Join us to explore how Illinois Virtual Schools & Academy (IVSA) is addressing the unique challenges faced by students through innovative virtual solutions. IVSA helps schools ensure that all students continue to progress academically, even amidst teacher shortages and resource gaps. IVSA offers three solutions: Teacher Shortage, Single-Course, and a Full-Time Academy. These are flexible and cost-effective solutions that can be customized to meet the specific needs of each school. Join us to learn about IVSA, the reimbursement from ISBE, and the strategies that work to partner with schools around the state.
Executive Director, Illinois Virtual Schools & Academy
Melissa is the Executive Director of Illinois Virtual Schools & Academy, overseeing the Supplemental & Credit Recovery Solutions, Teacher Shortage Solutions, and the Full-Time Academy. Melissa has worked in education since 1994, having served various leadership roles in high school... Read More →
Our session will help participants understand how to protect their identity and other assets by discussing what to do in the event of identity, theft, or fraud, and explaining how insurance can help protect from financial loss and the importance of keeping good records. we will also cover current fraud, trends, and how your local bank will support you in the instance of fraud. finally, we will cover fruad that relate to students and provide each participant with a student fraud awareness guide.
Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leadership for Improved and More Equitable Practices Associated with Increasing the Academic Achievement Levels and Social/Emotional Well-Being of Students from Diverse Cultural, Linguistic and Ethnic Backgrounds.
If you are looking to further improve your instructional delivery or engage in more equitable leadership practices to better ensure significant improvement in student learning, this workshop is for you.
This session is designed to further develop the cultural competencies of teachers and administrators by providing you professional development with a focus on best practices in culturally responsive teaching and leading.
As a result of participating in this session you can expect to:
· Gain knowledge of self-culture and the impact of culture on student learning.
· Obtain strategies for learning student culture and using it as a leverage for improving student learning.
· Become familiar with culturally responsive instruction for all content areas.
· Develop the ability to identify and resolve cultural conflicts which serve as counterproductive to improving student learning.
Session Two
Next Level Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leadership for Improved and More Equitable Practices Associated with Increasing the Academic Achievement Levels and Well-Being of Students from Diverse Backgrounds.
If you are looking to take your classroom instruction to the next level or engage in more equitable leadership practices to better ensure significant improvement in student learning, this workshop is for you. The intent of this session is to address topics associated with culture and the impact on student learning and instructional delivery. The intent is also to improve the educators’ ability to develop and/or select more culturally responsive instructional materials.
As a result of participating in this session you can expect to:
· Be exposed to the Leadership for Learning Framework.
· Develop ability to connect curricular content to the spirits, lives and interest of students from diverse backgrounds.
· Develop the ability to select and implement more culturally responsive curriculum and assessment practices.
· Gain access to Dr. Sonya Whitaker’s Culturally Responsive Walk-Through Tool. This tool designed as a benchmark for establishing a more culturally responsive learning environment at the classroom and school levels.
The years following the pandemic have caused challenges for school leaders to implement coherent programs and curriculum across grade levels and classrooms with a goal of providing equity in learning experiences for students. In this session, we will explore how a K-8 school identified the highest areas of need, rewriting the curriculum review cycle, and strategically using instructional coaches to support the implementation of high-quality curricular programs and instruction in the areas of science, social studies, math, and literacy. The journey from the years following the pandemic to current will be outlined including struggles and successes to help support other districts with a similar goal of program coherence. The targeted audience for this session is administrators and instructional coaches, however, there will be useful takeaways for anyone serving in an educational role.
Oak Grove School District is a K-8 one school district serving 900 students. Oak Grove has received the National Blue Ribbon Award for Excellence twice: first in 2016, and recently in 2024.
