Conway ConnectED: PD Palooza 2025

How and when we communicate with parents makes a huge difference on their perception of the teachers, staff, and school their child attends. Parent communication is essential for building and fostering a positive relationship between a parent and the school. What we communicate, how we communicate it, and when we communicate it can have a direct impact on how well the parents feel their child is being supported at school. This session will provide teachers with a framework to deliver good news and especially the bad or tough news in a way that the parent leaves the conversation knowing we care for their student and have a plan to help them. We will cover how to have effective conversations with parents when a student is struggling academically or behaviorally.

Participants will learn how to utilize jiu-jitsu instructional methods such as detail shading, radical praise, and error correction strategies in order to boost engagement and create a positive classroom environment. Participants will practice these teaching techniques in small groups while learning life-saving self-defense skills in a safe environment from a dual-certified Gracie jiu-jitsu instructor. This session is geared toward any district personnel P-12.

This presentation highlights strategies to enhance collaboration between general and special educators, fostering inclusive practices that support all students. Key topics include defining roles, improving communication, implementing interventions and modifications, and aligning IEP goals. By promoting shared responsibility and inclusive teaching, educators can create a more effective and supportive learning environment.

Are you curious about the potential of AI chatbots and large language models (LLMs) in education but unsure where to start? This session is designed to introduce K-12 classroom teachers to these powerful tools, exploring how they can be leveraged to save time, personalize instruction, and enhance student learning. In this beginner-friendly session, we'll demystify AI chatbots and LLMs, breaking down their underlying technologies and capabilities. You'll gain a solid understanding of the different chatbot platforms and LLMs available, their unique features, and their educational use cases. One of the key focuses will be on crafting effective prompts – the secret to unlocking the full potential of these AI tools. Through interactive examples and exercises, you'll learn how to formulate prompts that elicit the most relevant and helpful responses for your classroom needs. We'll also delve into practical applications of chatbots and LLMs, discussing how they can help create lesson plans, assignments, and classroom activities. From personalized tutoring and homework assistance, you'll discover how these technologies can streamline your workflow and free up valuable instructional time. Additionally, we'll address best practices for responsible and ethical use, ensuring student privacy and data security while harnessing the power of AI in education. By the end of this session, you'll not only understand the fundamentals of AI chatbots and LLMs but also have a clear roadmap for implementing them in your classroom, empowering you to embrace these innovative tools and elevate your teaching practice. Whether you're a tech-savvy educator or new to the world of AI, this session promises to be an informative and engaging exploration of the future of education. Join us and unlock the potential of AI chatbots in your classroom today!

Domestic violence can be as confusing as it is damaging. In this session, we will consider questions such as: What are the myths of domestic violence? What is the common cycle of domestic violence? What can we do to help our friends and/or colleagues?

Effective communication is the foundation of student engagement and success. This session will explore Component 3a: Communication with Students from the EES rubric, providing insights into what administrators look for during observations. Participants will examine key elements of clear, consistent, and effective communication and learn practical strategies to enhance student interactions. Through real-world examples from educators, we will discuss how strong communication fosters a positive classroom environment and directly impacts student achievement. Join us for an informative and collaborative session designed to elevate your communication practices and strengthen student connections.

We will use the enneagram to learn more about ourselves and examine how we interact with others, including students and colleagues.

Are you an educator looking to take the next step into school administration? This training session is designed specifically for aspiring administrators who want to stand out in a competitive field. Whether you’re aiming for an assistant principal position, a principal role, or another administrative leadership opportunity, this session will provide you with the tools and strategies to distinguish yourself from your peers.

This interactive session is designed for educators, administrators, and support staff who communicate with parents regularly, particularly about student progress, behavior, and needs. Attendees will learn strategies to engage in open, supportive discussions while remaining aligned with special education and legal guidelines. Through real-world scenarios and collaborative exercises, participants will practice approaches that build trust with parents while ensuring clarity, consistency, and special education compliance.

