Inclusive Systems Change in Secondary Schools with Dr. Jennifer Spencer-Iiams

Inclusive Systems Change in Secondary Schools with Dr. Jennifer Spencer-Iiams

From Think Inclusive by Tim Villegas

February 19, 2026 · 1h 10m · Season 13 · Episode 22

About this episode

Dr. Jennifer Spencer-Iiams discusses the journey towards authentic inclusion in school systems and the importance of collaboration among educators.

Dr. Jennifer Spencer-Iiams is a prominent educational leader with a focus on transformative change in school inclusion practices. Serving as Deputy Superintendent in a medium-sized school district in Oregon, she co-authored "Leading for All: How to Create Truly Inclusive and Excellent Schools." Her leadership has driven initiatives that foster collaboration among educators to effectively include students with diverse learning needs in general education settings. In this episode of Think Inclusive, host Tim Villegas engages with Dr. Jennifer Spencer-Iiams in an insightful discussion about the journey towards authentic inclusion in school systems. As a leading advocate for inclusive education, Dr. Spencer-Iiams dismantles the myth that inclusion is a "one size fits all" approach. Instead, she underscores the necessity for schools to anticipate variability in classrooms and promote collaboration among educators to cater to diverse educational needs. Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/inclusive-systems-change-in-secondary-schools-with-dr-jennifer-spencer-iiams-1322/

People in this episode

Host: Tim Villegas

Guest: Dr. Jennifer Spencer-Iiams

Topics covered

  • inclusive education
  • school systems
  • transformative change
  • collaboration among educators
  • diverse learning needs

Keywords

  • inclusive education
  • school inclusion practices
  • educational leader
  • collaboration
  • diverse learning needs

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Oregon

Books & works: Leading for All: How to Create Truly Inclusive and Excellent Schools

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