Building a Culture of Inclusion and Belonging

Nov 25, 2025

In this engaging conversation, Tim Villegas, Director of Communications at the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education and host of the Think Inclusive Podcast, discusses his journey as an inclusionist. He emphasizes the significance of designing schools to be inclusive, emphasizing equity over uniformity. Tim shares insights from successful co-teaching experiences that enhance student engagement and explores how community involvement fosters belonging. He advocates for genuine inclusion that embraces all learners, challenging traditional education models to be more reflective of real life.

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INSIGHT

Inclusion Means Designing For Belonging

Tim Villegas defines inclusion as designing schools so everyone belongs, not just placing students together.
Inclusion requires planning, hospitable environments, and consideration of each child's strengths.

ANECDOTE

Co-Teaching Shift That Changed A Classroom

Tim describes moving students from a segregated special education room into grade-level classes via co-teaching partnerships.
The shift increased engagement and made lessons richer for all students despite early challenges.

ADVICE

Teach Equity And Use Planned Supports

Explain equity to students: fairness means giving each person what they need, not the same thing.
Use planned supports and debriefs rather than immediate punishment to teach regulation.

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Emily Kircher-Morris is joined by Tim Villegas, the Director of Communications at the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE) and the founder and host of the Think Inclusive Podcast, to discuss the concept of inclusion in education. The idea is to create inclusive environments for all students, and Tim shares his personal journey toward that goal, and insights on how to create such an environment. They talk about the importance of community, equity, and meaningful contributions in schools, as well as the challenges faced in inclusive classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS

Inclusion is a powerful word that means different things to different people.
School should be a place where everyone belongs, regardless of their needs.
Being fair means providing everyone with what they need, not just the same thing.
Community plays a crucial role in fostering inclusion in schools.
Inclusion is not just about placing students in general education settings; it's about creating supportive environments.
Schools should aim to be more like real life, accommodating all learners.

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Tim Villegas is the Director of Communications at the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE) and the founder and host of the Think Inclusive Podcast, a long-running show dedicated to building bridges between families, educators, and advocates in the disability and inclusion space. With a background as a special education teacher and instructional coach, Tim brings over a decade of classroom experience to his work in advancing equity and inclusive practices in schools.

Through his leadership at MCIE and his widely respected podcast, Tim has become a national voice for inclusive education—amplifying the stories, research, and strategies that help create learning environments where all students belong. His work focuses on shifting mindsets, promoting systemic change, and centering the lived experiences of students with disabilities and their families.

BACKGROUND READING

Tim's links and info

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