Chris Blake and Elizabeth Monahan explore the role that partnerships play in developing effective teachers working with children and young people who present emotional and behavioural difficulties. A range of innovations in the United States are highlighted and the key emphasis is placed upon a continuum of teacher development.

This article, written from a North American perspective, illustrates that the beginning special educator needs more than just a behavioural "bag of tricks" to help her or him develop confidence in managing the learning environment. Chris Blake and Elizabeth Monahan work from the premise that all teachers need to be systematically trained to use…