1. Our mission is to provide children with special needs the opportunity for an inclusive Catholic education in their home parish schools.

2. Highlights Video on Inclusion & FIRE Inclusion trends
What is FIRE NE Iowa?
Next Steps for FIRE NE Iowa
Ways to get involved & ways to continue to grow your own schools inclusive education program.
Packet for each principal.

3. FIRE Video

4. Inclusion Trends Mindy & Tom – what do you want
On the inclusion slides……

5. Mission
Our mission is to provide children with special needs the opportunity for an inclusive Catholic education in their home parish schools.
FIRE NE Iowa lights the way for children with special needs to
share in the opportunities, challenges and faith-based
education that Catholic schools provide.

6. Two Major Pillars Two Major Pillars of Purpose
FIRE serves as a FUNDER, raising monies that are granted to partner schools & for special projects.
Schools use grant funds to create successful learning experiences
for students with special needs.
FIRE serves as an ADVOCATE for inclusive education. Our Foundation promotes inclusion as a best practice to schools within our Diocese as well as to inquirers from other communities and regions of the country through education and consultation.
Not the experts but have connections to the inclusion experts

7. Inclusion in the United States
Information pulled from the National Catholic Board on Full Inclusion

8. Inclusion in Northeast Iowa

9. FIRE & the Schmitz Family

10. What has FIRE NE Iowa IGNITED over the last year?

11. August 22, 2016 Ignited in Partnership with KC

12. 501c3 Organization by the IRS
We Became Official
501c3 Organization by the IRS
Non Profit
Charitable

13. Kansas City, MO on February 22 – 24, 2017 Grant Award Winners
13 administrators & teachers representing 9 schools and the archdiocese school office & 2 FIRE NE Iowa Reps

14. Kansas City, MO on February 22 – 24, 2017 Grant Award Winners
Archdiocese of Dubuque Catholic Schools Office Representative:  Mindy Hart
Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta Representative: Tom Novotney
Beckman Catholic High School Representative:  Pat Meade
Columbus Catholic High School Representative: Dale Monroe
St. Joseph / Immaculate Conception Representatives: Sharon Mayer & Janice Rosauer
Mazzuchelli Middle School Representatives: Jill Jhohmann & Carrie Massey-Watters
Newman Catholic Representatives: Victoria Ries & Keely Weiner
Sacred Heart Catholic School Representative: Jori Ohrt
St. Columbkille School Representative: Barb Roling
Saint Edward Catholic School Representative: Aaron Becker
Inclusion in Catholic and Parochial Schools: Welcoming and Supporting Students with Special Needs
Kansas City, MO on February 22 – 24, 2017

15. Ignite Inclusion Committee
To share best inclusion practices, brainstorm creative ideas on how to grow inclusion offerings in our schools, network with others that value inclusion, share challenges, share strengths of what is already being done, plus more. Tom Novoteny – Chair Vicki Ries, Aaron Becker, Dale Monroe, Sharon Mayer, Janice Rosauer, Barb Roling, Mindy Hart, Kelley Harbach, Kristi Holien, Becky Schmelzer
The Inclusion philosophy is everywhere – playgrounds, work, schools, etc.

16. Inclusion Summit 2 Prior to the NCEA Conference
Two FIRE NE Iowa Reps attended.

17. NCEA Exceptional Learners Conference Grant Award Winners
Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta Representative: Tom Novotney Newman Catholic Representative: Victoria Ries

18. FIRE NE Iowa Board of Directors

19. FIRE NE Iowa Board of Directors
12 Board of Directors as of July 1, 2017

20. Board of Directors Erin Schmitz (Jesup), President
Tom Novoteny (Waterloo), Co-Vice President
Kristi Holien (Calmar), Co-Vice President
Bruce Schmitz (Jesup), Co-Secretary
Kim Grzywacz (Ames), Co-Secretary
Teresa Schmitz (Jesup), Treasurer
Braxton Chicchelly (Brandon / Cedar Rapids)
Renee Mchann (Dubuque)
Julie Drake (Dubuque)
Becky Schmelzer (Durango)
Craig Riendel (Mason City)
Vicki Ries (Mason City)

21. Additional Activities
Prince of Peace Lenten Project
Gilbertville Daze Parade

22. Next Steps for FIRE NE Iowa
Grant Opportunities
Share your schools inclusion story with us!
Nominate a rock star inclusion leader from your school!
Winners will receive $1000 towards their schools
inclusive education program.
Applications will be open on October 15th
Special Projects
Partner Schools
Awareness / Advocacy
Through a variety of different channels
Talk through Partner Schools

23. Grow Your Schools Inclusive Education Program By Getting Involved
Join the Ignite Inclusion Committee
Day of Prayer for Inclusion (toolkit posted by mid-Sept)
December 1, 2017 – Schools
December 2 – 3, 2017 – Churches
Professional Development Opportunities
Mustard Seed Project Conference
VICKI”S class name
Inclusion Summit hosted by Inclusion Connection in Cedar Falls
NCEA Exceptional Learners Conference
Loyola University Inclusion Certificate
Norte Dame – Program for Inclusive Education
* Encourage you to look at the Exceptional Learner Whitepaper
Partnership with NCEA & the Greenley Center

24. Get FIREd Up! Like Our Facebook Page Follow Us on Twitter
Explore Our Website
Principals Tab
Subscribe to FIREworks Newsletter
Become an Ignite Inclusion Committee Member

25. Questions

26. Thank You!
Contact Info: FIRE Foundation of Northeast Iowa PO Box 211 Raymond, Iowa