Events

Have you ever wanted to have a day of learning and collaboration that is not the typical day of PD? One where you can laugh, collaborate with your colleagues, be creative, reflect, and discuss? If so, this is for you. Join Dr. Marlee Bunch, educator and author of The Magnitude of Us: A Guidebook to Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms, and Katie Gehrt, educator, for an engaging professional development opportunity focused on culturally responsive classrooms and The Magnitude of Us. This professional development is designed to equip 6-12 educators of all subjects and ages to implement culturally responsive teaching strategies to drive engagement, center stories, and connect with students. We invite you to register and mark your calendar to join us as we connect, unlearn, relearn, discuss, and create. This professional development workshop is a 2-part series, registering will sign you up for both parts of the workshop. The first session will occur on July 29, 2025, in person from 9:00am-3:00pm (with a 40 minute lunch break - lunch is on your own). The second session will occur virtually on September 3 (4:00-5:30pm) and a virtual link will be sent prior to 9.2.25. Participants must attend both sessions to earn the full 9 hours of pd credit (partial pd hours will not be issued). What to Bring July 29, 2025: 1. An existing or recent lesson plan printed out. Choose one that you want to revise and/or use at the start of the 2025/26 school year. 2. Something to write in (journal or notebook). 3. An open mind and the willingness to engage and create possibilities. 4. Snacks (*we will break for a 40-minute lunch, but snacks for the day are encouraged*) Session I: July 29, 2025 Remember the days of a good buffet? This session will offer a buffet of learning and collaborating that will include a variety of activities and topics, with something for everyone. We will discuss culturally responsive teaching and have small group activities to discuss and examine not only what culturally responsive teaching entails but also how we can implement and sustain it in our classrooms. In addition, we will evaluate and create lessons and activities to take back into our classrooms for the 2025/26 school year. Session II: September 3, 2025 4:00pm-5:30pm Session II will occur virtually as a follow-up and extension of session I. This session will be a PJs and learn afternoon. Log on in your favorite PJs with a cup of coffee or tea and bring your Magnitude of Us book to continue the discussion and revisit lingering topics from session I. Goals and Objectives - Gain an understanding of what culturally responsive teaching entails - Discover tools, resources, and practices that support culturally responsive pedagogy and implementation - Assess and evaluate existing lesson plans - Build a new lesson/activity to take back into your classroom - Learn and reflect through discussing and actively learning with colleagues What this PD will NOT be: 1. Sit and get. We can assure you that this will not involve a long day of lecturing. 2. This will not be a PD where your voice is not included or heard. 3. Boring. As educators, we have been to enough PDs that were snooze fests... This won’t be that. This PD will include: o Active learning. o Opportunities for discussion and reflection. o Models of effective practice: incorporating poetry and writing, discussion across subject areas, etc. o Support and tools for application and implementation that are relevant to your classroom. o Opportunities to ask questions about culturally responsive teaching. o A copy of The Magnitude of Us book (Teachers College Press, Bunch, 2024). o A follow-up online workshop for continued discussion. Facilitator Bios: Dr. Marlee Bunch, EdD/MEd/MS/BA is an interdisciplinary educator, author, researcher, and lifelong learner. Her research examines the oral histories of Black female educators in Hattiesburg, Mississippi who taught between 1954-1971, and the implications that desegregation had on their lives and careers. She received her doctoral degree from the University of Illinois in 2022 in Education/Policy/Organizational Leadership. Additionally, she has a Masters in Education (MEd), a Masters in Gifted Education (MS), a Bachelors in English, a certification in Diversity/Equity/Inclusion, and a certification in ESL (English as a Second Language). Bunch has been an educator for 17+ years and is the founder of the un/Hush teaching framework. You can learn more about her work at https://www.marleebunch.com/ Katie Gehrt, MA (she/her) is an educator, coach, researcher, advocate, and writer. Katie has experience as a high school teacher and experience in promoting and facilitating diversity, equity, and inclusion. Katie graduated with a B.S. in Secondary Education from Kansas State University, with a minor in Leadership Studies. She obtained her M.A. in Social Justice and Human Rights from Arizona State University, where she received an award for her capstone research examining theoretical frameworks of white supremacy and its application to the U.S. education system. Katie is a passionate advocate for students and implementing inquiry-based pedagogy to bring students’ stories to light through discussion, remain responsive to student feedback and improve engagement, and enhance her own self-reflection as a white educator.   Spots for this two-part session are limited and will fill fast. Registration will close 4-5 days prior to the event. Participants will each receive a copy of Dr. Burch's book, The Magnitude of Us An Educator's Guide to Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms.

This is a free workshop on behalf of the Illinois Masonic Foundation.  Statistics show the average teacher asks between 300-400 questions per day. Utilizing effective questioning is a key aspect of the teaching and learning process, as the kinds of questions we ask determine the level of thinking we develop. It is also a key tool in assessment when checking for pupil understanding and keeping them engaged. To have the desired effect, these questions need to be well-considered and challenging. Utilizing effectivequestioning in the classroom creates opportunities for students to analyze their own thinking, is crucial to opening conversations, inspires deeper intellectual thought, and promotes student-to-student interaction. Targeted audience: General, Special Educators, Interventionists, Coaches, Related Support Personnel    

This is a free workshop on behalf of the Illinois Masonic Foundation.  How is it possible for teachers to divide their limited time, resources, and efforts to effectively instruct all of their students? Although much has changed in schools over the past few years, the power of differentiated instruction has remained the same. There is no secret formula or recipe that works for all learners at all times. With that in mind, many differentiated instructional strategies will be shared in this session as well as insightful guidance on what to differentiate, how to differentiate, and how to bring differentiation into your classroom.

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.