Information Specialist
WestEd Program Associate Cybčle Elaine Werts provides special education research and technological technical assistance to state departments of special education and other clients in the Northeast.
A member of WestEd's Northeast Regional Resource Center (NERRC) staff, Werts helps states increase their capacity to provide training and collaboration through innovative technologies such as webcasts, podcasts, and online surveys. With Werts' training and support, the state of Massachusetts recently provided training on its Birth-to-Three database using WestEd's Horizon Wimba webcast platform. This online training saved travel costs for more than 60 participants and provided Massachusetts with the opportunity to retrain using the archived materials.
Werts serves as NERRC website administrator and frequently seeks solutions to technological issues and challenges. She designed and manages NERRC Central, which tracks staff activity on hundreds of technical assistance projects and information requests. This online system processes evaluation data, creates weekly, monthly, and quarterly progress reports, and allows for Internet accessibility of NERRC's electronic library.
She also developed a series of podcasts on using technology as a tool for collaboration and training. The series includes introductory information on podcasts, webinars, wikis, really simple syndication (RSS), online survey applications, and digital photography. Developed for NERRC's Part C Coordinators, this series is useful for anyone who wants to use technology as a tool for professional development and/or collaboration.
In addition to web-related work, Werts supports NERRC, as well as the Regional Resource and Federal Center network, with data analysis, evaluation work, and online survey design. She helps produce NERRC's annual Progress Report, which is submitted to the Office for Special Education Programs (OSEP), as well as a variety of both internal and external data-related reports such as the
State Part B Indicator Reports, also submitted to OSEP.
In collaboration with the North Central Regional Resource Center, Werts is developing a protocol and reporting system to measure quality, relevance, and usefulness of national information requests related to special education.
She has authored a series of articles, interviews, and podcasts focusing on technology and knowledge management for
Information Outlook, the journal of the Special Libraries Association.
Prior to joining WestEd in 2000, Werts owned her own business, providing writing, technology, and photography services to the northern Vermont area. Her clients included IBM, Bombardier Capital, and Jazzercise Inc. She also has written for a number of publications.
Werts received a BS in video production and an MA in educational technology, both from San Diego State University.
Tel: 802.951.8224
802.951.8222802.951.8227
Email: cwerts@wested.org
Mailing Address:Learning Innovations at WestEd
20 Winter Sport Lane
Williston, Vermont 05495-8134
Project Work:
Northeast Regional Resource Center
