This month's Alumni Spotlight features Isaac Nathanson. As a graduate of NJCTL's Special Education (TOSD) Endorsement Program, he is making a powerful impact at Red Bank Middle School as an in-class support special education teacher.

Stepping into his current fourth-grade role mid-year to cover a maternity leave, he quickly navigated IEP meetings and state testing. As part of a school-wide inclusion pilot, he begins each day with small group phonics instruction before supporting students in the general education classroom.

Isaac's path to education wasn't traditional. After earning a business degree and working in hospitality, he discovered his passion through coaching. "I always felt most alive when I was coaching kids," he reflects.

He later earned his elementary teaching certification and has spent more than 20 years supporting preschool through eighth grade students. Sitting in on IEP meetings and watching special education teachers advocate for their students confirmed he had found his calling.

Today, Isaac participates in a district pilot strengthening Specially Designed Instruction (SDI), aligning lessons to IEP goals, documenting supports, adapting content for grade-level access, and using assessment data to guide decisions. The program elevates special education teachers from support providers to instructional leaders--a role he says NJCTL well prepared him for.

Encouraged by his school to pursue his TOSD endorsement, he chose NJCTL because of its flexible structure. Balancing full-time work as a teacher and school athletic director, along with coaching and other responsibilities, required a program he could complete on his own timetable.

Isaac also found the coursework directly applicable. For example, the emphasis on writing measurable IEP goals, analyzing assessment data, and understanding special education law prepared him for the realities of the classroom. "I didn't realize the true value of the IEP until I took these NJCTL courses," he explains. "The research-based strategies and practical assignments have been a lifesaver!"

In addition to his classroom roles, Isaac coaches multiple sports and runs a morning intramural program that gives students an outlet for physical activity and connection. "Creating a culture where kids feel connected and part of a team--that's my favorite thing," he says.

Looking back, Isaac credits NJCTL with making this chapter possible. "I was four classes short of finishing my master's years ago and didn't think I'd ever go back to school," he says. "This program made it possible. Anyone who wants to be successful in special education should go through it."

We are proud to spotlight Isaac and celebrate the leadership, dedication, and sense of purpose he brings to his students and school community.