RSAC 2024

In the spirit of the classic Choose Your Own Adventure series, this will be an interactive session with participants having an opportunity to select educator commitments that they would like to learn most about. This session will expose you to a variety of authors' best practices and fundamentals, particularly in the areas of communication, relationships, and critical thinking. Participants will leave the session with awareness of daily techniques that if implemented in earnest, will improve and strengthen your current environment whether it be a classroom, department, or school; students will grow and staff will feel empowered and valued.

In this workshop, participants will learn practical strategies and insightful approaches aimed at diffusing heightened situations and fostering a sense of calm in interpersonal dynamics. Explore proven techniques for effective communication, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence, equipping yourself with valuable skills to navigate challenging moments for better outcomes.

A sense of belonging within a school community is perhaps our most powerful tool to promote not only student well being and resilience but to enhance student academic engagement. A sense of belonging is associated with higher academic achievement, better attendance, improved behavior, and reductions in mental health problems, among many other benefits. Unfortunately, there is a crisis of belonging in our schools. Drawing upon research from brain science, social sciences, education and 30 years of practice within schools, this session will help participants uncover the positive impact of a belonging community on students and staff, discuss factors that threaten a student's sense of belonging and provide strategies that can be implemented immediately to create a belonging community in our classrooms and in our schools.

Pleasant Valley, an urban district with 95% poverty, has reduced its office referrals and suspensions by over half through a robust SEL approach, a fidelity culture, district wide procedures, and raising their behavior expectations for students and parents. All of which have contributed to improved climate, classroom management, and student achievement. Participants will understand how to implement this behavior blueprint to make cultural shifts and improve student relationships regardless of school size or obstacles.

Self Care is a word that is heard often. We are told to practice self care, take care of ourselves, put your oxygen mask on before you help others but what does that really look like? As educators we naturally give and take care of others before we take care of ourselves, how can we fix that? Our building principal and social worker worked together using a variety of resources to put together a year long plan focusing each month on a self care habit. These habits are applicable to the adults in your system but also applicable to the youngest students. Learn more about his process and plan and take away ideas that you can implement to incorporate these habits of self care into your classroom and building.

As we looked to increase academic rigor in our school we realized that many students struggled with self regulation when confronted with a difficult or rigorous task. Our School Improvement Leadership Team utilized the Cycles of Inquiry process to develop a systematic plan to track emotional responses and then provide consistent strategies to empower students to self regulate. Learn more about our process and the self regulation strategies that students learned in this process.

In this session, participants will explore the concept of gender bias, and how identifying it can help to enhance the climate and culture in their classrooms. Participants will learn how understanding gender bias can increase student engagement and success while improving relationships throughout the school.

Just as sports teams tend to perform better when they play at home, our students excel when they are in a comfortable classroom where they feel safe and encouraged. In this interactive session, participants will experience several activities that they can take back to their classrooms to help establish their own home court advantage. Building relationships is imperative, so we offer strategies to use not just in August but throughout the year to maintain the levels of excitement that sports fans feel when cheering on their favorite teams.

As educators, we are often adept at identifying and then filling in the specific academic skills impeding a student’s ability to succeed in a content area; however when it comes to behaviors, our focus often shifts from a student demonstrating gaps in learning based on the absence of a specific skills to punishment or exclusion. This session will focus on how to create and implement an alternative discipline framework that puts learning at the center by matching restorative, reflective and instructional consequences to infractions and focusing on learning and developing SEL competencies while focusing on the learning that needs to take place to change the demonstrated behavior. Participants will engage in deep reflection of their current systems and how they support or inhibit student learning and walk away with a new approach to classroom and school based behavior management which will lead to increased student achievement. Participants will identify the SEL skills needed to address the presenting behaviors and walk away with multiple plans, forms and templates to address different frequent types of behavior incidents that impede access to ongoing academic learning. You will feel empowered with the extensive resources provided as examples and strategies that can be utilized for multiple types of behavior incidents impeding focus on academic learning. You’ll find you have much more time to teach after this session and your students will be able to learn!

** Open House Format ** Spend time in this session exploring a variety of social emotional learning games and mindful activities - HANDS ON! Play, explore, experiment with these SEL games and mindful activities in real time to get ideas for your classroom. Resources featured include: Breaking Barriers Down, Icebreaker Linemaker, Connect More, Head Rush, You Know, Ouisi, Mindfulness Matters, Rory’s Story Cubes, Hygge Game. Additionally, a variety of mindful activities will be showcased for educators to practice in real time and take back to their classrooms. Register to WIN - One complete set of the resources will be given away in a raffle drawing!

This workshop will cover two different approaches to coaching for systemic SEL in rural school districts. Discussions will include SEL coaching, data-driven school improvement plans, and ongoing professional learning. Participants will receive a customized scope and sequence to support educator and student SEL.

Discover the essential building blocks for fostering a positive classroom climate in this interactive breakout session. Explore how intentional relationship-building, community-building activities, and social-emotional learning strategies lay the groundwork for effective tier one instruction. Learn practical techniques to establish a safe, inclusive environment where students feel valued and supported, enabling them to engage fully in learning. Unlock the keys to creating a classroom culture where every student can thrive, setting the stage for academic success.

Are you looking for strategies to improve student focus, supplement class instruction, and boost test scores? This session offers instructional tips for incorporating physical activity into the classroom. Learn how to integrate brain breaks and energize your classroom.

