Events

Navigate the complexities of special education law and avoid costly litigation by sharpening your legal knowledge and enhancing your parent communication strategies. In this comprehensive and interactive session, you'll learn proactive steps to minimize the risk of due process hearings and other legal challenges.  Hosted by a former due process hearing officer and school district attorney, this workshop will provide practical, real-world strategies to ensure that your special education processes and procedures are legally sound and defensible. Participants will gain valuable insights into strengthening IEPs, handling disputes effectively, and fostering positive relationships with parents, all while reducing the likelihood of legal action. Join us for an engaging, solution-oriented session designed to equip educators, administrators, and special education professionals with the tools they need to protect their district and better serve students with disabilities.

Christina Sepiol, J.D. Ed.D, currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Student Services at Indian Prairie School District # 204.  Dr. Sepiol also serves as the assistant director of the SWCCCASE Cooperative. Prior to her position within the cooperative, Ms. Sepiol was legal counsel for numerous school districts throughout the State of Illinois, focusing her practice in matters related to special education, student discipline and disability rights. Ms. Sepiol graduated magna cum laude from Loyola University, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in education. She received her J.D. from Loyola, and her Master's degree in Educational Leadership from DePaul University. Her educational experiences have included teaching in the field of special education at the elementary through high school levels and serving as a building principal in an alternative day school setting. She is a member of the Illinois Bar Association and has served on the Illinois Council of School Attorney's Committees on Special Education and the No Child Left Behind Act. Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event unless tickets are sold out.

PDC Member District $185.00 Non PDC District $200.00 (pricing includes lunch provided on site).  Participants should bring a fully charged device to this academy. The application/dissemination must be completed and submitted prior to your departure from the academy on September 16. This presentation will analyze the special education case law and recent legal guidance from both OSEP and OCR to ensure that your school organization can avoid the decisions that ultimately led schools to litigation. Each case will be discussed with a focus on the missteps or omission, including alternative options for action and legal requirements under both state and federal law. Christina Sepiol, J.D. Ed.D, currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Student Services at Indian Prairie School District # 204.  Dr. Sepiol also serves as the assistant director of the SWCCCASE Cooperative. Prior to her position within the cooperative, Ms. Sepiol was legal counsel for numerous school districts throughout the State of Illinois, focusing her practice in matters related to special education, student discipline and disability rights. Ms. Sepiol graduated magna cum laude from Loyola University, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in education. She received her J.D. from Loyola, and her Master's degree in Educational Leadership from DePaul University. Her educational experiences have included teaching in the field of special education at the elementary through high school levels and serving as a building principal in an alternative day school setting. Prior to representing school districts, Ms. Sepiol represented parents whose interests were averse to school districts. She is a member of the Illinois Bar Association and has served on the Illinois Council of School Attorney's Committees on Special Education and the No Child Left Behind Act.  Ms. Sepiol is the author of Section 504: A Legal Guide for Educators: Practical Applications for Essential Compliance (PESI, 2015). Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event unless tickets are sold out.  Cancellations must be made on or before September 11, 2025 or the amount will be non-refundable. PD hours or academy credit or ceu's can be issued for this event.

Do you know some to a moderate level of AI tools and technology and how to implement them into your current special education role?  This FREE virtual workshop is specifically designed for attendees who have knowledge of and have used AI and how its  in the special education realm.  Join Emily Flach Regional Educational Technology Coordinator, Learning Technology Center) in this workshop that is designed for special education teachers seeking to elevate their current foundational AI skills. We'll explore advanced prompting and expanded AI toolsets, empowering you to create deeply personalized learning experiences. Master AI's ability to develop data-driven IEP goals, implement progress monitoring, and craft targeted behavior plans. Learn to effectively employ AI for advanced differentiation and tailored accommodations, ensuring every student thrives. Through hands-on activities, you'll refine your AI proficiency and confidently integrate AI applications into your daily preparation and instruction to maximize student achievement and streamline your work. Participants will collaborate to share effective AI strategies and applications for the special education classroom, fostering a supportive learning community and expanding your practical AI knowledge. A virtual link will be sent prior to the event date. Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event unless tickets are sold out.

Target Audience: General & Special Education Teachers, Building Administrators, Related Service Staff Providing Behavioral Consultation at the Secondary Level This free virtual training will outline easy to implement, yet highly effective, preventative strategies which increase student engagement and decrease challenging behaviors in grades 6-12. Join Amanda Wilson, a board-certified behavior analyst, nationally certified school psychologist and co-founder of Navigating Behavior Change, LLC as you will learn the core components to implement Instructional Choice, Active Student Response Methods, Behavior-Specific Praise, Active Supervision, and Precorrection with fidelity in their secondary classrooms. Examples will be utilized to assist in demonstrating how each strategy can be implemented, both individually and in combination across classroom environments, instructional activities, and with various staff members. Common implementation errors will also be discussed and recommendations to increase fidelity will be outlined. Downloadable resources to assist in implementation will be provided for each strategy. Objectives: By the end of this training, participants will be able to: 1. List five evidence-based tier 1 strategies 2. State why each strategy is effective 3. List the steps to implementing each strategy 4. Describe how to effectively incorporate strategies together within an instructional block Registration will close 4-5 days prior to the event unless tickets are sold out. A virtual link will be sent out prior to September 17, 2025.