This session is designed for K-12 educators who have a foundational understanding of AI chatbots and Large Language Models (LLMs) and are ready to explore more advanced applications in their teaching practice. Building upon the introductory concepts, we'll delve deeper into the potential of these tools to transform classroom instruction. Key Focus Areas: Advanced Prompt Engineering: Beyond the basics, we'll explore techniques for crafting prompts that encourage critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills in students. You'll learn how to design prompts that facilitate project-based learning, research, and in-depth analysis. Integrating Chatbots into Curriculum: Discover strategies for seamlessly incorporating AI chatbots into your existing curriculum across various subjects and grade levels. We'll discuss how chatbots can support differentiated instruction, provide individualized feedback, and enhance student engagement. Exploring AI-Powered Tools: We'll introduce you to a range of AI-powered educational tools, such as content creation platforms, language learning assistants, and accessibility tools. You'll learn how to leverage these tools to create interactive and inclusive learning experiences. Addressing Challenges and Ethical Considerations: We'll discuss potential challenges and ethical considerations associated with the use of AI in education. We'll explore strategies for ensuring data privacy, addressing bias in AI algorithms, and navigating the evolving landscape of AI in schools.

Grief is a universal life experience. Unfortunately, too few of us are taught how to navigate it or how to care for those who are grieving. In this session, we will examine questions such as: What does grief look like? How does it impact work and relationships? What can we do to help our friends and/or colleagues?

Are your students feeling restless or disengaged? Do you want to boost focus and foster a positive, energized classroom environment? Join me for a dynamic professional development session focused on implementing "Brain Breaks"—quick, effective activities that will refresh your students' minds, improve behavior, and enhance learning! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll discover how brain breaks can increase student focus, boost engagement, and enhance classroom management. Each participant will leave with a toolkit of simple, classroom-ready brain break ideas. Whether you're teaching elementary, middle, or high school students, this session will provide practical tools to help keep your classroom calm, productive, and full of energy. Let's create a learning environment where both students and teachers thrive!

This session equips educators with practical strategies to navigate challenging conversations during conferences with clarity, empathy, and effectiveness. The focus is on fostering trust, improving communication, and building developmental relationships with families and students.

Feeling overwhelmed? Buried under a mountain of paperwork, emails, and to-do lists? This interactive workshop will introduce you to a toolkit of proven productivity techniques that can help you regain control of your time, reduce stress, and achieve your goals. We'll explore popular methods like GTD (Getting Things Done), the Pomodoro Technique, the Eisenhower Matrix, Time Blocking, and "Eat the Frog." You'll learn how to: Prioritize effectively: Identify what's truly important and focus your energy where it matters most. Manage your time: Implement strategies to avoid distractions, procrastination, and burnout. Streamline your workflow: Develop systems and habits to stay organized and efficient. Whether you're a teacher, administrator, or support staff member, these techniques can be adapted to your unique role and responsibilities. Leave this session feeling empowered, energized, and ready to tackle your workload with a renewed sense of focus and calm.

By the end of this session, participants will have an understanding of how to operate ChatGPT and generate memos, letters, analyze data trends, develop meeting agenda, etc.

Be better prepared when your friends and/or colleagues may start to struggle with thoughts of self-harm. In this session, we will discuss answers to these kinds of questions: What are the risk factors for suicide? How do we ask about or assess for suicidal thoughts and behaviors? What do we do to help?

Discover how to streamline your classroom management with "Classroomscreen", an interactive online tool designed to help teachers foster engagement, clarity, and focus. In this hands-on session, you'll learn how to use Classroomscreen to display timers, random name pickers, traffic light signals, and other interactive widgets that support daily routines and keep students on task. Whether you're looking to enhance visual organization, facilitate transitions, or boost student engagement, Classroomscreen can simplify your classroom management strategies. Please bring your device to fully participate in this interactive session and explore practical ways to implement this tool, creating a more efficient and dynamic classroom environment!

This class will focus on total body interval training consisting of short and brief exercises with brief recovery periods. 

This session equips educators with practical strategies to navigate challenging conversations during conferences with clarity, empathy, and effectiveness. The focus is on fostering trust, improving communication, and building developmental relationships with families and students.

As a K-12 educator or staff member, your inbox can quickly become a source of stress and distraction. Constant emails from students, parents, colleagues, technology staff :), and administrators can easily overwhelm your day. This session is designed to equip you with the tools and techniques to take control of your inbox and reclaim your valuable time.