Welcome to the information page for the 2023 Char-Em ISD Area-Wide Professional Learning Day! Below you will find information about the keynote speaker and breakout sessions. When you register in WisdomWhere, be sure to print out your session selections, which includes your lunch choice, OR take a screenshot for reference! This will NOT be available to you at the conference.
Registration now open, as of Sept. 18
Registration closes on Oct. 16, 2023.
Schedule
Keynote
Breakout Sessions 1
Breakout Sessions 2
Breakout Sessions 3
Schedule for Nov. 1, 2023
8-8:30 a.m. – Arrival/coffee
8:30 a.m. – Welcome
8:40-9:40 a.m. – Keynote
9:40-9:55 a.m. – Break
9:55-11 a.m. – Breakout Session 1
11 a.m.-noon – Lunch/Networking and mid-day processing
Noon-1:05 p.m. – Breakout Session 2
1:05-1:20 p.m. – Break
1:20-2:25 p.m. – Breakout Session 3
2:25-2:45 p.m. – End of day reflection/survey/SCECHs
Keynote Presenter
The Perfect Time to Quit!
Michael Bonner
About the Keynote: This engaging and inspiring keynote will encourage teachers and leaders to embrace change and let go of old, outdated practices that are holding them back. By framing quitting in a positive light and encouraging the audience to take action, Michael Bonner will inspire teachers and leaders to make positive changes that will improve their practice and the climate and culture of their organization. The keynote will be filled with personal anecdotes, humor, and practical tips and strategies that the audience can apply immediately in their own work.
About the presenter: Michael Bonner is a renowned leader, innovator, and performance booster, who is a trailblazer in leadership development and organizational culture. He is a dynamic keynote speaker as seen on The Ellen Show, NBC Nightly News, and Time for Kids. He is the CEO of Bonnerville, a business that promotes the value of self-care and a highly respected team member at the famed Ron Clark Academy.
He empowers leaders to build genuine relationships and establish a positive organizational culture, vision and team development. His seminars challenge listeners to reflect, strategize, and execute in order to increase their efficiency in the workplace and personal areas. He empowers listeners to build genuine relationships with their teams and colleagues because “You cannot demand a withdrawal from someone you have never invested in.“
Breakout sessions at a glance
Breakouts #1 – 9:55-11 a.m.
From Analog to Digital: Transforming Classroom Practices with Technology
Presenter
Michael Bonner
Revolutionize your teaching with tech! Join Michael Bonner in this electrifying session to learn how to seamlessly integrate cutting-edge digital tools into your classroom. Discover practical strategies to empower both educators and students for success in the digital age.
Outcomes: Participants will integrate contemporary digital tools, discover practical strategies, and increase student performance.
WSCC Tenets: Engaged, Safe, Supported
Audience: Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators
A New View of Executive Function
Presenter
Sarah Ward
Participation in this workshop will lead to a new and detailed understanding and foundation of the executive function skills for immediate use in the classroom! Understand the development of the executive control skills. What skills can be expected at what age? How do we define ‘Executive Dysfunction?’ Going beyond symptom management these skills are guaranteed to bring about more independent executive functioning skills in students of all grades.
Outcomes:
- Participants will state the functional working definition of what is meant by the term “executive function skills”as it pertains to therapeutic interventions
- Participants will identify the typical developmental course of the executive function skills and define Executive Dysfunction
- Participants will define how situational awareness, self talk, forethought , gesture/movement and episodic memory are the foundational skills for successful task execution
WSCC Tenets: Challenged, Healthy, Engaged, and Supported
Audience: Teachers PreK, Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators, Counselors, ISD Staff, Paraprofessionals, Support Staff, Community Partners/Agencies, SLPs, OTs, PTs
About the presenter
Sarah Ward, M.S., CCC/SLP and Co-Director of Cognitive Connections, LLP has over 25 years of experience in diagnostic evaluations, treatment and case management of children, adolescents and adults with a wide range of developmental and acquired brain-based learning difficulties and behavioral problems not limited to but including:
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Verbal Learning Disabilities
• Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Other Social-Cognitive Learning Disabilities
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Acquired Brain Injury
Her particular interest is in the assessment and treatment of executive function deficits. She holds an adjunct faculty appointment at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions.
