Technology To Help Special Educators Everywhere | Brandiary<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Recently, I was asked to participate in a short interview about my career in journalism and how I got here. 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