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.

This practical, interactive virtual training equips paraprofessionals with strategies to recognize early signs of escalation, understand behavior as communication, and respond calmly and effectively to challenging situations. Participants will explore the stages of escalation, discuss supportive communication, learn what to do—and what to avoid—during escalating situations, and develop strategies for maintaining their own regulation while supporting student safety, dignity, and connection.  A virtual link will be sent prior to the event date. Each attendee should use their own device. Registration closes October 5, 2026 at 10:00 am.

Annually, all district homeless liaisons are required to attend a refresher training on the McKinney-Vento Act and the duties of the district homeless liaisons.  This training satisfies that compliance requirement.  Topics will include review of the McKinney-Vento Act, identification and eligibility, what to look for in existing students, student rights, identification of barriers and how to remove those barriers, school of origin, transportation, set-aside funds and allowable costs, dispute process, migrant education, resources, forms, and a question/answer period.

In addition, identifying homeless students continues to be a challenge for all of us, and we know the critical role front office staff plays in this process.  As such, I invite each of you to bring one member of your front office staff from each building to the training.  Please take advantage of this.

“Language teaching is unlike any other type of teaching because language acquisition is not the same as learning anything else.” Common Ground, pg. 12

As a World Language teacher you know this is true! Our classrooms are exciting, lively places full of games, communication, and learning, and it takes a lot of work! With all that work, it can be difficult to stay up to date on the best practices and current research in the field of language acquisition.  Join us for a four week book study on this practical book that bridges the gap between theory and regular, every day classroom practice.  We’ll learn together as educators as we read and reflect, share our experiences, and construct new ideas and visions for our classrooms.  Participants must purchase their own copy of the book and participate weekly in the shared Google Doc that will help guide our discussion time.   

 

Session 1: Introduction, Community Building & Goal Setting 

Thursday, Oct. 15 4:00-5:00pm 

**no reading needs to be completed for this session, but feel free to read ahead! 

 

Session 2: Section I: SLA and Pedagogy 

Thursday, Oct 22 4:00-5:00pm  

For this session, participants should have read pages 3-64

 

Session 3: Section II: Interpretive Communication

Thursday, Oct. 29  4:00-5:00pm 

For this session, participants should have read pages 67-131

 

Session 4: Section III: Presentational and Interpersonal Communication

Thursday, Nov 5 4:00-5:00pm 

For this session, participants should have read pages 135-195

Participants will need to purchase the book individually. Registration closes October 9, 2026.  Partial pd hours will not be issued. Participants must complete all virtual sessions and assignments to earn the full 11 pd hours. A virtual link will be sent prior to the event date.

Jim Kestner will present his nationally recognized program in a high-energy session dedicated to helping experienced teachers 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: * What teachers should know about teaching Generation Z * Developing character-based discipline * Addressing common challenging behaviors * Difference between controlling behaviors and building good decision-making skills * Consistency * Developing and implementing effective classroom policies * Establishing a character-building classroom environment * Teaching self-respect, self-discipline, and responsibility * Self-esteem vs. self-respect * Grading systems that encourage student effort and engagement * Assessing student behavior * Parent and administrator involvement   Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event date - time will be given for lunch (on your own).

This same session was presented virtually in January of 2026. Gain a deeper understanding of the new Enhanced ACT through the lens of MasteryPrep’s Mastery Pyramid!  Math and Science teachers will explore how to make ACT prep a natural part of the classroom culture through micro-practices, subject-specific strategy lessons, and isolated skill review.  Subject-specific cohorts will collaborate to develop a Time, Test, and Content Mastery ACTion Plan for immediate classroom implementation. Each participant will receive a copy of MasteryPrep’s Unofficial Teacher’s Guide to the ACT workbook and access to printable lesson plans and resources.    Registration closes September 28, 2026 at 10:00am to allow ample time to order and ship the manuals.