Introduction to SERC
The Special Education Resolution Center (SERC) has been collaborating with the Oklahoma State Department of Education for 20 years to help families and school districts resolve conflicts at the earliest stage possible. SERC provides services for children from birth to age 3 in SoonerStart and for students ages 3 through 21 in public schools.
The Oklahoma State University Department of Wellness – Sponsored Programs (DOWSP) is the lead agency for SERC.
What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?
- Training on communication and collaboration skills to help prevent conflict.
- An Individualized Education Program (IEP) Facilitator to manage conflict during contentious IEP meetings.
- A mediator to guide a structured process in which parents and personnel can resolve specific issues related to special education.
- A Due Process Hearing Officer at an administrative hearing to resolve, what could not be resolved at an earlier stage. During the resolution time of the process, SERC can provide a facilitator to help the parties discuss the hearing issues in a safe and structured setting and try to resolve them if possible.
View the What Can SERC Do for You PowerPoint
Which Dispute Resolution Option is Best for You?
You may be wondering which dispute resolution process would be the best for you when dealing with special education-related disputes. This dispute chart will help you understand the differences between the three processes offered in Oklahoma. Each of these processes is offered at no cost to schools or parents. Please contact us with any questions related to our dispute resolution processes. We can help you decide which process will work best for your situation.
- View the English version of the dispute resolution chart (PDF)
- View the Spanish version of the dispute resolution chart (PDF)
Director’s Letter
As we head into the spring season, this is a great time to pause and reflect. By now, teams are in a rhythm and patterns have emerged regarding what’s working well and what might be off track. Spring also tends to bring a sense of renewal, and it’s a good reminder that small shifts can make a meaningful difference in how to move forward.
We get a unique view of what’s happening across the state in our work at SERC. One of the things we continue to see is how quickly situations change when conversations become difficult or uncertain. When that happens, it’s very natural for schools or families to try and take control of the process. This may come from a place of wanting to help or move things forward, but it can also make it harder to have open and productive conversations that lead to good decisions.
The individualized education program (IEP) process isn’t isn’t designed for one side to steer the ship. It works best when not one individual owns it, but everyone shares it. There’s space for listening, problem-solving, and keeping the focus on the student when teams stay grounded in collaboration and partnership.
We also continue to see that it’s often the small, intentional efforts that make the biggest difference, like setting expectations ahead of time, making sure everyone is heard, providing clarity on next steps, and following through on action items. These things may seem simple, but they go a long way in preventing misunderstandings and keeping conversations from escalating.
This time of year is also a natural opportunity for us to reflect on our own work at the agency. At SERC, we’re always looking for ways to refine and improve the resources and processes we provide to schools and families. We’re excited to share a few updates as part of this ongoing work. Several of our key resources are now available in Spanish, including our agency overview, facilitation, and mediation flyers, as well as our IEP meeting resource postcards: Communication Guidelines, Asking Questions, and Managing Difficult Emotions.
All of these resources are linked on our website and paired with the English versions. We have also updated our facilitation and mediation request forms, which are now fully available online to support easier access to early resolution options. The new forms are located on our website at their respective webpages for services – SERC’s IEP Facilitation webpage and SERC’s Mediation webpage.
Our goal with these updates is to make resources more accessible and processes easier to navigate so that teams can focus on working together to support students.
As you move through the rest of the school year, I encourage you to take a moment to think about what’s working well within your team and where a slight adjustment might make things easier. In many cases, it doesn’t take much to change the tone of a meeting, the direction of a conversation, or make a positive movement in a working relationship. As Brene Brown says in her book Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, “sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.”
Enjoy the March edition of the SERC Scoop, and as always, please reach out if we can assist you.
Dr. Allison Conch
SERC Assistant Director
SERC Training Opportunities
Facilitation Training
SERC offers Facilitation Training as a one-day training to school district personnel, including administrators and special education directors/staff. The training provides an overview of facilitation, including facilitator qualities and skills, key functions of a facilitator, the facilitator’s role before, during, and after a meeting, along with a toolbox of practical facilitator strategies and techniques to use during a meeting. This training provides helpful resources to those who want to sharpen their skills and tools for facilitating meetings, including difficult meetings! It will also benefit districts wanting to develop in-house facilitators for IEP meetings.
The training is offered in-person with regional classes in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The course is held from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. This training is available at no cost to those attending through our partnership with Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). Choose from the training dates below and register online for the training that fits your schedule. For more information, contact SERC’s Program Coordinator, Rob Keiter, at rob.keiter@okstate.edu.