The Power of Positive Emotion
Presenter
Chase Mielke
Well-being is not just the absence of bad. It’s also the presence of good. This workshop, rooted in peer-reviewed research, explores how positive emotion boosts motivation, improves relationships, bolsters cultures, and helps live a more fulfilling life. We will dive into simple and powerful strategies that educators can use in their classrooms to create an engaged and collaborative culture that benefits all learners.
Outcomes:
- Participants will explain the science of positive emotion as a source of resilience, community, and learning;
- Participants will apply research-based strategies to create more positive emotion in classrooms to build student efficacy
WSCC Tenets: Engaged & Supported
Intended Audience: Teachers PreK, Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators, Counselors, ISD Staff, Paraprofessionals, Support Staff
About the presenter
Chase Mielke has been awarded multiple honors, including being a Michigan Teacher of the Year nominee and an Allegan County “Outstanding People for Education” recipient. For his work minimizing the achievement gap with at-risk high schoolers, his Positive Psychology program received a Michigan Association of School Administrators’ “Winner’s Circle Award.” The program teaches concepts of positive emotion, engagement, meaning, and accomplishment to hundreds of students each year, especially at-risk high schoolers. Consistently, students reduce failure rates by at least 50% each year.
In addition to modeling excellence as an educator, he is a regular columnist for Ed Leadership and his writing has been featured on WeAreTeachers, Huffpost, Edutopia, and EdPost. He received a WordPress “Freshly Pressed” distinction for his viral blog and video “What Students Really Need to Hear,” which has been used across the world to motivate students. As an engaging, nationally recognized speaker, he has traveled across the nation and world to speak with students and educators on topics of resilience, mindset, applied neuroscience, and positive psychology.
Building a Community of Care: Setting Up Conditions to Support Staff Well-being
Educators have more on their plates than ever before. How can we set up conditions that support wellness and the ability to find balance without tapping out the limited resources we have? This session will provide practical tips on how to support staff beyond muffin Mondays and jean Fridays.
Presenter
Amy Wassmann
Outcomes:
- Participants will understand why “self-care” is an equity issue
- Participants will leave with ideas on how to create a stronger wellness culture in their buildings and identify which ones may work in their setting
WSCC Tenets: Healthy, Supported
Audience: Administrators, Counselors, ISD Staff, Community Partners/Agencies
About the presenter
During most of her career, Amy Wassmann has worked with schools and community organizations to provide system-wide implementation of evidence-based practices and interventions that promote student and staff health and wellbeing. Amy received her MSW at Michigan State University and has experience working in the areas of SEL, trauma/ACEs, staff wellness, suicide, and mental health issues.
The Power of Peers
Presenter
Ron Roybal
Peer-mediated instruction is a transdisciplinary approach that capitalizes on the presence of peers to provide necessary educational, behavior, and social supports for all children (Chan et al., 2009). This approach starts with a planned structured environment that highlights learning opportunities. These opportunities will increase engagement and academic gains and reduce challenging behavior.
Outcomes:
- Participants will learn What are the key skills to teach,
- Participants will learn how to teach typical children intervention skills
- Participants will learn how to embed social skill opportunities across the day and
- Participants will learn what child outcomes we can expect.
