Events

Join Mascoutah High School # 19 Instructional Coach Tara Sulcer in this extremely informative and hands-on professional development session where you will gain the confidence and expertise to navigate Illinois social studies standards in grades 6-12! Designed for educators who want to deepen their understanding of standards-based instruction, this course will provide practical strategies for unpacking standards, designing aligned assessments, and creating engaging lessons that challenge students at various Depth of Knowledge (DOK) levels.  Participants will explore best practices for crafting meaningful learning experiences, ensuring rigorous yet accessible instruction that meets state expectations. Additionally, this session will introduce innovative ways to integrate AI tools to streamline lesson planning, assessment design, and data-driven instruction.  Walk away with a clear roadmap for implementing standards effectively, fostering critical thinking in your students, and leveraging technology to enhance your teaching practice! Participants will need to bring a fully charged device, registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event unless tickets are sold out.

Join Mascoutah High School # 19 Instructional Coach Tara Sulcer as you transform your 6-12 social studies classroom into a hub of inquiry, discussion, and critical thinking! This dynamic professional development session is designed for educators who want to seamlessly integrate effective literacy strategies and student engagement techniques into their daily instruction.  Through hands-on activities and collaborative discussions, participants will explore innovative ways to strengthen students’ reading, writing, and analytical skills while deepening their understanding of social studies content. Learn how to use primary and secondary sources more effectively, foster meaningful classroom discourse, and implement high-impact strategies that boost comprehension and retention.  Walk away with ready-to-use tools, practical lesson ideas, and a renewed approach to making social studies more interactive, engaging, and accessible for all learners! Participants will need to bring a fully charged laptop to this event. Registration closes 4-5 days prior unless tickets are sold out.

This workshop will be held at Mascoutah # 19 421 W. Harnett Mascoutah, IL 62258. Join Mascoutah High School # 19 Instructional Coach Tara Sulcer as you take your social studies instruction to the next level with this engaging and practical professional development session! Designed for educators who want to deepen student inquiry, critical thinking, and writing skills, this course will provide hands-on strategies for effectively integrating Document-Based Questions (DBQs) into your curriculum.  Participants will explore the DBQ process step by step, with a focus on scaffolding historical thinking, developing strong analytical writing, and guiding students through the Gradual Release of Responsibility model. You’ll leave with ready-to-use resources, instructional techniques, and a clear framework for helping students engage with primary and secondary sources in meaningful ways. Whether you're new to DBQs or looking to refine your approach, this session will equip you with the tools and confidence to make document analysis an integral part of your classroom. Attendees should bring a fully charged device, registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event date unless tickets are sold out.  

Jim Kestner will present his nationally recognized program in a high-energy session dedicated to helping teachers in their early career years address a wide range of classroom management issues. Teachers who attend will find strategies that lead students to make good choices, replacing controlling behaviors with strategies that lead students to monitor and take responsibility for their own behavior. Specifically the session will address the following:

• Arranging the environment to improve student engagement
• Developing and implementing effective classroom policies
• Addressing common challenging behaviors
• Difference between controlling behaviors and building good decision-making skills
• Translating the concept of consistency to a variety of students and settings
• Establishing a character-building classroom culture
• Teaching self-respect, self-discipline, and responsibility
• Self-esteem v self-respect
• Grading systems that encourage student effort and engagement
• Assessing student behavior
• Parent and administrator involvement
• Keeping and maintaining good records

  Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event date.

Jim Kestner, nationally recognized for his youth character development programs, will present practical, hands-on strategies for implementing SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Standards that help you prepare students for success in the real world through activities and perspectives that won't require you to devote unrealistic amounts of time.  The session will provide opportunities for you to identify topics most relevant to your circumstances. Here's a sample of issues we will address together:

• Connecting the SEL Standards to your current curriculum
• Empowering students to overcome setbacks that threaten their success
• Equipping students with practical strategies to navigate complex interpersonal interactions
• Improving students' conflict management skills
• Teaching real methods for making individaul students accountable for group success
• Teaching perspective taking as a means of enhancing student empathy
• Identifying perspectives for healthy and unhealthy tolerance
• Coping with differences that impact opportunity and fairness (appearance, means, ability, status, etc.)
• Engaging students in meaningful processes for addressing negative behaviors and attitudes

