Allison Kanji

Allison earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida and her master's from Nova Southeastern University. She currently maintains certifications in the areas of Educational Leadership (All Levels), Exceptional Student Education (Grades K-12) and Social Science (Grades 6-12).

She was fortunate to begin her career at Ocoee Middle School, Orange County's first and premier digital school where technology was infused throughout the curriculum and co-teaching was the norm. Allison developed and co-taught "History Arts" as the Social Studies instructor with Jane Hines. In this course, students successfully learned and practiced language arts skills utilizing materials typically reserved for a history class. She has also served as Social Studies Department Chair and as a New Teacher Mentor to support the professional growth of her colleagues new to the field of teaching. To support OCPS as a district, Allison was involved in: writing and revising progress monitoring, developing a new teacher toolbox, and writing the scope and sequence for middle school US History.

In 2015, Allison joined FDLRS-Action (Florida Diagnostic Learning and Resources System) to support teachers and their professional learning in the areas of the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) Content Enhancement Routines, Reading, Creating a Responsive Classroom and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Allison is a nationally certified professional developer in Content Enhancement for the Strategic Instruction Model and works with the Florida State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG). She took some time off to raise her son, Aidan and returned to the Florida Inclusion Network (FIN) in the 2020. Allison's focus at FIN is to provide districts and schools services and supports ensuring ALL students with disabilities have the same opportunities as their peers. Her areas of focus include Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Collaborative Teaching and Planning and Inclusive Scheduling.

Kim graduated from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts in 1992 with a Bachelor's Degree in Education with the specialization of Early Childhood Education Kim currently maintains certifications in PreK- Grade 3, ESE K-12 and Pre-K Disabilities endorsement.

She began her teaching career as a co-teacher for an integrated preschool program for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and typically developing peers ages 3-5 in the public-school system. She worked with staff to support students with autism when they graduated from the program to enter kindergarten. During that time, she also bridged the gap of home/school connection and provided home visits to support the concerns and challenges families were having at home with their child in order to help them be successful in school.

Kim moved to Florida in 2004 where she was a teacher of students with varying exceptionalities in grades K-5. Her teaching experience includes working with students with significant cognitive disabilities, physical disabilities, specific learning disabilities, developmentally delayed, orthopedically impaired, autism and other health impaired in both a separate class setting and inclusive general education settings. While school-based Kim became the ESE team lead providing professional development to school staff in support of inclusionary practices and mentor to new teachers. In expanding her support for teachers and students Kim joined the OCPS District ESE department as an Instructional Coach supporting teachers across the district K-12. Her role in this position included working with teachers, school staff, parents and administrators in creating effective learning environments for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities instructed in Access Points. Kim's passion for providing access to, participation in and progress within standards-based instruction and what that looks like for a student with the most significant cognitive disability has led her to providing professional development at the district and state levels. She has collaborated with the FLDOE and a team of writers from across the state in developing the access points for content areas. She has trained teachers on the instruction of access points and assessment through the FSAA (Florida Standards Alternate Assessment). For several years she has led a team of curriculum writers in creating resources for the teaching and learning of access points that directly correlate to the general education standards to help facilitate inclusionary opportunities for students with the most significant cognitive disability.

Kim's role at FIN is to collaborate with districts and schools to provide customized services and support ensuring all students with disabilities have the same educational, social, and future opportunities as their peers. FIN facilitates the implementation of best practices for inclusive education through: Data-driven, student-focused planning and problem-solving across districts and schools; Data-driven professional development and technical assistance to increase knowledge and skills of district and school personnel; Coaching and resources for district and school personnel to build and sustain capacity; Sharing information to build collaborative relationships between families, schools and districts.