WSCC Tenets: Engaged, Safe, Supported
Intended Audience:Teachers PreK, TeachersKdg – Grade 5, Administrators, Counselors,
Paraprofessionals, Support Staff, Community Partners/Agencies
About the presenter
Ron Roybal has worked over 25 years in early childhood as a teacher for 8 years and the last 18 as a trainer and coach. As a teacher, Ron was trained and worked in a Learning Experience Alternative Program for Preschool and Parents (LEAP) classroom. After leaving the classroom to join the center for Positive Early Learning Experience (PELE) at the University of Colorado Denver, Ron has spent the last 18 years coaching and training classroom teams in inclusive practices for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other disabilities alongside typical developing peer using peer mediated strategies. Ron also provides training and technical support to school districts, head start programs, and childcare programs around the country to reduce the likelihood of challenging behaviors within educational settings. His mission is to bring high-quality inclusion for all students using evidence based practices.
How to Turn Any Unit Into a Project-Based Learning Experience
Presenter
A.J. Juliani
In this brand new talk from A.J. Juliani, he walks attendees through the 5-Step process for authentic learning experiences (that hit standards and your curriculum). Learn how to start from a place of relevance, choose standards that learners can master, scaffold and structure creatively, and assess the process, learning and final product in meaningful ways. Attendees will leave inspired, motivated, and also ready to practically take on the challenge of authentic project-based learning.
Outcomes:
- PBL Sprint
- Mini-Project,
- Full Unit
WSCC Tenets: Challenged, Healthy, Engaged, Safe, Supported
Audience: Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators
About the presenter
A.J. Juliani is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of Adaptable. He serves as Faculty for the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (PLN) and former Director of Learning and Innovation for Centennial School District. As a Curriculum coordinator, Tech Director, English teacher, football coach, and K-12 Instructional Coach, A.J. has worked towards innovative learning experiences for schools in various roles. A.J. is also an award-winning blogger, speaker, and author of multiple other books, including the best-sellers Empower, Launch, and The PBL Playbook.
A.J. Juliani brings a high-energy, fun, and engaging style of presentation through keynotes, full-day workshops, and online professional development offerings (see offerings and reviews below). His mix of personal stories from the classroom, real-world examples, and research-based insights lead to a learning opportunity for everyone in attendance. A.J. has worked at all levels of the K-12 spectrum and has the lens of a parent (of FIVE crazy kids) as well.
Cultivating Resilience: Values, Well-being, and Strength for the Journey
Presenter
Debbie McFalone
Strong leaders know their people need to feel connected, valued and supported. Participants will review the concept of resilience and the need to create schools that are focused on caring for the whole educator, as well as the whole child. Practical ideas will be shared for maintaining your strength through healthy boundaries and communicating about wellbeing to your school community.
Outcomes:
- Participants will learn the clear connection between employee recruitment and retention and the concept of resilience and wellbeing in schools.
- Participants will learn ideas and clear, relevant examples on how to build their own skills for setting boundaries, modeling balance and communicating the importance of resilience in our schools.
- Participants will leave with strategies for building connections and collegial relationships they can put into place immediately to impact the culture in their schools.
WSCC Tenets: Healthy, Engaged, Safe, Supported
Audience: Teachers PreK, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators, Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Counselors, ISD Staff, Paraprofessionals, Support Staff, Community Partners/Agencies, Board members / Central Office leaders
About the presenter
Debbie McFalone, Ph.D. is a school district leadership team consultant, keynote speaker, Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association, Michigan Leadership Institute and ASCD learning facilitator, and a leadership coach for educators in Michigan. She has led learning for hundreds of leaders across Michigan and has presented at multiple national conferences. She is the author and co-facilitator of Leadership Matters, a yearlong learning experience for leaders which has graduated over 225 alumni since 2009.
Debbie is the author of two books: Uncommon Leadership (2018) and Live Well, Lead Strong (2021). Debbie builds on her experience as a teacher, principal, and area superintendent to inspire and equip today’s leaders and empower their teams. She brings a high level of commitment to diversity issues as well as deep knowledge of resilience and educator wellbeing to her clients.
