James Sands

Name:  James P. Sands

Location: Available Statewide in Wisconsin

Mediation and IEP Facilitation Training:

• CADRE’S 8th National Symposium on Alternative Dispute Resolution in Special Education, Fall, 2021

• Mediation Training Program, Certificate of Completion, Institute of Conflict Studies, Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• Wisconsin Special Education Mediation System, 5-Day Intensive and Annual Updates

• IEP Facilitation, 5 Day Intensive, Indiana State University, Joint Training with Parents and Special Education Administrators

• Restorative Justice Mediation, Tippecanoe County Youth Services, Lafayette, Indiana

• Restorative Justice Conference and Update, University of Wisconsin, Platteville, Wisconsin

• Mediation and Group Conference Training, Certificate of Completion, Northeast Iowa Community College, Dubuque, Iowa

Education:

• Education Specialist (Education Administration), Western Illinois University

• Master of Science (Special Education), University of Northern Iowa

• Bachelor of Science (Special Education), University of Dubuque

• Graduate Studies (Orthopedic and Other Health Impairments), Ball State University

Current Position:

Private Practice Mediator and Facilitator

Mediation/Facilitation/Special Education Experience:

• Mediator and IEP Facilitator, Wisconsin Special Education Mediation System

• Mediator and Facilitator, Restorative Practices, Dubuque Community Foundation, Dubuque, Iowa

• Mediator and Facilitator, Restorative Practices, Dubuque YMCA/YWCA, Dubuque, Iowa

• IEP Facilitator, Indiana School Districts;

• Special Education Director, Assistant Director, Supervisor, and Principal, Indiana and Iowa

• Special Education Consultant, and Educational Diagnostician, Mississippi Bend, Bettendorf, Iowa;

• Special Education Teacher and Transition Specialist, Dubuque Community Schools, Dubuque, Iowa;

• Adjunct Professor, Teaching Courses in Legal Issues, Collaboration, Assessment, Emotional Disabilities, Mild Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana;

• Adjunct Professor, Teaching Courses in Mild Disabilities, Emotional Disabilities, and Learning Disabilities, Indiana University Northwest, Gary, Indiana;

• Areas of expertise include parent/school collaboration, behavior intervention, mild interventions, intense interventions, autism, early childhood integration, high school transition services, providing mental health services in public schools, and strategies to avoid litigation

• Positive reputation in building trust with schools and parents in dispute resolution

• Co-Presenter with special education attorney on IEP Implementation for Students with Orthopedic and Health Impairments

• Co-Presenter with parents on IEP Development

Perspectives on Special Education Mediation/Facilitation (I will):

• Actively listen to both parties and remain neutral

• Create a safe and confidential place where parties can explain their positions

• Guide both parties to remain focused on the student

• Promote open communication and collaboration between families and districts

• Support both parties as they work towards solutions in reaching agreement