Spring Semester Facilitation Training Dates
Monday, May 4, 2026
SERC Training Room, Tulsa OK (see registration form for the details)
Register for the May Facilitation Training class
Monday, June 1, 2026
Conference Room A, Mid-Del Technology Center, Midwest City, OK
Register for the June Facilitation Training class
Please note for all Facilitation trainings: If, by three business days before the session, the class does not have at least 10 registrants, the class will be cancelled, and registrants will be notified and allowed to register for another date. Reimbursement for associated travel and sub coverage costs for these trainings is available through OSDE Project 613 funds.
Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue
Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue is a nationally recognized training designed to help people have difficult conversations they are afraid to have or equip people with the tools necessary to have effective conversations. The focus of the training is not just about communication; it’s about helping people get the results they want and need.
Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue is available to participants for free through our partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). To register for a Crucial Conversations class, register online via SERC’s Stakeholder Training webpage or choose from the training dates below. For more information, please contact Rob Keiter, SERC’s Program Coordinator, at rob.keiter@okstate.edu.
Spring Semester Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Dates
Tuesday, May 12, and Wednesday, May 13
Conference Room A, Mid-Del Technology Center, Midwest City, OK
Register for the May Crucial Conversations class
Please note for all Facilitation trainings: If, by three business days before the session, the class does not have at least 10 registrants, the class will be cancelled, and registrants will be notified and allowed to register for another date. Reimbursement for associated travel and sub coverage costs for these trainings is available through OSDE Project 613 funds.
Wisdom Wednesday Webinars
Working together and through conflict to support students with disabilities can be challenging for parents and schools. Learn helpful information, tips, and techniques from the experts you can use to help navigate difficult situations. Join SERC for a free 1.5-hour webinar series every month from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM Central Standard Time (CST). Register today on the SERC’s Wisdom Wednesday Monthly Webinars webpage.
Spring Semester Wisdom Wednesday Webinars
Transition Skills, Activities, and Requirements (ages 14-graduation)
May 6, 2026 – with various school district representatives
Join this webinar to find out how schools can help students with their transition skills in preparing for life after high school. School districts will discuss what their programming looks like related to employment skills, post-secondary education, community participation, and independent living.
Register for the May 2026 SERC Wisdom Wednesday Webinar
Archived Wisdom Wednesday Webinars
SERC has recorded and archived all Wisdom Wednesday Webinars from 2021 to the present. New webinars are added regularly as they are hosted, creating a rich library of insights from experts and leaders across the state and nation in the field of special education. This free resource is invaluable for both parents and educators. Explore the Wisdom Wednesday Webinar archives for various topics of interest or to learn more about SERC’s services—there’s something for everyone.
Additional Resources and Guidance
The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE) Resources
A highly effective way to manage conflict is to prevent it from developing in the first place. Strengthening the ability of systems and individuals to collaborate and solve problems proactively reduces the likelihood of conflict. CADRE, the national organization that SERC emulates in the state of Oklahoma, has provided some great resources for schools and individuals to consider when considering implementing dispute resolution measures. To learn more about prevention resources, visit CADRE’s Prevention webpage.
When disagreements arise, there are several ways to address conflict early such as parent-to-parent coaching, case management, and telephone intermediary services. Early dispute resolution helps teams develop a better understanding of one another and can strengthen relationships and support long‑term collaboration. Conflict does not need to be intimidating or overwhelming; when handled constructively, it can create opportunities for growth. To learn more about disagreement resources, visit CADRE’s Disagreement webpage.
Follow SERC on Social Media
If you haven’t followed us on Instagram and Facebook, you’re missing out! Do you want to stay up to date on the most recent goings-on at the organization, including interviews with our service providers and a glimpse into the day-to-day lives at SERC? Do you want tips and tricks on bridging communication gaps and education for families and parents on dispute resolution? Surely you would benefit from updates on other special education news and happenings in the community that might affect YOU!
Give us a follow on Facebook and Instagram.
Contact SERC
For more information about any of the content in this newsletter, please reach out to SERC Assistant Director, Dr. Allison Fennell-Conch.
Phone: 918-270-1849 or 888-267-0028 (toll-free)
Email: allison.conch@okstate.edu
Special Education Resolution Center
5314 S. Yale Ave
Suite #206
Tulsa, OK 74135