Debbie currently serves the Michigan Leadership Institute leading training for aspiring superintendents and other school leaders. She has worked with school boards across Michigan to assist them in functioning as highly effective, productive teams. Debbie serves as Board President for Opportunity Thrive, a non-profit focused on educator wellbeing. With that group, she’s been responsible for helping to design and implement the state-wide Educator Wellness Coaching Project. Debbie holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, where her research focused on courage and integrity in leadership.
Partnering for Wellness and Resiliency
Presenters
Mike Haynes, Director of Instructional Services for Char-Em ISD, and Alicia Schlehuber, Behavioral Health Coordinator for Char-Em ISD, will facilitate a panel of community and ISD experts
Student health and wellness are foundational to the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model. Establishing systems to ensure that all students feel supported, have positive relationships, and are comfortable asking for help is essential to our public school system. Yet, creating a culture of wellness requires schools to be resourceful, leverage partnerships, and think differently about the learning environment
Outcomes: Participants in this session will hear from a panel of practitioners sharing ways they promote wellness and build resiliency among students and the adults that work with them. Specifically, attendees will learn strategies to: normalize students asking for help; maximize positive relationships at school; and promote healthy habits.
WSCC Tenets: Healthy, Safe, Supported
Audience: Teachers PreK, Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators, Counselors, Paraprofessionals, Support Staff, Community Partners/Agencies
Breakouts #2 – Noon-1:05 p.m.
Beyond Boredom: Crafting Interactive Lessons to Hook Students
Presenter
Michael Bonner
Say goodbye to boredom! In this captivating session, Michael Bonner shares innovative techniques to turn dull lessons into interactive, thrilling experiences. Get ready to inspire your students and create a dynamic learning environment they’ll love
Outcomes:
- Participants will create interactive experiences for students
- Participants will implement 5 steps to improve the culture in their classroom/building
- Participants will learn more about how the brain works.
WSCC Tenets: Challenged, Engaged, Supported
Audience: Teachers PreK, Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators
Learn it Today, Implement it Tomorrow: Practical Strategies to Facilitate Independent Executive Function Skills
Presenter
Sarah Ward
Learn dozens of practical strategies to teach students how to STOP and read a room, to follow routines and transition without distraction, and to control impulses. Teach students to build an internal sense of the sweep of time and create and stick to time markers to complete work within allocated time frames. Tweak it! With the Get Ready * Do* Done Method, use your existing academic curriculums and make several small tweaks to turn the core curriculum and lesson/treatment plans into powerful tools to teach students executive control skills!
Outcomes:
Participants will develop an intervention program to foster a student’s ability to form more independent executive function skills by describing activities to improve:
- Situational awareness to STOP and read a room
- Task planning, task initiation and transition within and between tasks
- Active self management of the factors related to the passage of time – sequence, duration, analog time, and time markers
- Organized thinking for personal space and materials
WSCC Tenets: Challenged, Healthy, Engaged, Safe, and Supported
Audience: Teachers PreK, Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators, Counselors, ISD Staff, Paraprofessionals, Support Staff, Community Partners/Agencies, SLPs, OTs, PTs
Staff Wellbeing: Rethinking Self Care
Self-care is more than yoga and meditation. While both can help with personal wellness, this session will explore self-care in a variety of ways so that participants will leave with strategies that will work for them. Strategies included in this session will focus on physical, professional, psychological and personal wellness.
Presenter
Amy Wassmann
Outcomes:
- Participants will learn why self-care is important to physical and mental health
- Participants will learn and practice strategies that support their personal wellness
- Participants will learn about the 1% shift and create a plan to make self-care a daily practice
WSCC Tenets: Healthy
Audience: Teachers PreK, Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators, Counselors ,ISD Staff, Paraprofessionals ,Support Staff, Community Partners/Agencies
Focused and Calm: Mindfulness Strategies for Equanimity
Presenter
Chase Mielke
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is one of the most researched topics in psychology – demonstrating a host of benefits to well-being. MBSR can reduce teacher stress, improve relationships, increase the quality of sleep, and lead to less behavior management issues in the classroom. But what busy educator has time to meditate? Drawing on over 10 years of practicing and teaching mindfulness strategies to students and teachers, Chase takes a practical approach to helping educators understand the research and strategies to infuse MBSR into their daily lives – and their students’ as well.
