Morning sessions
Keynote Address
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes - Building Belonging from Birth On
Belonging is the feeling of being appreciated, validated, and treated fairly (Cobb and Krownapple, 2019). It is the goal of educational frameworks, like Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), to create climates and cultures in schools, where learners of all ages can obtain a sense of belonging and connection. By dreaming out loud, we have the ability to create these spaces with the practices we employ to honor dignity and affirm those we serve.
A01 - Small Bodies...Big Issues
(Behavior)
Room #: Mezzanine
Presenter: Dr. Gina Scala
Young children have BIG issues, whether we want to believe it or not. Frequently, it is difficult to imagine the situations which affect our youngest academically, behaviorally, emotionally, and/or socially. It is too easy to attribute the cause to one area. An ecological approach may be an area to develop to meet the unique needs of the child. Participants will review a systematic approach to deal with the areas of concern. Educators and families are the most significant contributors in this process. We will identify the most significant and challenging issues associated with our young children and determine strategies to implement. Humor and taking risks will be required for entry to this session!
Audience: Early Childhood, Elementary General and Special Educators, Administrators/Supervisors, Paraprofessionals, Substitutes, University Students, Agency Personnel, Parents, School Nurses
A02 - School Nursing Rounds: Be Prepared for School Emergencies
(Health/Mental Health)
Room #: 125
Presenter: Ms. Sandra Moritz
Examination of school emergencies that have occurred in schools will be examined. These scenarios will better prepare school nurses and those caring for students when emergencies occur. Cases involving seizures, anaphylaxis, sudden cardiac arrest, choking, and others will be reviewed to improve your emergency response.
Audience: Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, and High School General and Special Educators, Administrators/Supervisors, Paraprofessionals, Agency Personnel, Substitutes, School Nurses
A03 - Embracing the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Revolution in Education
(Technology)
Room #: 121
Presenter: Mr. Tim Leister
This interactive workshop will provide an in-depth understanding of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is shaping the future of education and the skills students need in this rapidly changing world. Participants will learn about the latest tools and technologies (like ChatGPT), explore new pedagogical approaches, and share best practices. If you’re new to AI or looking to expand your knowledge, this opportunity will provide educators of all levels with skills and ability to explore AI integration into current practices.
Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High School General and Special Educators, Administrators/Supervisors, Paraprofessionals, University Students
A04 - Introduction to Restorative Practices and Circles
(Behavior)
Room #: 127
Presenters: Ms. Rachel Bixler and Ms. Christy Winski
Restorative Practices is the science of strengthening relationships between individuals as well as connections within communities. When put into practice, students experience a sense of safety and belonging that result in improved behavior, less violence, and less bullying. Implementing restorative practices is essential for creating a positive learning environment, building social connections, and problem-solving. During this introductory experience, participants will learn the fundamental theory and explore practices to proactively and responsively develop and sustain relationships that foster commUNITY in learning environments.
Audience: Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, and High School General and Special Educators, Administrators/Supervisors, Paraprofessionals, Substitutes, Agency Personnel, University Students, Parents, School Nurses
A05 - Building Hope and Compassion Resilience in Yourself and Others
(Health/Mental Health)
Room #: 126
Presenter: Dr. Anne Kinderwater Carroll
Did you know that hope is a science? And it is a predictor of well-being? The work we do can compromise our wellness and cloud our aspirations for work/life balance. A hope-centered approach incorporates three components: agency, pathways, and goals. Hope is the framework for action to promote well-being and achievement for individuals, center trust and connection in relationships, and aid institutions in creating a culture of wellness. Participants will explore building hope, compassion, and resilience in ourselves and others. Time will be provided for the review of hope scales and defining future success.
Audience: Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, and High School General and Special Educators, Administrators/Supervisors, Paraprofessionals, Substitutes, University Students, Agency Personnel, Parents, School Nurses
A06 - Not All Decodables Are Created Equal!
(Literacy)
Room #: 130
Presenter: Ms. Amy Estrada
What does research say about the five must-have features for high-quality decodable text? With the Science of Reading research forefront in literacy instruction, decodable text is essential. Knowing the "why" behind your resources is critical as a literacy instructor. In this interactive session, participants will examine the work of phonics expert Dr. Wiley Blevins to explore the top five elements of effective decodable text and what comes next for students as they transition out of decodable text.
