74 facilitators receiving training in special ed case management.

By THE STAR STAFF

Education Secretary Eliezer Ramos Parés announced on Wednesday a series of specialized training sessions in conflict mediation for 74 instructional facilitators in the Special Education Program, with the aim of improving case management and strengthening dialogue between families and school teams.

“Through this initiative, we equip our staff with practical tools to handle disagreements in a timely manner, facilitate collaborative processes, and strengthen effective communication within school environments,” Ramos Parés said in a written statement.

Alayra Figueroa González, the program’s associate secretary, noted that the effort seeks to improve the way meetings are conducted and how sensitive situations are addressed, thereby strengthening the staff’s capacity to support families and foster more agile, collaborative processes.

“Behind every meeting, there is a family seeking to be heard and a team striving to do what is right,” she said. “Therefore, strengthening our staff’s mediation skills is fundamental to reaching effective agreements, preventing conflicts, and ensuring fairer and more sensitive processes.”

The workshops are aimed at instructional facilitators who provide specialized technical support and guidance to schools. The initiative also seeks to bolster their capacity to conduct meetings -- particularly those related to the Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Topics covered include strategies for managing disagreements, mediation techniques applicable to IEP and service review meetings, as well as tools for the prevention and early resolution of conflicts. The program also reinforces professional practices aligned with current regulations and promotes respectful interaction among all members of the educational team.

The sessions began last month and will continue through next week. They are being held in person at various campuses of the University of Puerto Rico.

The initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the Technical Assistance and Instructional Support Unit and the Institute for Training and Professional Development, both under the Office of Human Resources Administration and Transformation.