Outcomes:
- Apply research-based strategies to build personal equanimity in schools and classrooms;
- Develop strategies in classrooms to help students utilize the benefits of MBSR
WSCC Tenets: Healthy, Engaged, Supported
Intended Audience: Teachers PreK, Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators ,Counselors, ISD Staff, Paraprofessionals, Support Staff, Community Partners/Agencies
Functional Communication Systems: Everyone Deserves a Voice
Presenter
Ron Roybal
This session will focus on the communication needs of all students. Behavior is communicative, including challenging behaviors. Families and service providers work together to create functional communications systems within typical early childhood settings. Participants will examine embedded learning opportunities to create functional communications systems within typical early childhood settings.
Outcomes:
- Participants will examine routines within routines to support the social and communication needs of all students
- Participants will examine peer mediated opportunities for social interactions
- Participants will examine the link between social interactions and communicative intent.
- Participants will identify multiple forms of functional communications systems within typical early childhood settings
WSCC Tenets: Engaged, Safe, Supported
Audience: Teachers PreK, Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Administrators, Counselors, Paraprofessionals, Support Staff, Community Partners/Agencies
Meaningful and Relevant: How to Engage Learners in an Era of Distraction
Presenter
A.J. Juliani
In an age of distraction, we need to look at learning consistently through the lens of meaningful and relevant practices. Merely “eliminating” distractions will not solve our engagement problem. If we want to teach the whole child, we’ll have to do so in ways that tap into their interests and needs. In this talk, we’ll look at new research from the last three years and practical strategies to support a meaningful and relevant focus like never before.
Outcomes:
- Participants will learn meaningful strategies
- Participants will learn how to create relevant experiences for students
- Participants will increase their understanding of how to engage learners
WSCC Tenets: Challenged, Healthy, Engaged, Supported
Audience: Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators, Paraprofessionals, Community Partners/Agencies
Living Out Your Trust: Best Practices for Offering Skillful Feedback to Your Colleagues
Presenter
Debbie McFalone
Trustworthiness continues to be the most highly valued character trait in the workplace, but how do we act on our integrity each day? In this session, Debbie will share ideas for how to offer feedback that is authentic, candid and clear—while maintaining a positive working relationship with your people.
Outcomes:
- Participants will learn the importance of offering quality feedback, and the consequences when we don’t adhere to the “culture of brave”
- Participants will learn specific guidelines for offering types of feedback, and multiple sources will be provided for continued learning on this topic.
WSCC Tenets: Healthy, Engaged, Safe, Supported
Audience: Teachers PreK, Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators, Counselors, ISD Staff, Paraprofessionals, Support Staff, Community Partners/Agencies, Board members and Central Office leaders
Emotionally Responsive Classroom Community
Presenters
Brad and Betsy Petersen
We care about feelings, and know it’s ok to feel all different types of emotions! Together, let’s build structures and routines to supplement emotional development for students on an individual, group, and classroom level.
Outcomes:
- Participants will address emotional uncertainty with a restorative approach
- Participants will construct classroom unity and acceptance
- Participants will learn how to weave emotional intelligence across the curricula
- Participants will develop skills to manage their own emotional load as educators
WSCC Tenets: Healthy, Engaged
Audience: Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Administrators, Counselors, Support Staff
About the Presenters
Brad Petersen started his path in education as a teacher in Houston, TX. He then went on to co-found, design, and build an innovative elementary school in Idaho, Future Public School. After leading Brighter Fun, a children’s universal design group, he now writes full-time. Brad loves riding bikes, reading books, and swimming.
