Ready to transform your classroom into an interactive learning adventure? This workshop, facilitated by Emily Flach, from the Illinois LTC, will explore the powerful impact of integrating game elements into your teaching. We'll demystify the difference between gamification (adding game-like elements to existing lessons, like points and badges) and game-based learning (using actual games as the core instructional tool, like simulations or role-playing). Discover how both approaches can boost student motivation, foster collaboration, and enhance learning outcomes across any subject area, K-12. We'll delve into the psychology behind these strategies and explore practical tools and platforms that can help you implement them effectively. Leave inspired and equipped with actionable strategies to introduce game-based principles into your daily lessons, making learning more fun and effective for everyone. Participants should bring a fully charged device to this session.   Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event date.

Discover the 7 Commitments that great teams must make to build trust, foster connection, overcome adversity, and achieve extraordinary success. The 7 Commitments of a Great Team is an interactive program facilitated by Dr. Kelly D.  Stewart, IASA 2014 Illinois Superintendent of the Year,that gives leaders and teammates the tools they need to build a great team together. Participants will learn:

• The secret to building unshakable trust.
• Why positive leadership is the competitive advantage.
• The best way to hold your team accountable.
• The formula for giving your best.
• How to turn challenges and change into growth.
• The mindset shift that leads to long-term success

Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event date. Note: any/all leaders may attend this session, it is not limited to just building administrators or directors.

Engagement 2.0 - Minds ON Are you frustrated because your students do not think critically and have difficulty problem-solving?  Are they disengaged?  If so, this is the workshop for you!  Dr. Kelly Stewart will help define critical thinking and cognitive engagement based on Rebecca Sobaugh’s book 50 Strategies to Boost Cognitive Engagement: Creating a Thinking Culture in the Classroom. These strategies will be modeled throughout the workshop and suggest ways they can be used in the classroom. This will be a hands-on workshop where you can participate in using these strategies first-hand. Walk away with useful strategies at your fingertips to encourage students to think and problem-solve and be actively engaged in their learning.   Registration closes September 23 at 10:00am.

This academy is being presented by the Illinois Masonic Foundation at a discounted rate of $50.00 per person(lunch is included on site). Administrators can earn pd credit OR academy credit, teachers can attend and earn pd hours, social workers/counselors may attend and earn ceu's. In this academy, school leaders will learn the importance of self-care while building their understanding of the role they play in creating a culture that supports staff wellness. School leaders will work to assess their own levels of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue. Based on this assessment, leaders will focus on their individual self-care plan that promotes compassion resilience. In addition we will focus on assessing and building a culture for supporting staff wellness while utilizing the core components of a multi-tiered system of support. This flexible framework will guide administrators in promoting wellness for all through the use of data, systems and practices. School leaders will leave with a plan on how to engage existing teams to promote and prioritize a culture of staff wellness. Participants should bring a fully charged device to this session. The application/dissemination must be completed and submitted at the conclusion of the event. Registration closes Wednesday, September 23 at 12:00pm.  Cancellations must be made by Wednesday, September 23 at 12:00pm or the amount paid is non-refundable.

Registration closes 4-5 days 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.

MasteryPrep’s Unofficial Teacher’s Guide to the ACT: a closer look at Math and Science Content Mastery Educators who have participated in either the virtual (January 2026) or in-person (October 20, 2026 8:30am-11:30am) MasteryPrep Unofficial Teacher’s Guide to the ACT workshop are invited to take a closer look at Content Mastery in this afternoon PD session! Math and Science teachers will walk in their students’ shoes with a mini test experience, learn how to analyze ACT questions by task and isolated skill, and discuss how and when strategies can be effective.  Cohorts will look closely at the tiered isolated skills of their subject area and decide which skills should be covered in the ACTion plan.  Time wil be reserved for individual and team planning with the available consultation of our MasteryPrep presenter.  Remember to bring your MasteryPrep’s Unofficial Teacher’s Guide to the ACT workbooks!   Registration closes September 28. 2026 at 10:00am in order to have ample time to order/ship the manuals.

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!  ELA 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 9.28.26 at 10:00am to give ample time for ordering/shipping the manuals.