Events

This in person book study will meet September 25, 2025 and October 30, 2025 from 3:30-5:30pm at Whiteside Elementary (must attend both sessions) Take some time to invest in yourself at the start of a new school year with a book study dedicated to help yourself set and maintain healthy boundaries. Join Amy Leritz, School Social Worker for Whiteside Elementary, in an interactive and discussion based book study. This PD will be held over 2 sessions. The book, Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab must be read as part of the book study. We’ll be discussing Chapters 1-8 during the first session, and will discuss Chapters 9-15 during the second session. Learn how to become aware of your own boundaries, identify areas of your life where healthier boundaries are needed, and what to do to create and reinforce boundaries. Participants must purchase the book independently (however the ROE will be raffling off 7 copies of the book). Registration closes Friday, September 19 at 12:00pm.

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.

Today's students are facing unprecedented levels of anxiety—more worried, more dependent, and less resilient in the face of challenges than generations before them. As anxiety continues to skyrocket among youth, how can school professionals effectively respond to this increasingly fretful generation? This workshop provides a deep dive into understanding anxiety in students, offering insight into the key red flags and exploring why it’s becoming more pervasive in our schools. We’ll explore how anxiety manifests in students and, more importantly, how we, as school counselors and social workers, can respond with strategies that truly make a difference in alleviating their distress. In the first half of this workshop, we will focus on practical, evidence-based strategies for addressing student anxiety in the classroom. From recognizing early signs to providing effective interventions, we’ll discuss approaches that foster emotional resilience and support students in building coping skills for academic and personal success. The second half of the session shifts to the critical role school professionals play in managing their own well-being. Educators, counselors, and social workers are often the first line of support for students, yet they can struggle with their own stress and burnout. In this segment, participants will learn self-care techniques and strategies to combat stress and anxiety, ensuring they remain at their best for the students they serve. Through guided reflection and discussion, attendees will develop a personalized Resilience Plan—equipping them with the tools needed to thrive, both in their professional roles and in their personal lives.

Location: Mascoutah # 19 (specific school TBD). This day is structured into four mini-sessions to ensure all PK-12 physical educators will leave with a wealth of information, strategies and resources to return back to your buildings and best support your programs and students. Session 1: Current Trends and Future Possibilities in PE Implications for Fitness, Health, and Wellbeing - This presentation will cover current efforts, expectations and activities associated with physical education. An educational approach connecting the physical to the physiological aspects of movement along with discussion of examples and options as to how we can easily provide a broader well-being perspective in PE. Session 2: Enhanced PE: What it means and why it’s important. Recent legislative efforts in Illinois recommend that schools deliver a health-related fitness approach in PE. This session will provide options and approaches to meet a health-related fitness approach in PE. Session 3: Fitness Testing: Is it Even Useful Anymore?  - This year re-establishes the Illinois fitness testing legislative data submission requirement with fitness testing data being submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education. While fitness testing is a routine part of PE programs, test administration, protocols, and results are often considered to suspect. Learn how to get more out of this process and make it meaningful. Session 4: The Relevance and Data Analysis of Fitness Testing While physical fitness tests are an important assessment component in PE, little is done with the data obtained from those assessments. There is a wealth of information that can be obtained from those fitness testing. Learn how to manage fitness data and the health-related applications of physical fitness assessments. Registration for this event will CLOSE on Tuesday, October 6, 2025 at 3:00pm, we will not be able to accommodate additional registrations after October 6.