Building Inclusive Schools: From Belief to Practice with Michele Gardner
From Think Inclusive by Tim Villegas
April 9, 2026 · 56 min · Season 13 · Episode 28
About this episode
Michele Gardner discusses the transformation of inclusive education from belief to practice in schools.
Michele Gardner is the interim CEO at All In for Inclusive Education, an organization dedicated to fostering inclusive practices in educational institutions. With over 25 years of experience in the New Jersey public school system, Michelle has held various roles such as special education teacher, paraprofessional, assistant principal, and director of special services. Additionally, she has been an adjunct instructor at the College of New Jersey, teaching future educators, and earning acclaim for her leadership in inclusive education. Her efforts focus on supporting systemic change through coaching, consultation, and professional development for educators and administrators. In this insightful episode of "Think Inclusive," Tim Villegas hosts Michele Gardner, interim CEO of All In for Inclusive Education, to discuss the intricacies of systemic change towards inclusive education. Tim and Michelle delve into how schools and districts can transform inclusive education from a mere belief to a practice embraced in every classroom. They explore core themes of systems change, capacity building, and mindset shift in educational environments, spotlighting the journey from exclusionary…
People in this episode
Host: Tim Villegas
Guest: Michele Gardner
Topics covered
- inclusive education
- systemic change
- educational practices
- capacity building
- mindset shift
Keywords
- inclusive practices
- education
- special education
- system change
- professional development
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: All In for Inclusive Education, College of New Jersey
Places: New Jersey
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