In-Service Workshops

Learn how to communicate and partner effectively with multilingual families. We will move beyond conferences and share techniques to build true engagement.

The opioid crisis has affected countless people and continues to put young people at risk. This presentation examines the basics of opioids- what this classification of drugs is, why opioid addiction is unique, the history of our present epidemic, the importance of education and emergent care in an overdose situation.

This workshop reviews the challenges and dangerous situations that may arise through use of the internet, social media, and smartphones. It is important for school staff and parents to be aware of the popular apps, social media sites, and programs used by youth online. This workshop explains the issues and possible consequences of cyberbullying, sexting, and revealing identifying information to strangers.

To truly understand the roots of behavior, it is essential that educators understand what is happening in a student's body when they are anxious or stressed. Anxiety presents in different ways, and we all predictably have a stress response of fight/flight/freeze. This workshop will help participants identify the difference between an anxiety disorder and basic stress and explore ways to best support students. An emphasis on how to integrate social/emotional support into a school setting, along with how to address oppositional behavior, school refusal, work avoidance, and bullying, will be explored through the lens of anxiety.

Teens are sharing, posting, and sending images of themselves at alarming rates, including images that are illicit in nature. This student assembly will discuss the legal, personal, and emotional ramifications of teen sexting behaviors.

This webinar will provide an overview of the symptoms of ASD across the lifespan and specific strategies for first responders to utilize when interacting with potential individuals in the community. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is often referred to as an “invisible disability” because the symptoms of ASD are not necessarily overt. This is especially the case for individuals with ASD who are verbal and intelligent and, thus, might appear to first responders as typically developing. Yet, these individuals often possess significant if not debilitating sensory processing impairments, restricted and repetitive behaviors, and emotional dysregulation that can result in severe behavioral decompensation in the face of unpredictable events, including aggression, self-injury, and/or property destruction.

Research demonstrates that strong relationships between schools and families can positively affect student achievement and outcomes. By fostering stronger family and community engagement schools can increase student achievement, improve student attendance and behavior, enhance staff's understanding of family. This workshop is 90 minutes.

Transitioning out of high school to either continued education or the workplace is extremely challenging for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Even though most individuals with ASD have intact cognition and language, most fail to achieve levels of independence in adulthood due to limited functional social, communication, and adaptive skills necessary for self-sufficiency. There is a critical need to prepare for this transition early, intensively, and comprehensively. This workshop will provide an overview of strategies, supports, and accommodations that can be implemented in schools to promote a successful transition.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) continues to broaden, with many autistic individuals having no cognitive and/or language impairments that confound their social disability. Therefore, many of these individuals receive educational programming within mainstream or inclusive settings. Yet despite their cognitive and language prowess, many students with ASD struggle with social communication and interaction. They often experience co-occurring challenges, including impairments in executive functioning and adaptive behavior skills, as well as social-emotional struggles that merit direct intervention in schools. This webinar will provide an overview of the more subtle but complex presentations ASD, including females, and will present evidence-based strategies for fostering all areas of vulnerability within the school system. Concepts of masking and camouflaging behaviors, as well the misnomer of the widely misinterpreted description “high functioning autism” will be discussed.

Giving and receiving respect allows us to communicate effectively, own our own successes and failures and better respond to those of others. This workshop will empower students and give them lifelong tools they can use in interactions with their family, peers, and others.