PDC Member Districts $325.00, Non PD Co-op member districts $375.00 (lunch is included on site). All pre-work must be submitted no later than Sunday, July 20 at 12:00pm or participants will not be able to attend the academy. The learning outcomes for the two-day academy include: - Participants will be able to use assessments and measurement models in determining the student growth attributable to individual teachers and to understand how different types of assessments are used for measuring growth. - Participants will be able to use data from the evaluation rubric, other evidence collected and best practices relative to evaluating student growth, to link teacher and school-level professional development plans to evaluation results. - Participants will create, in collaboration with teachers, supportive, targeted professional development plans that consider past results, contribute to professional growth, and assist teachers in aligning professional development and goal-setting to school improvement goals. - Participants will communicate evaluation outcomes and findings in constructive and supportive ways that enable teachers to set goals and improve practice. - Participants will demonstrate a high rate of inter-rater reliability using the required performance evaluation ratings (i.e., excellent, proficient, needs improvement, and unsatisfactory). - Participants will observe instruction competently in multiple subject areas provided to varied and multiple student populations (i.e., English language learners, students with IEPs, students in career and technical programs, etc.) - Participants will use data from the evaluation rubric, other evidence collected and best practices relative to evaluating professional practice, to link teacher and school-level professional development plans to evaluation results. - Participants will know how to create, in collaboration with teachers, supportive, targeted professional development plans that consider past results, contribute to professional growth and assist teachers in aligning PD and goal-setting to SIP goals. - Participants will communicate evaluation outcomes and findings in constructive and supportive ways that enable teachers to set goals and improve professional practice. - Participants will understand sources of personal bias and be able to recognize and control for bias when conducting an evaluation and determining results. Evaluators will be required to complete pre-session learning components for this course. If you do not complete the pre-session learning components in the required time frame prior to the workshop, you will not be allowed to attend the workshop and will still be responsible for the registration fee. This event has a maximum number of 15 attendees. Participants must bring a fully charged laptop to both days of the academy. Cancellations must be made by July 18 at 12:00pm or the amount will be non-refundable.

Join Kindergarten teacher Marsha McGuire for a fun-filled, hands-on workshop designed to reignite the joy of learning in your early childhood classroom! In this session you'll discover exciting activities that support the development of fine motor skills, boost sensory experiences, and revolutionize your math centers. Learn how to integrate creative, engaging games that not only enhance critical skills but also make learning feel like play. By the end of the day, you’ll walk away with a practical toolkit of innovative games and strategies to make your students excited to learn, eager to engage, and ready to explore! Perfect for educators seeking fresh ideas to inspire and motivate young learners.  What will you LEAVE with on this awesome day? Marsha is the author behind Differentiated Kindergarten https://differentiatedkindergarten.com/. Marsha has a master's degree in early childhood education with a focus on Differentiated Instruction. While Marsha has taught preschool and first grade, she has spent most of her 20-year teaching career in Kindergarten in Michigan. Registration will close 4-5 days prior to registration unless tickets are sold out (40 minutes will be provided for lunch (on your own).

Get ready to revolutionize your classroom with a wealth of innovative strategies designed to captivate your students and transform your teaching with Kindergarten teacher Marsha McGuire! This session will explore dynamic morning work bins that set a positive tone for the day, movement-infused activities that keep energy high while reinforcing key skills, and practical handwriting tips that promote legibility and fluidity. You’ll also discover how to create literacy centers that foster independence and spark a love of reading and writing. Walk away with a toolbox full of engaging, easy-to-implement techniques that will make your classroom more interactive, exciting, and effective.  What will be in your free toolbox? Perfect for educators looking to inspire students and streamline their daily routines! Marsha is the author behind Differentiated Kindergarten https://differentiatedkindergarten.com/. Marsha has a master's degree in early childhood education with a focus on Differentiated Instruction. While Marsha has taught preschool and first grade, she has spent most of her 20-year teaching career in Kindergarten in Michigan. Registration will close 4-5 days prior to registration unless tickets are sold out (40 minutes will be provided for lunch (on your own).

This event is SOLD OUT.   This Administrator Academy is free for all to attend. Academy credit or professional development hours can be issued. Note this academy will be held at the Center for Academic & Vocational Excellence ("CAVE") 7645 Magna Drive, Suite 1 Belleville, IL 62223. Breakfast 8:00-9:00am, Academy 9:00am-12:00pm. This course provides information to school administrators on standards for the conduct, ethics and rights of school personnel. This course discusses the various standards an administrator needs to be aware of in the everyday course of doing their job; including laws, regulations, and mandates for the management of school personnel. If attendees are wanting Academy Credit, administrators must watch 2 of the 4 videos provided and complete and submit the provided application/dissemination on or before Friday August 5 at 12:00pm. If attendees are wanting PD credit an evaluation must be completed.

Walk-ins will only be able to earn pd credit.

Registration closes 7.31.25 at 12:00pm unless tickets are already sold out.