Audience: Elementary General and Special Educators, Administrators/Supervisors, Paraprofessionals, Substitutes, University Students
A07 - Working with The Culture of Poverty
(Behavior)
Room #: 129
Presenter: Dr. Bettie Bertram
Poverty isn't just a financial index; it is also the culture of a very high percentage of people in our country. It's more than just understanding someone doesn't have money. It's about understanding the way that they speak, the norms within their day-to-day connections with each other, the center of their world, and what they find most important. We learned to communicate and participate in various cultures to bring all of us forward as one community. Let's grow together.
Audience: Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, and High School General and Special Educators, Administrators/Supervisors, Paraprofessionals, Substitutes, University Students, Agency Personnel, Parents, School Nurses
A08 - Intervention Matching
(Math)
Room #: 122
Presenter: Mr. Jared Campbell
Providing an intervention when students struggle to learn math is not enough to ensure success. Educators must make sure it is the right match in terms of content and instruction. In this session, educators will learn about the instructional hierarchy as a framework for learning. Participants will use this framework to organize instruction/intervention approaches and examine how to best assess to determine which stage students are at in relation to specific math content.
Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High School General and Special Educators, Administrators/Supervisors, Paraprofessionals, University Students
A09 - Inclusion is FAB-ulous! An Overview of the Framework for Access & Belonging
(Low Incidence)
Room #: 123
Presenter: Dr. Lisa Russo
The Framework for Access and Belonging (FAB) was created to improve the Supplementary Aides and Services Toolkit. During this overview, participants will learn the foundational concepts of the FAB, how to begin the FAB and be Introduced to the three phases of the FAB process.
Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High School General and Special Educators, Administrators/Supervisors, Paraprofessionals, Parents
A10 - Tier 1 Small Group Reading Instruction for the Upper Elementary Grades: Instruct with Intention
(Literacy)
Room #: 124
Presenter: Ms. Karen Brady
Intentional small group instruction is an important component of an effective Tier 1 literacy block, especially for students at-risk for reading difficulties. This session is intended to take key recommendations from the Institute for Education Sciences (IES) practice guide for struggling students in the upper grades and apply it to the delivery of upper elementary small group instruction. Participants will discuss areas of focus and instructional options to apply in the classroom or school to support students' learning during Tier 1 small group instruction.
Audience: Elementary General and Special Educators, Administrators/Supervisors, Substitutes, University Students
A11-Functional Behavioral Assessment of School Refusal Behaviors
(Behavior)
Room #: 135
Presenter: Dr. Caitlin Bennyhoff
With chronic attendance challenges on the rise, there is a population of students who require a closer look to determine effective next steps. Using a functional behavioral assessment approach to evaluating school refusal behaviors helps educators start to answer “why” students may be missing significant amounts of school to increase the efficacy of interventions. Participants will (a) learn why it is important to determine the function of school refusal behavior, (b) learn about accessible assessment tools for determining functions of school refusal and attendance challenges, and (c) review strategies and interventions that match functions of school refusal.
Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High School General and Special Educators, Administrators/ Supervisors, Psychologists, Behavior Specialists, University Students
A12 - Flip the Script on Problem Behavior: Addressing Problem Behaviors by Teaching Socially Appropriate Behaviors with Evidence-Based Techniques
(Behavior)
Room #: Media Center
Presenter: Ms. Jennifer Shade
Preventing and managing common problem behaviors and providing practical procedures for teaching socially appropriate behaviors will be addressed in this session. Participants will learn how to adjust their interactions with individuals to prevent predictable problem behavior from occurring as well as focusing on how to identify potential functions of behavior. Participants will learn strategies for teaching socially appropriate behaviors to replace problematic behavior. The goal of this session is to equip attendees with evidence-based techniques to efficiently and effectively teach necessary skills so that individuals can successfully navigate social environments.
Audience: Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, and High School General and Special Educators, Administrators/Supervisors, Paraprofessionals, Agency Personnel, Parents, School Nurses
A13 - Becoming-The Journey of a Change Agent
(Student Advocacy)
Room #: 120
Presenter: Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims
In this session, participants will describe the value of belonging in their own self-awareness journey to creating transformative educational systems. What role will they play in the work of creating belonging for every learner? How will they create spaces in their roles to disrupt disproportionate outcomes for students and improve school climate? Ultimately, how can we create and support change agents in education?
Audience: Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, and High School General and Special Educators, Administrators/Supervisors, Paraprofessionals, Substitutes, School Nurses