CSIU is a service provider that delivers special education programs and services at the request of the 17 districts in CSIU's five-county region.
Terri Locke, Director of Special Education and Alternative Placement, reviewed the offerings of the Special Education Department, including:
Multiple Disabilities Support
Autism Support
Deaf/Hard of Hearing Support
Work Foundations
5 Star
Itinerant Services
Whether they are in a district's classroom or a center, the programs are created after careful thought and planning annually by numerous CSIU and district stakeholders.
Annual Legislative Breakfast The Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU) welcomed local legislators and regional superintendents to the CSIU central office on Jan. 22, 2026, for its annual Legislative Breakfast, reinforcing a shared commitment to public education across the region.
In attendance were Senator Lynda Schlegel-Culver and Representative Michael Stender, along with legislative staff representing U.S. Representative G. T. Thompson and state Representatives Stephanie Borowicz and David Rowe. The event provided an opportunity for direct conversation between policymakers and educational leaders.
Superintendents from across the region highlighted initiatives making a positive impact in their districts, including workforce-readiness efforts, behavioral health supports, and expanded agricultural programming. They also addressed the ongoing opportunities and challenges facing schools and emphasized the importance of ongoing collaboration with state and federal leaders.
Schlegel-Culver, chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, outlined current education priorities and legislative considerations.
Legislators were celebrated with a presentation of handcrafted wooden s’mores boxes created through a collaborative effort between students in the Work Foundations+ program and the North Central Secure Treatment Unit. The project showcased student skills and highlighted the value of partnership and opportunity.
The Legislative Breakfast continues to serve as an important forum for connection and collaboration, keeping students, schools, and communities at the center of education and policy discussions.
Innovation Summit The CSIU recently hosted an Innovation Summit in collaboration with the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce. Regional leaders and experts came together to explore emerging technologies and forward-thinking practices to shape the future workforce. The event highlighted how artificial intelligence, workforce alignment and innovation strengthen systems across the CSIU service region. The Summit reinforced CSIU’s commitment to positioning the region at the forefront of responsible and strategic artificial intelligence (AI) integration.
The work is deepened through the 2025-26 AI Fellowship Program, which convenes cross-departmental educators and administrators to examine problems in current practices and explore how AI can enhance efficiency, decision-making, and student outcomes. The next session on March 10 will feature AI solution providers aligned directly to those identified challenges, creating a structured opportunity for thoughtful vetting, application and implementation planning.
On April 7, in partnership with IU18, CSIU will host a student-centered AI event welcoming students, teachers, and central office administrators. The session will focus on practical classroom integration, student skill development and governance considerations to ensure ethical and effective use of AI in schools.
Internally, CSIU launched an “AI 101” course, developed by Tanya Dynda and Abbey Flick with support from Jeff Kay and Matt Sherwood. The foundational course has been deployed to all CSIU employees and is slated for completion by the end of February. Building on this baseline knowledge, a subsequent course focused on higher-level applications, including meta-prompting, AI as a thought partner, agentic workflows, and custom GPT creation, will be developed. The next-level competencies will be tailored to multiple employee roles and job classifications, reinforcing the CSIU’s commitment to building organizational capacity in a systematic and scalable way.
Spring Happenings Preview CSIU will host a series of interconnected events that reflect its commitment to supporting the whole child while strengthening the systems that serve them.
In March, the youth mental health summit will bring together educators and community partners to move beyond awareness toward actionable strategies that strengthen prevention, intervention, and coordinated care. At the same time, the growing eSports initiative continues to expand student engagement by fostering teamwork, digital citizenship, and career-connected skills in technology and communications.
The AI Fellows program will reconvene to deepen implementation efforts aligned to real practices across divisions, advancing responsible AI integration that improves efficiency, instructional design, and decision-making. Through TinkerWorks, students will engage in hands-on, inquiry-driven STEM experiences that cultivate creativity, problem-solving, and innovation. Student voice and expression will be celebrated through the regional art reception in May. The showcase highlights the talent and creativity of learners across the CSIU service area.
With continued support from the CSIU Board and leadership, the CSIU continues to strengthen student well-being, expand meaningful engagement opportunities, encourage innovation, and celebrate the creativity that exists across the CSIU region. Together, these initiatives reflect the organization's direction and unwavering commitment to students, staff, and the communities served.
Upcoming Board Meetings: March 18, April 15, May 20, and June 17
