Utilizing Communication and Conflict Management Skills to Sustain Co-Teaching Partnerships

This paper explores the connectedness between communication and conflict management skills and co-teaching partnerships and school administrative support. After decades of educational reform, researchers focus on the need for educator collaboration, data-driven decision making, and least restrictive environments for students with special needs. In order to meet federal and state regulations, schools have incorporated co-teaching models as a means to include students with disabilities and expose them to grade level content with highly qualified teachers in the least restrictive environment. The most important component of co-teaching is the development of a professional working partnership between the two co-teachers. Focus on developing clear communication and conflict management skills is imperative to support and sustain the partnership along with school administrative support