In-Service Workshops

Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook foster a culture of peer comparison and entice users to stay online longer than they intend, which can foster discouraging or negative feelings. Snapchat locations and Instagram stories cause FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), contributing to anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Teachers and parents will learn individual and group strategies to optimize students' use of social media.

Creating a trauma-sensitive classroom fosters an environment for all students to learn because educators are uniquely positioned to help students overcome challenges and build resilience. Participants will review preliminary information and definition of terms and explore ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) before delving into academic instruction techniques and relationship building for teaching students impacted by trauma. This workshop will also examine misconceptions about trauma, the effect trauma has on the brain, and review common challenges when working with students impacted by trauma. Participants will have an opportunity to share and reflect on their current practices and to learn ways to improve their self-care to ensure that the classroom is a safe space for all learners to grow.

Are you stressed? This can often be due to workload, the type of work you’re doing and relationships with your colleagues. This interactive workshop will explore solutions to all three of those issues, getting you to explore what your personal stress points are and giving you the tools you need to come up with a plan to reduce or even eliminate them.

Get practical tips to listen, respond and create supportive spaces at home. Learn how to support your youth through mental health and relationships and strengthen your skills at being the trusted person your child can turn to when they need to talk.

Students identified with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), formerly known as Asperger's Syndrome, present behaviors that require more subtle and relationship-oriented interventions compared to an ABA approach. This presentation reviews some of the challenges inherent in this diagnostic profile, including addressing the question as to what interventions are necessary. Also detailed are social skills challenges those students encounter, with specifics addressing young students needs vs. adolescents.

This presentation is designed to inspire and empower general education teachers, special education teachers, specialists, and administrators to help students achieve their potential through compassionate collaborative strategies that address the whole child. We will talk about appreciating neurodiversity, proactive strategies for supporting students, cultivating partnerships with parents, interdisciplinary collaboration, and responding rather than reacting to challenging situations. The goal is to promote consistent mindsets and approaches across the district and to provide educational experiences that are supportive, student-focused, and reflective of today’s educational challenges.

This presentation, designed for parents of student-athletes, will provide guidance on how to encourage commitment and determination while remaining mindful of the pressures and demands these players face both on and off the field.

Individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder can benefit from therapeutic support and interventions but struggle to access them due to difficulties with processing the information. Students who are considered "high functioning" can have specific challenges accessing these supports due to varying levels in their skills, or "splinter skills". This workshop aims to provide information and strategies that can be used with students who are experiencing high levels of dysregulation, behavioral challenges, or require increased adult support.

Transitioning from high school to college brings exciting opportunities—and important changes—for students with disabilities. This one-hour presentation will explore how disability services, supports, and student responsibilities shift in the college environment. Participants will learn the key differences between high school and college support as well as what those differences mean in practice for access, accommodations, and self-advocacy. Practical strategies to help students prepare for a successful transition as well as information on a range of college programs and supports will be discussed.

This professional development session is designed to strengthen collaboration, communication, and trust among staff members. “Team Building 101” provides a foundational look at what makes teams thrive in a school or organizational setting. Through interactive exercises, reflective discussions, and practical strategies, participants will explore team dynamics, clarify roles, and learn effective methods for conflict resolution and decision-making. Whether you're part of an administrative team, instructional staff, or support services, this session offers tools to enhance teamwork, boost morale, and create a more cohesive, supportive work environment. This workshop is for teachers, school administrators, or other school staff.