The National Post-School Outcome Center (NPSO) is announcing staff updates for the NPSO. First, we would like to congratulate and welcome to the NPSO team Charlotte Alverson and Ryan Kellems. We are hiring these two dynamic and qualified individuals through the national search for knowledge development and technical assistance positions with the NPSO. Brief bios are provided below.
Second, with sadness and yet well-wishes, we are announcing that Jane Falls, NPSO co-director, will take a new position this summer with the Springfield School District in Oregon as the Principal for Gateways Alternative Schooland in addition work with the district creating options for students challenged by current comprehensive high school structures including drop out prevention and recovery strategies. She will be missed but we value her choice to work directly with youth and schools. Her dedication, expertise, and joyfulness will be missed. *Brief Bios:* *Charlotte Alverson* is currently a research associate for the NPSO and Secondary Special Education and Transition (SSET) research unit. She completed her Ph.D. from the UO in 2008 in Special Education. She has provided product development and technical assistance activities to the NPSO for the last five years and brings a wealth of practical experience as a former special education teacher and administrator. Her research and TA interests include post-school outcomes, secondary special education programming for students with moderate and severe disabilities, and program evaluation. *Jane Falls* has dedicated twenty-four years to the TACS/WRRC and NPSO in designing, coordinating and delivering targeted high quality technical assistance (TA) and product development for State Special Education Agencies in all states and jurisdictions related to a variety of topics including: secondary and transition programs; systems to collect and use post-school outcome data to improve services for youth with disabilities; Individual Education Programs; self-determination; family engagement; general and special education collaboration; State Improvement Grants/comprehensive systems of personnel development; and State Performance Plans and Annual Performance Reports. *Ryan Kellems* is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Kansas in Special Education where he has been the recipient of an OSEP funded doctoral leadership grant focused on transition and has worked with the Kansas Department of Education State Improvement Grants and will graduate in July before joining the NPSO. His dissertation examines the use of video iPods to teach young adults with autism vocational skills. Ryan is a former high school social studies and special education teacher who brings a variety of transition related knowledge and skills to the NPSO in addition to his love of technology. Respectfully, Deanne Unruh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Deanne Unruh, Ph.D. NPSO, Co-Director University of Oregon 541-346-1424
