AGENDA

The Power of Prevention: Explicit Instruction to Improve Behavior Outcomes
Strand: Supporting Student Behaviors
Managing classroom behavior effectively is grounded in the explicit instruction of behavior skills and expectations. Participants in this session will leave the session with a plan for providing students with high-quality instruction for behavior across settings and activities, opportunities to practice skills, and meaningful feedback.
Speaker: Niki Avina, IEPTA Center

The Keys to Thriving In Intense Interventions Classrooms
Strand: Strategies for Functional Skills Classrooms
Thriving in your role as a teacher of an Intense Intervention classroom requires preparation, organization, and collaboration. Participants in this session will leave with practical strategies to add to their toolbox creating a successful Intense Intervention classroom. We will explore evidence-based practices in the areas of accessible instruction, implementation of AAC, classroom organization and choreography, behavior interventions, and seamless data collection.
Speaker: Hannah Maschino, MSD of Wayne Township

30+ Easy Ways to Boost Student Engagement
Strand: Inclusive practices
How can you keep a student's attention? Is there a way to encourage more students to participate besides just calling on the one who raises their hand? This high-energy workshop will give you over 30 ideas for ways to boost student engagement. And the best part? Most of the ideas shared are free and require no prep! You'll leave here excited to try something new as soon as you get back to school!
Speaker: Tammy Meyers, Indianapolis Public Schools

Thinking Outside the Box: Increasing Access to School-Based Mental Health for Students and Staff
Strand: Mental Health & Wellness (Students and Teachers)
Participants will learn ways to increase mental wellness in the classroom and how schools and districts can use existing resources to increase mental health access for students and staff.
Speaker: Natalie Bickel, Elkhart Community Schools

The Dream Team: Our Key to Longevity In Education
Make no mistake about it: we in education are shaping the future. As we also know, though, as deeply satisfying as the work can be, it can also be incredibly depleting. In worst-case scenarios, stress erodes not only our individual wellbeing, but also our ability to create healthy, effective relationships with our students, their families, and our colleagues.
The good news is that stress doesn’t have to be the enemy. In fact, if our goal is to live a stress-free life, we are cheating ourselves out of a potentially valuable fuel source. We know relationships sustain us, and this workshop, you'll identify the four specific people that will keep you at the top of your game for the long haul. Come find your Sage, your Hero, your Caregiver and your Everyman and learn how they are the relational oil that will keep the gears of your soul from stripping.
Adam Saenz, Ph.D., D. Min.

Leadership for Change: Guiding Teachers to a More Impactful and Inclusive Tier 1
Strand: Inclusive practices
The modern classroom must be intentionally designed to meet the diverse needs of all students. In order to meet these needs, classrooms need to address students' learning preferences, strengthen Tier 1 curriculum, and implement evidence-based practices. Participants in this session will reflect on their district or individual practices and leave with strategies to move ahead as well as lead others in their inclusive practices journey.
Speaker: Alana Harveth, IEPTA Center

Don't Pick up the Rope: Understanding the De-escalation Process
Strand: Mental Health & Wellness (Students and Teachers)
Participants will learn to recognize escalating behaviors and calming response strategies.
Speaker: Lindsey Brander, Elkhart Community Schools

VAS in VAS: Visual Activity Schedules is Various Applicable Settings
Strand: Strategies for Functional Skills Classrooms
Visual Activity Schedules are an evidence based practice that can be used in the school, home, clinic, and recreational settings for all learners. This presentation gives examples, helpful resources, when using visual activity schedules.
Speaker: Sarah Hornback, Avon School Corporation

Where to Start? Nurturing Task Initiation Skills in Students
Strand: Inclusive practices
Our time together will include a brief individual self-assessment for each participant to determine their own executive functioning skill strengths. We will engage in a discussion of how our personal executive functioning strengths impact the interventions we typically provide. We will then explore tools to identify if the student's lack of task initiation is likely a performance deficit or a skill deficit. We will spend the final portion of our time exploring specific strategies for each type of deficit. Participants will leave with a range of tools they can implement for students who have demonstrated a hard time getting started.
Speaker: Rebecca Zirnhold, Christel House DORS

Behavior Management: Control yourself first.
Strand: Mental Health & Wellness (Students and Teachers)
My class is out of control, and I feel like I am losing it. Ever said those words? This session will provide examples for how to regulate yourself so you can help regulate the actions of the children in your classroom. Self-reflection and triggers – learn more about yourself and how to control your emotions during high stress moments in the classroom. Techniques for both you and the classroom will be shown.
Speaker: Jenn Gleason, SCCAP Head Start -Eastern New Mexico University - Walden University

Driven by Data: Making Informed Decisions to Promote Student Success
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) in partnership with the Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability and Reform (CEEDAR) Center has developed and published a set of 22 high-leverage practices (HLPs) for special educators. Within this session, participants will dive into HLPs across two domains: assessment and instruction leaving with practical strategies to effectively and efficiently use data to make instructional decisions promoting student success.
Marcee Wilburn, Ph.D., IEP TA Center

Enhancing Executive Functioning Skills in the Classroom: Strategies for Success
Strand: Supporting Student Behaviors
This session is designed to provide educators with a comprehensive understanding of executive functioning skills and practical strategies to support students in developing these skills. Executive functioning plays a crucial role in students' abilities to plan, organize, manage time, regulate emotions, and self-monitor their learning. By enhancing executive functioning skills, educators can empower students to become more independent, resilient, and successful learners.
Speaker: Katie Mosley, IEP Technical Assistance Center

Unlocking Potential: Navigating the Road to Success in Functional Skills Classrooms
Strand: Strategies for Functional Skills Classrooms
Discover practical and innovative strategies aimed at elevating the learning experience in a functional skills classroom. Unlock improved academic outcomes and heightened engagement for all students by enhancing social and communication skills, ultimately preparing students for independent living and successful employment.
Speaker: Nicolette Lesniak, STM

Evaluating possible English Learners with Disabilities
Strand: English Language Learners
An interactive session in which participants will practice what they learn about English Learners with Disabilities.
Jennifer Hernandez-McDuell, IDOE