Emerson Middle School is partnering with the University of Kansas this school year to help shape the future of writing instruction for adolescents with disabilities.
Special education teachers Rebecca Bard and Ethan Tait, along with Principal Tessa Schulman, have volunteered to take part in Project iSTAR. Running from October 2026 through May 2027, the research project focuses on putting an innovative writing platform into action and helping refine it, so students can thrive and families can stay closely connected to the classroom.
Emerson classrooms will play a direct role in how the program develops. Rebecca and Ethan began their work on the initiative this October by completing two days of professional development with university research professors. Along with onsite observations and further training, Emerson staff and students will share real-time feedback to ensure the platform is effective and supports student learning.
Through their participation, Rebecca and Ethan are supporting a long-term effort to improve student proficiency on district writing evaluations, build stronger connections between home and school, and make personalized writing tools available to students nationwide. Their work also helps ensure the program's sustainability for years to come through ongoing SIM teacher training and micro-credentialing.
The iSTAR platform is built around proven SIM Writing Strategies. As students write, the program automatically scores sentences and paragraphs to provide immediate support. It also features interactive dashboards, giving teachers, students, families, and school administrators an easy way to communicate and track progress.
Congratulations and thank you to Ethan Tait, Rebecca Bard, and Principal Schulman for their leadership, hard work, and dedication to Emerson students!