Advisor/Recruitment Specialist and GYO Coordinator, University Center of Lake County
Dr. Rodriguez-Kufner has been in the area of education for the past 27 years in various capacities. She has taught at the elementary, 6-8 grade science and 9th grade biology, within the area of administration she has served at the elementary and district levels, she has been a Lego... Read More →
Discover how a responsive instructional coaching model effectively supports teachers while aligning with district priorities. This session will provide an overview of our district-wide coaching framework, where specialized coaches focus on key strands. Learn how this model builds teacher capacity and fosters meaningful implementation of district initiatives. The session will conclude with a dynamic panel discussion, allowing attendees to engage with our instructional coaching team, ask questions, and explore how responsive coaching can be tailored to meet diverse needs.
Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leadership for Improved and More Equitable Practices Associated with Increasing the Academic Achievement Levels and Social/Emotional Well-Being of Students from Diverse Cultural, Linguistic and Ethnic Backgrounds.
If you are looking to further improve your instructional delivery or engage in more equitable leadership practices to better ensure significant improvement in student learning, this workshop is for you.
This session is designed to further develop the cultural competencies of teachers and administrators by providing you professional development with a focus on best practices in culturally responsive teaching and leading.
As a result of participating in this session you can expect to:
· Gain knowledge of self-culture and the impact of culture on student learning.
· Obtain strategies for learning student culture and using it as a leverage for improving student learning.
· Become familiar with culturally responsive instruction for all content areas.
· Develop the ability to identify and resolve cultural conflicts which serve as counterproductive to improving student learning.
Session Two
Next Level Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leadership for Improved and More Equitable Practices Associated with Increasing the Academic Achievement Levels and Well-Being of Students from Diverse Backgrounds.
If you are looking to take your classroom instruction to the next level or engage in more equitable leadership practices to better ensure significant improvement in student learning, this workshop is for you. The intent of this session is to address topics associated with culture and the impact on student learning and instructional delivery. The intent is also to improve the educators’ ability to develop and/or select more culturally responsive instructional materials.
As a result of participating in this session you can expect to:
· Be exposed to the Leadership for Learning Framework.
· Develop ability to connect curricular content to the spirits, lives and interest of students from diverse backgrounds.
· Develop the ability to select and implement more culturally responsive curriculum and assessment practices.
· Gain access to Dr. Sonya Whitaker’s Culturally Responsive Walk-Through Tool. This tool designed as a benchmark for establishing a more culturally responsive learning environment at the classroom and school levels.
Want to make classroom mealtimes engaging and less stressful? Come and learn some easy to implement strategies for students who have feeding aversion and/or sensory based feeding issues! Participants will be provided with a Padlet full of resources and ready to print activities.
I am dedicated to providing high quality services to all the individuals and families I serve. I teach from my heart and am a full believer in the power of laughter. I have worked with a variety of populations, various settings and amazing colleagues. I am most at home helping low... Read More →
Friday February 14, 2025 11:05am - 11:55am CST
Room C1051600 Eagle Way, Lake Villa, IL 60046, USA
This session is dedicated to showcasing how one school district with an over 50% low income and over 25% EL student population has utilized the HumanEx suite to prioritize culture and talent and remain on a continuous improvement journey.
Key Takeaways: - Learn about one school district’s strategic approach for maximizing ESSER funds - Prioritizing culture and talent to achieve student academic and SEL growth. - Celebrating “doing the right work” on behalf of students despite great obstacles.
Discover how a responsive instructional coaching model effectively supports teachers while aligning with district priorities. This session will provide an overview of our district-wide coaching framework, where specialized coaches focus on key strands. Learn how this model builds teacher capacity and fosters meaningful implementation of district initiatives. The session will conclude with a dynamic panel discussion, allowing attendees to engage with our instructional coaching team, ask questions, and explore how responsive coaching can be tailored to meet diverse needs.
According to the National Coalition on Personnel Shortages in Special Education and Related Services, 98% of school districts report special education staff shortages. Leading causes include excessive time spent on paperwork and unmanageable workloads. Come learn best practices districts are using with modern documentation software to significantly reduce time spent on paperwork, prevent compliance issues, and promote collaboration district-wide. Note: Vendor presentation
