Toby’s conversation centers on the power and purpose of effective co-teaching, highlighting how Amber Benson and Ruby Voss—an experienced math team from Southwest Virginia—have built a nearly decade-long partnership grounded in continuous growth, complementary strengths, and shared leadership. They describe co-teaching as an evolving craft, emphasizing that great educators “teach each year” rather than repeating the same year 30 times. The duo reflects on their active involvement in professional communities such as the Association for Middle Level Education and the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative, underscoring their belief that presenting and learning go hand in hand. They discuss how their distinct roles—curriculum development aligned with the Virginia Department of Education Standards of Learning and innovative instructional strategies with specially designed instruction—create a balanced, student-centered classroom.

I'm Determined - The home of the Determined team, who develop resources and professional learning around inclusive instruction and co-teaching practices.

Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) – Referenced in relation to professional involvement, conference presentations, and ongoing growth in middle-level education.

Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative – Mentioned in connection with their work and collaboration around effective co-teaching practices.

Virginia Department of Education – Referenced regarding curriculum alignment and the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs).

Captivate: Engaging and Empowering Students in a World of Digital Distractions

by Dr. Marc Isseks

#TobyKarten #Karten’sInclusionConversations #KIC #Inclusion #AmberBenson #RubyRoss #Benson&Ross #CoTeaching #TeachingEachYear #EducatorGrowth #TeacherCollaboration #InclusiveClassrooms #ProfessionalLearning #MiddleSchoolMatters #TeacherLeadership #InstructionalInnovation #StudentCenteredLearning #EducationPodcast #TeacherDevelopment #CollaborationInAction #StandardsBasedTeaching #GrowthMindsetInEducation

For more information please visit https://inclusionworkshops.com/