This academy is being presented by the Illinois Masonic Foundation at a discounted rate of $35.00 per person (lunch is included on site). Administrators can earn pd credit OR academy credit, teachers can attend and earn pd hours, social workers/counselors may attend and earn ceu's. In this academy, school leaders will learn the importance of self-care while building their understanding of the role they play in creating a culture that supports staff wellness. School leaders will work to assess their own levels of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue. Based on this assessment, leaders will focus on their individual self-care plan that promotes compassion resilience. In addition we will focus on assessing and building a culture for supporting staff wellness while utilizing the core components of a multi-tiered system of support. This flexible framework will guide administrators in promoting wellness for all through the use of data, systems and practices. School leaders will leave with a plan on how to engage existing teams to promote and prioritize a culture of staff wellness. Participants should bring a fully charged device to this session. The application/dissemination must be completed and submitted at the conclusion of the event. Registration closes Wednesday, September 23 at 12:00pm.  Cancellations must be made by Wednesday, September 23 at 12:00pm or the amount paid is non-refundable.

This free virtual workshop, facilitated by Emily Flach of the Illinois LTC, is designed for English Language Arts teachers ready to leverage Artificial Intelligence for practical classroom applications and responsible integration. Dive into hands-on techniques for generating differentiated reading passages, crafting engaging writing prompts, creating targeted vocabulary lists, and even designing custom rubrics! We'll explore how AI can enhance instruction and student engagement through personalized learning and initial writing feedback. Critically, this session will equip you to navigate the ethical landscape of AI, with discussions around academic integrity, bias, and data privacy. You'll gain strategies to foster AI literacy in your students, empowering them to critically evaluate information and use AI responsibly, ensuring you leave with actionable ideas for your ELA classroom. Registration closes 10/1/26 at 4:00 p.m.

Dr. Madison Fritsche of West County Psychological Associates will present this virtual session on Autism in Girls. Autism in girls is frequently overlooked or identified later because many girls do not fit the traditional picture of autism. This presentation explores how autism may present differently in girls, including masking, internalizing behaviors, social imitation, friendship challenges, less obvious restricted interests, sensory differences, and emotional regulation. Participants will learn to look beyond surface-level functioning, recognize patterns that may otherwise be missed, and identify practical ways to better support autistic girls within educational settings. Dr. Fritsche is a Ph.D. and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist with extensive experience in public school systems. She specializes in comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations for children and adolescents, focusing on ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, and behavioral challenges. This session is designed for school social workers and student support staff. Each attendee must log in with their own device. A virtual link and other necessary session materials will be shared with registrants ahead of time. It is recommended that participants print a copy of the material ahead of time and follow along using paper and pencil during the presentation. Registration closes October 5, 2026, at 10:00am. CEU's are available.

This free session will be held at Pontiac Jr. High Library 400 AShland Ave. Fairview Heights, IL. The first half of this session will be instructor-led, scenario-based discussions around commonly encountered topics or challenges in the library. These will include in-depth guidance about intellectual freedom & book challenges, cataloging, strategies for organizing your library collection and schedule, and serving reluctant readers. The second portion of the session will feature a round table discussion where attendees can share and discuss their current work, any current issues they're facing in the library, and receive input and guidance from their peers. Topics discussed will include but are not limited to programing successes, strategies for getting students to the library, free resources available to school librarians including IRIS from the Illinois State Library, resources specifically for ELL students, and other library tips & tricks.  There will be time for open discussion, and any other questions attendees might have, as well as consultation with the library systems.   Registration closes October 5 at 10:00am.

This free session will be held at Central Jr. High School (music room) 1801 Central School Rd. Belleville, 62220. Join fellow K–8 music educators for an interactive roundtable designed to spark practical solutions and fresh ideas. We will focus on three primary topics: classroom management, how to make practice more enjoyable and useful, and all things percussion. Please come with any/all questions and discussion ideas related to these topics. Time willing, we can explore other topics as well. This collaborative session centers on shared expertise — participants are encouraged to contribute their experiences, challenges, and successes to augment the prepared presentation. We are all experts worth being heard. You are also invited/encouraged to bring any percussion-related equipment that you have any questions about (including tuning, maintenance, how to use, what is it, etc.). We will troubleshoot and problem-solve together and will be provided with practical solutions when possible. Let’s share, learn, and build stronger music programs — one conversation at a time. Registration closes October 5 at 10:00am.

This free session is for K-12 pe educators which will be held at Wingate Elementary (150 Wingate Blvd. Belleville, IL 62221) and will be structured with two sessions and presenters.

The first session will be facilitated by Maria Pessman:

• Instant Activities - Do you need activities to get your students moving right away? These instant activities are simple, use minimal equipment, and are fun! Come prepared to move and learn in a meaningful PE way!
• Incorporating Activities within Meaningful PE K-12 - Get ready to move, laugh, reflect, and learn in this session! Participants will be immersed in the Meaningful PE framework through hands-on, active experiences that highlight the core features of MPE: fun, challenge, social interaction, motor competence, and personal relevance. Participants will explore practical strategies to create learning experiences that prioritize student voice, autonomy, and connection.

The second session will be facilitated by Steve Paxson:

• Deconstructing Illinois K-12 Physical Education Standards with Assessments-During this session attendees will take part in a deconstructing standards activities to better understand the standards and to be able to self-assess their own physical education programs to make assertions of potential changes needed.  A practice in the bedrock needs of curriculum design!
•  SBG Assessment Design Pair and Share- Are you grading on dress in PE? Come discover grading practices for objective grading within the affective, cognitive and psychomotor domains. Come to this session to collaborate with colleagues on current grading practices. You will leave this session with data-driven assessments to increase student motivation.
•  Debrief conversations and collaboration

 

Steve Paxson, sppaxso@ilstu.edu, Health and Physical Education, ISU Lab Schools/University High School.

Steve teaches within the Illinois State University Laboratory Schools at University High School in Normal, Illinois.  He has taught at U-High for 13 years and about to begin his 31^st and has taught at three other Illinois public schools.  Half of Steve’s career has been at the k-8 level and the other half at high school. He has developed a passion for assessment and assessment design in Health and PE. His specialization surrounds Health and PE curriculum and assessment design and practice, standards deconstruction, and standards based grading practice and implementation at all K-12 levels.

Maria Pessman, mpessma@ilstu.edu, Health and Physical Education, ISU Lab Schools/University High School.

Maria teaches within the Illinois State University Laboratory Schools at University High School in Normal, Illinois. She has taught at U-High for 19 years and has been teaching physical education for 22 years. She is the current IAHPERD President, the 2025 SHAPE Midwest High School Teacher of the Year, Nationally Board Certified, and has completed her Doctorate Degree in Education with an emphasis on physical literacy in 2022. Topics of specialization for her include assessment design, standard based practices, curriculum design, physical literacy, and meaningful PE. She loves presenting, networking, and sharing information with colleagues. 

Registration closes October 5, 2026 at 10:00am.