The following workshops are available remotely on Zoom for staff and parents. If mutually agreed upon by the presenter and requesting district, workshops may be offered in person.
Safe and Healthy Relationships
Healthy relationships are ones where people can safely feel and express for themselves and others. This comes from mutual trust, honesty, good communication, being understanding and calm during arguments, and consent. This workshop will offer strategies for opening conversation and engaging teens and their friends in thinking critically about healthy and unhealthy relationships.
Section 504 for Student Support Staff
Section 504 can be confusing for school staff and families alike. Yet its implementation is is essential to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities. This Section 504 workshop is designed to equip student support staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to actively engage in the Section 504 process for students with disabilities.
Self-Care and Work-Life Balance: What Works for YOU (In Person Only)
The demands of educators today have faculty, administrators, and staff running in numerous directions with little time to pause and reflect, let alone allow for space to define what self-care at work (and at home) could/should look like. This interactive workshop provides participants with a "time out" to breathe (seriously), learn steps to craft an individualized self-care approach, understand how to protect oneself from emotional mugging, as well as an honest conversation on why asking your supervisor about "work-life balance" might set us up for disappointment. Participants will leave empowered and recharged--because when you feel good, you do good!
Self-Regulation Strategies: Grades 5-12
Providing 5-12 students with a cognitive behavioral approach to teach how to identify and to process feelings will result in developing strategies to cope with difficult situations. These skills will lead to improved self-regulation in students as well as increase increased ability to be actively engaged in learning.
Self-Regulation Strategies: Grades K-5
Providing K-5 students with a cognitive behavioral approach to teach how to identify and to process feelings will result in developing strategies to cope with difficult situations. These skills will lead to improved self-regulation in students as well as increase increased ability to be actively engaged in learning.
Setting Boundaries for a Sustainable Work-Life Balance in Times of Uncertainty
Self-care is always important, but now more than ever, it is critical. The lines between work life and home life are blurred as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 crisis. During this workshop, participants will receive an overview of the self-care domains and learn quick, easy, and cost-accessible tools for building resilience, boosting productivity, and promoting well-being with special attention given to creating boundaries, protecting your sensitivities, and developing a self-care routine to meet your needs.
Social Media's Impact on Mental Health: Optimizing the Connection (Remote Only)
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.
Somebody's Watching Me: Privacy of Educators - New!
Most educators in the Commonwealth are public employees. With any public entity, there are certain protections that are lost that would normally be available in a private context. Because of today’s political climate, there is added scrutiny from parents and other taxpayers as to what is being taught and by whom. The purpose of this seminar is to give a broad overview of federal and state law to allow educators to know what their rights are (and are not) with regards to speech and privacy in the age of social media and intense community divisions.
Strategies for Creating a Trauma-Sensitive Classroom Where all Students Can Thrive
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.
Stress Reduction: Learn From the Best How to be Less Stressed (Remote Only)
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.