Target Audience: General & Special Education Teachers, Building Administrators, Related Service Staff Providing Behavioral Consultation at the Elementary Level Join Amanda Wilson, a board-certified behavior analyst, nationally certified school psychologist and co-founder of Navigating Behavior Change, LLC as she facilitates this free virtual training that will outline easy to implement, yet highly effective, preventative strategies which increase student engagement and decrease challenging behaviors. Participants will learn the core components to implement Instructional Choice, Active Student Response Methods, Behavior-Specific Praise, Active Supervision, and Precorrection with fidelity in their classrooms. Examples will be utilized to assist in demonstrating how each strategy can be implemented, both individually and in combination across classroom environments, instructional activities, and with various staff members. Common implementation errors will also be discussed and recommendations to increase fidelity will be outlined. Downloadable resources to assist in implementation will be provided for each strategy. Objectives: By the end of this training, participants will be able to: A. List five evidence-based tier 1 strategies B. State why each strategy is effective C. List the steps to implementing each strategy D. Describe how to effectively incorporate strategies together within an instructional block   Registration will close 4-5 days prior to the event unless tickets are sold out. A virtual link will be sent out prior to September 18, 2025.

This two-day symposium will provide in depth support to instructional coaches, department chairs, behavioral/academic interventionists and team leaders who often find themselves between two worlds - tasked with supporting colleagues on the front lines while also existing in what feels like no man's land between district level and building administration. When educational change happens “to teachers”, coaches and team leaders can step-in as figures of stability and positivity for and with those they serve. Day 1, (8:30am-3:00pm)participants will practice how to create and sustain positive relationships with those they lead. Also, participants will translate their school & district initiatives to achieve the primary objective - increasing student and educator performance and engagement. Day 2 (8:00am-2:30pm) will focus on Brave Conversations: Honest Dialogue & Catalysts for Change As instructional leaders—whether coaches, team leaders, teachers, or administrators—we have the power to be catalysts for transformative growth in our schools. However, this power requires courage. It takes bravery to have honest, constructive conversations with our colleagues and teams, but it is these very conversations that lead to real change and progress.  In this engaging workshop, we will explore how to build trust and cultivate an environment where brave conversations can take place. Participants will learn how to prepare for and plan these crucial discussions, how to frame feedback in a way that promotes positive outcomes, and how to support one another in creating a culture of openness and growth. Through practical strategies, reflective exercises, and real-world examples, we will empower you to step into these challenging yet impactful conversations with confidence. Together, let's be the change our students need. Let’s be brave. Join us for an interactive and inspiring session that will leave you with the tools to lead with courage, authenticity, and impact. Registration includes attendance on both days, partial pd will not be issued. Participants will be given time for lunch (on your own) each day. Registration for this event will close on 9.24.25 at 12:00pm.

PDC Member District $180.00 Non PDC Member District $200.00 (lunch included on site) Registration closes Friday, September 26. 2025 at 12:00pm. Cancellations must be made by Monday, September 29, 2025 at 3:30pm or the amount will be non-refundable.  Participants will need to bring a fully charged laptop to this event. This one-day academy is designed to provide participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively evaluate student growth as part of teacher performance evaluations. The course focuses on addressing implicit bias, differentiating for equity, and coaching teachers more deeply when evaluating student growth for special education, English learners, & early childhood students. Finally this course will align with the four core competencies outlined in the Part 50 Administrative Rules (50.420) for Teacher Evaluators.

Join your fellow behavior job alike colleagues in the first roundtable of the 2025-2026 school year. As more and more school districts add these critical positions, this time is important for you to build your PLN in and around our county.  Chardae Pearson, Rockwood School District Student Behavior Team Specialist Supervisor will present on the framework used by Rockwood, specifically FBA's/BIPs, supporting staff with the implementation of interventions and data tracking/collecting.  Discussions will be had around these newly created positions, resources, networking and problem solving.  Registration will close 4-5 days prior to the event unless tickets are sold out.

As a principal, the challenges of leadership can often be stressful, but your role also serves as a vital support system for staff and students, helping to ease their stress in the workplace. This workshop is designed to explore the intersection of stress and leadership, providing practical tools for navigating stress and cultivating a positive work environment. In this session, we will dive into the basics of stress response and its role in the workplace, helping you understand how stress affects both leaders and those you lead. You’ll learn how to identify common stressors that may affect you and your team, and gain insight into how these stressors impact organizational effectiveness.

In addition, we will explore the critical role workplace attitudes play in fostering a positive school culture. Topics will include job satisfaction, morale, organizational commitment, and work engagement—key factors that directly influence productivity, team cohesion, and overall well-being.

To help you manage stress effectively, we will also cover several healthy coping strategies that can be easily implemented into your daily routine. These strategies are designed to promote personal well-being while simultaneously strengthening your leadership role within the school community.

By the end of the session, you will be equipped with practical tools and strategies to manage stress, foster a positive work environment, and support the well-being of both yourself and your team.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding stress responses and their impact in the workplace

• Identifying common workplace stressors and their effects on performance

• Enhancing job satisfaction, morale, and organizational commitment

• Developing practical coping strategies for stress management

• Building a positive and engaged work environment for yourself and your team

Join us for this transformative workshop and learn how to navigate workplace stress while fostering a thriving and resilient school culture. While this is geared towards the role of the principal, any administrator, leader, aspiring leaders are encouraged to attend.

Time will be spent the last portion of the breakaway in a roundtable format. Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event.