Betsy Petersen is an artist, illustrator, and entrepreneur. She’s spent the past decade building an art business and collaborating with creative organizations to create fun and playful designs for a wide variety of products. Her most recent book, I Am Quiet, was the Goodreads winner for Best Middle Grade and Children’s Book 2022. Betsy loves running, reading books, and playing outside.
Breakouts #3 – 1:20-2:25 p.m.
Extreme Classroom Makeover: Designing Classrooms for Success and Fostering Executive Functioning Skills Through Environmental Change
Presenter
Sarah Ward
Explore how the physical classroom layout and wall displays can enhance executive function skills like working memory and attentional control. Learn about strategic desk placement, educational materials, and zoning techniques for smooth transitions and focused learning. Discover methods to set up and organize various spaces, such as classrooms, treatment centers, bedrooms, or locker/cubby areas, to promote executive function development and reduce impulsive behaviors. Gain insights into creating an organized and predictable environment that fosters self-regulation, inhibitory control, accurate time perception, and timely task completion. Differentiate effective strategies for establishing clear and consistent classroom rules, routines, and procedures.
Outcomes:
- Participants will list at least 3 ways to layout a classroom/clinic/educational setting and wall displays to optimize executive function skills.
- Participants will describe 4 interventions to use the environment to increase self regulation, inhibitory control, transitions, routines and task completion.
WSCC Tenets: Engaged, Supported
Audience: Teachers PreK, Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators, Counselors, ISD Staff, SLPs, OTs
Creating Safe and Supportive Schools by Strengthening Adult SEL
Presenter
Amy Wassmann
As schools look to support the wellbeing of students, we cannot overlook the adults. This session will focus on understanding the link between staff social and emotional learning (SEL) and student success outcomes and educator retention/prevention of burnout. Session participants will learn about professional learning resources that center on strengthening and supporting staff SEL skills and will leave with strategies to implement back in their district.
Outcomes:
- Participants will employ rationale for adult SEL back in their districts as a student outcome measure
- Participants will be able to implement SEL skill-building professional learning and strategies with their staff
- Participants will be able to adapt adult strategies modeled and practiced in the session for student learning
WSCC Tenets: Challenged, Healthy, Engaged, Safe, and Supported
Intended Audience: Administrators, Counselors, ISD Staff, Community Partners/Agencies
Crafting Your Wellbeing: How to Apply an Internal Locus of Control
Presenter
Chase Mielke
Life challenges us with so many things beyond our control. But, no matter what the circumstances, situation, or struggle, we always control three things: our actions, our attitude, and our awareness. This thought-provoking workshop helps participants examine where they attribute their control and how adopting an internal locus of control improves our well-being, our performance, and our outcomes.
Outcomes:
- Participants will explain the three different types of job crafting;
- Participants will apply strategies to increase internal locus of control to school and personal contexts
- Participants will reduce workloads with time-management strategies
WSCC Tenets: Healthy, Engaged, Supported
Intended Audience: Teachers PreK, Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators, Counselors ,ISD Staff, Paraprofessionals, Support Staff, Community Partners/Agencies
Routines to Support Inclusion
Presenter
Ron Roybal
This training on Routines will demonstrate how purposeful and effective routines can provide a high-quality inclusive learning environment. Participants will use a hands-on approach to recognize the importance of predictable consistent routines to promote engagement and independence for all students. The presenter will use participants’ activities to build upon their routines to embed learning opportunities.
Outcomes:
- Participants will gain an understanding of routines and the key elements for establishing effective routines
- Participants will examine how developing routines supports inclusion
- Participants will be able to use routines to develop visual, embedded learning opportunities and social opportunities within classroom routines
WSCC Tenets: Challenged, Engaged, Supported
Intended Audience: Teachers PreK, Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Administrators, Counselors, ISD Staff, Paraprofessionals, Support Staff, Community Partners/Agencies
Learning in the AI Age: How to Supercharge Your Learning and Creativity with AI Tools
Presenter
A.J. Juliani
Creative work can be hard. It can be challenging. It can sometimes be overwhelming to try and plan and incorporate into the classroom. Yet, we know our students are going to have to be more creative than ever to successfully thrive in today’s world. This workshop shares how Artificial Intelligence can provide a new avenue for creative teaching and learning, and how this process can empower our students to do remarkable work in and out of our schools right now.
