Healing the Healer Within
Victor La Cerva, M.D., Consultant, Speaker and Writer, New Mexico

Because of the nature of their work, many teachers do not take care of themselves properly. This interactive workshop explores tools for balancing the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of ourselves; ways to reduce stress in the moment; the anatomy of anger and how to become more emotionally fluent; and techniques to avoid burnout and still make a difference.

Strand: Best Practices
Grade Level: K–12

Overview of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Andrew Stetkevich, Staff Development Specialist/CSS Field Colleague, Riverside Staff Development Center, CA

This presentation will provide an overview of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This civil rights legislation directly affects every teacher and administrator in a public school setting. Learn how to best meet the needs of students who require a 504 plan.

Strand: NEW!, Best Practices
Grade Level: K–12

Improving AYP Special Ed Subgroup
Jim Huckeba, Ph.D., Director, Special Services, Hesperia USD Office, CA

For the past eight years, Hesperia USD has seen a dramatic decrease in the number of students being identified as special education students, while seeing improved academic achievement for all students. In this workshop, learn to apply an RTI model in which all students are evaluated and research-based strategies are used to address the needs of all students.

Strand: Engaging At-Risk Students
Grade Level: K–12

Reading by the Colors
Patricia Rennick, MA, Resource Specialist, Anaheim CSD Office; Helen Irlen, MA, LMFT, Executive Director, Irlen Institute, CA

Learn to identify processing deficits that may affect 25% of the regular school population and 50% of those with learning and reading problems. What can be done to help? Learn how Anaheim City Schools District improved STAR test scores by 25%. In this seminar, you will learn how to identify, remediate, and, in some cases, change a person’s life!

Strand: Marketing Session, Engaging At-Risk Students
Grade Level: K–12

The Joel Bridgman Mentor Program
Gayle Green, Julie Marion, Resource Specialists; Sheri Graves, Oakdale Elementary School, Rio Linda Union ESD, CA

This workshop includes a multimedia presentation that highlights how to set up a successful mentor program at your school. This mentoring program is highly successful in the K–6 setting, but may be adapted to fit any school setting. Mentoring strategies will be discussed, as well as the nuts and bolts of setting up your own mentor program.

Strand: NEW!, Engaging At-Risk Students
Grade Level: K–6

The Ninth Grade Academy: A Model
Intervention Program for Dropout Prevention Mari Bordona, Principal/K–12 Alt. Programs; Rebecca Tourtellotte, Assistant Principal/K–12 Alt. Programs, Azusa USD, CA

The ninth grade academy has been designed to prevent dropout by giving academically at-risk students specialized attention in a small, caring learning environment during their ninth grade year. This session will provide an overview of a model program, complete with handouts of the academy’s policies and data to support its effectiveness.

Strand: Engaging At-Risk Students
Grade Levels: 9–12

Probation and School Success
Donna Cummings and Rick Wise, Probation Officers, Yuba County Probation; Doug Escheman, Principal, Covillaud Elementary, Marysville Joint USD, CA

The Probation and School Success Program (PASS) has five site-based officers who deal with over 60% of the total district student population. This preventive program focuses on violence reduction, truancy issues, child abuse reduction, reduction in referrals to the criminal justice system, and a coordination of resources at the school level.

Strand: NEW!, Family and Community Collaboration
Grade Level: K–12

Insiders vs. Outsiders: Building Successful School/Community Partnerships
Sheril Smith, Director, Office of Dropout Prevention, MS

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has found that a quality dropout prevention plan cannot be completed without developing a strong and vibrant partnership with grassroots community organizations and faith-based groups. This session will look at how the MDE was able to successfully develop this partnership and provide best practices for other states seeking to do the same.

Strand: NEW!, Family and Community Collaboration
Grade Level: K–12

Building the Social-Emotional Foundation for Success in High School
Julea Douglass, Associate Director, School-Connect; Caryn Michaels, Safe Schools Coordinator, Canoga Park High School, Los Angeles USD, CA

Many ninth grade students are unprepared for the personal and academic challenges of high school. This session will focus on three pathways linked to academic success: (1) creating a supportive learning community, (2) addressing thoughts and emotions that interfere with learning, and (3) promoting student-driven learning strategies. Special attention will be paid to models that support the needs of incoming freshmen.

Strand: NEW!, Instructional Strategies
Grade Level: 9–12

From Simple Sentences to Powerful Paragraphs: Creating At-Standard Writers
Shannon Vargas, Master Trainer, Learning Headquarters, CA

This dynamic presentation features research-based techniques to help all students develop well-written narrative and descriptive paragraphs. Learn to scaffold instruction so every student can create an at-standard paragraph that hooks the reader, stays on topic, includes vivid details, and concludes with sentences that clearly restate, not repeat, the topic. Leave with strategies, tools, and blackline masters to use immediately.

Strand: NEW!, Instructional Strategies
Grade Level: K–3

Positive Action Equals Positive Results and Success for All
Karen Wilson, Prevention/Intervention Specialist, Positive Action, Inc., CA

Research has shown that schools using Positive Action have verifiable improvement in standardized test scores for reading, writing, and math as well as reductions in violence, disciplinary referrals, and drug, alcohol, and tobacco use. Come see what 15 minutes a day can do to change the way your classroom, school, and neighborhood operate.

Strand: NEW!, Marketing Session, Instructional Strategies
Grade Level: K–12

The Internet: The Good, The Bad, The Truth
Jay Rohman, Encouraging 101 Organization, NE

Statistics show that one out of four children have been contacted by a predator via the Internet. But the Internet is also a wealth of valuable and important information that can and should be accessed by our students. This program will open your eyes and help you protect our valuable resources…our children.

Strand: NEW!, Safety and Violence Prevention
Grade Level: K–12