2026 CASE Conference

From Conflict to Collaboration: Lessons from Oklahoma’s CADRE Early Dispute Resolution Pilot (Room 554 A/B)

11 Nov 26
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Tracks: Conflict Resolution: Resolving Challenges

Speaker(s): JESSICA CLAYTON, Director of Special Services, Duncan Public Schools; Kimberly Baxter, Director of Special Services, McAlester Public Schools, Oklahoma; Allison Fennell-Conch, Assistant Director, Special Education Resolution Center ; Sharon Long, Executive Director, Oklahoma Parents Center; Joe Rohr, Special Education Director, Noble Public Schools; Christan Resz, Program Manager, Dispute Resolution, Oklahoma State Department of Education

Special education leadership often feels like a balancing act between compliance and relationship-building. In this session, leaders from the Special Education Resolution Center (SERC), The Oklahoma Parent’s Center (OPC)), the Oklahoma State Dept of Special Education, and three districts selected for Oklahoma’s inaugural CADRE Workgroup Pilot- Duncan Public Schools, Noble Public Schools, and McAlester Public Schools —share a roadmap for transforming district-level dispute resolution. Participants will explore how a multi-year partnership between the state department, parent centers, and local districts has moved the needle from reactive "firefighting" to proactive, interest-based collaboration. We will dive into the "boots on the ground" implementation of early resolution strategies, including Restorative Practices, Pre-IEP collaborative planning, and data transparency. Attendees will leave with a practical toolkit to assess their own district’s capacity and implement "easy-win" takeaways that preserve parent-school partnerships and keep the focus on student outcomes.