Outcomes:
- Participants will discover new AI Tools and strategies for creative work
WSCC Tenet: Engaged
Audience: Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12
What Do I Say Now? Responses When Times are Tough
Presenter
Debbie McFalone
Sometimes in the workplace, we can be taken aback by behavior or language that is uncivil, unkind, or out of place. In this session, Debbie will share several responses to have ready in the event this happens to you — responses that will help you remain calm and poised when there is tension in the room.
Outcomes:
- Participants will be equipped with multiple responses, and will see them modeled and used in role play situations.
- Participants will leave more prepared to respond calmly and in a steady manner, maintaining their professionalism demeanor and taking control of the difficult situation.
WSCC Tenets: Healthy, Safe, Supported
Audience: Teachers PreK, Teachers, Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators, Counselors, ISD Staff, Paraprofessionals, Support Staff, Community Partners/Agencies, Board members and Central Office leaders
Telling More of the Story: Native History in the Classroom
Presenter
Eric Hemenway
Using primary sources to help tell the story of native populations in the history of Michigan and the United State, the focus will be on Michigan’s Anishnaabek tribal communities and their continued presence and contributions to Michigan.
Outcome:
- Participants will leave with more knowledge of resources and partnerships to build lesson plans that include native story and voice.
WSCC Tenets: Engaged, Safe, Supported
Audience: Teachers Kdg – Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators, Counselors, ISD Staff, Support Staff, Community Partners/Agencies
About the Presenter
Eric Hemenway is an Anishnaabe/Odawa from Cross Village, Michigan. He is the Director of Repatriation, Archives and Records for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian, a federally recognized tribe in northern Michigan. Eric works to collect and preserve historical information for LTBB Odawa. That information is used to support the LTBB government and create educational materials on Odawa history, such as: exhibits, signage, publications, presentations, curriculums and media. Eric has worked on numerous repatriations of native, human remains under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
Eric has experience working under the Native American Graves Protection Act (NAGPRA), as well as partnerships with Harvard, Yale, University of Michigan, Amherst College, the National Park Service, State of Michigan and others. Eric currently sits on boards for the Michigan Historical Commission, Michigan Historical Society and Little Traverse Conservancy. He is a former board member for the National NAGRPA Review Committee and Michigan Humanities Council.
Speed Networking
Presenters
ISD Staff/Community Partners
The speed networking session is designed to maximize your networking potential in a limited amount of time. As an educator, you understand the importance of building a strong professional network, and this event ensures you make the most of your conference experience.
As the timer signals the end of each conversation, you will move to the next station, where you will meet a new CEISD person/community partner eager to share how they might be of assistance to you. The rotation allows you to engage with multiple individuals, expanding your network and broadening your perspective within a short span of time.
The speed networking session is designed not only to create connections during the conference but also to lay the foundation for long-lasting relationships beyond the event. Make sure to exchange contact information and continue the dialogue after the session concludes. Whether through email, social media platforms, or other communication channels, nurturing these newfound connections can lead to ongoing collaborations, partnerships, and a vibrant professional network!
Outcome:
- Participants will personally meet a number of CEISD staff, as well as several Community Partners, to learn how those individuals & organizations can support their work
WSCC Tenets: Safe and Supported
Audience: Teachers PreK, Teachers Kdg-Grade 5, Teachers Grades 6-8, Teachers Grades 9-12, Administrators Counselors, Paraprofessionals, Support Staff
If you have questions about Nov. 1, 2023, please contact Pam Ciganick, Char-Em ISD Professional Learning Coordinator.