Michael Earnshaw, South Cook IL. 2023 Elementary Principal of the Year, will guide and pace attendees through a half-marathon’s worth of lessons, tips, and strategies to not only make them more comfortable taking risks, collaborating, and getting out of their comfort zones, but also reaching and building positive relationships with EVERY student that is in their school. Through honest & personal storytelling, Michael will engage attendees & share simple, practical, yet powerful techniques to improve school and classroom culture. Michael’s activities and stories focus on empowering our staff to know that every school year is different, just as every half-marathon is, but with the proper training and understanding of all the different facets and obstacles we may face, we can always be a positive influence in those we serve and finish our race, together. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of their own strengths and how they can best serve their staff, students, and community.

What is it that ties people together? Join the conversation as we take a look at the abundant ideas around what makes humans care about one another, what inspires them, and how our own humanity drives us to seek happiness, purpose, and bonds. Whether we are considering Sheryl Sandberg, Simon Sinek, Dalia Feldheim, Daniel Coyle, Liz Wiseman, or Shawn Achor, it all comes down to the human elements, really.

This Professional Learning course will ignite your classroom with the power of student collaboration. Dive into strategies that transform your classroom into a hub of student-led learning using cutting-edge, research-based methods. Discover the magic of collaborative learning, with engaging activities that foster a cooperative spirit and teach students to communicate effectively. This interactive session will arm you with practical, ready-to-use tools to bring back to your classroom. Aligned with the Danielson Framework, this course will empower you to inspire your students to take charge of their own learning journey. Get ready to revolutionize your teaching and see your students thrive like never before!

The goal of this collaborative presentation is important to the field in its
connection with supporting both general education and special education
teachers, support staff, and leadership. Placing focus on navigating mental
health within tiers, responding to challenging behaviors, intervention
implementation, and an exemplar process of mental health crisis
management. The outcomes of this presentation will
be to understand the importance of mental health in schools, implement
interventions and strategies for supporting students with mental health
needs, and responding effectively to students in crisis. The benefits of this
presentation will provide educators with the knowledge and skills they need
to create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. The
practices will improve student performance by staff accurately determining
mental health interventions for internalizing and externalizing students. As
well as, utilizing data and an effective crisis management process
throughout your building(s).

Join this session to explore the ways that Grant Community High School District 124 supports staff SEL. During the session we will dive into the importance and impact of holding space for educators to process the often emotional realities of working and growing in this profession. This content applies to educators at any stage of their career, from first year to retirement, in any role in the school. Our instructional coaches’ will share their approach to ongoing PD for staff using a variety of curated resources from experts like Elena Aguilar, Tina Boogren, and Jennifer Abrams. Attendees will leave with examples of activities and discussions, as well as a frame for designing your own version tailored to your school’s adult SEL needs.

When teachers are supported, students flourish. Our proposal prioritizes the well-being of educators, recognizing their pivotal role in shaping young minds. By providing comprehensive support programs, including physical and mental health resources, we ensure teachers are equipped to create nurturing learning environments. Continuous professional development opportunities empower educators to refine their skills and stay abreast of best practices. Competitive compensation and supportive work environments bolster teacher retention, fostering stability within schools. Involving teachers in decision-making processes cultivates a culture of collaboration and innovation. When teachers feel valued and supported, they are better positioned to inspire, guide, and nurture the growth of their students. Thus, investing in teachers is not only an investment in their well-being but also in the holistic success and flourishing of every student they serve.

​​Join me in a workshop where we delve into the powerful connection between teacher well-being and student success. Our theme, "If You Take Care of the Teachers, They Will Take Care of the Students," highlights the pivotal role educators play in shaping student outcomes. Through interactive sessions and expert insights, discover practical strategies for supporting teacher growth and empowerment. Gain valuable tools to foster a positive learning environment where both teachers and students thrive. Don't miss this opportunity to make a real impact in education. Register now to secure your spot!

Michael Earnshaw, South Cook IL. 2023 Elementary Principal of the Year, has hands-on experience with creating a positive, collaborative, & trusting school culture. During this session, attendees will discover the importance of reflecting on their own lives which have driven them to become educators. Through honest & personal storytelling, Michael will engage attendees & share simple, practical, yet powerful techniques to improve school culture. Attendees will leave armed with activities that can be implemented tomorrow! Michael’s activities focus on empowering our students to know their voices need to be heard & that they have the power to change our world for the better. Michael shares how leading with a Punk Rock Mindset, Passion, Unity, & DIY (Do it Yourself) ethos will drive both staff & students to reach their full potential. Attendees will leave equipped to implement collaborative, engaging, & deep learning activities such as Speed Dating, Struggle Island, & Flippin' Flapjacks.

The expression of kindness, patience, and empathy by teachers can profoundly impact student outcomes and overall classroom dynamics and combat the myriad of challenges present in our schools. This session will provide educators with the knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to harness the power of kindness, patience, and empathy in their teaching practices. Supported by MTSS data, the presenters will detail the positive impact these strategies have on student growth.

By the end of this session, participants will understand the framework that supports the positive impact of kindness, patience, and empathy on student engagement, motivation, and academic performance. Participants will discover effective communication techniques, including active listening, so that they approach disciplinary issues and challenging conversations in a way that prioritizes kindness, patience, and empathy in school culture.

Throughout the session, participants will engage in practical activities, group discussions, and self-reflective exercises that promote an experiential learning approach. They will leave with a toolkit that empowers them to integrate kindness, patience, and empathy into their teaching practices in an effort to drive school improvement.

This session is designed for educators at all levels, as well as educational administrators and support staff. This inspiring and transformative session will equip educators with the tools and knowledge needed to cultivate a kinder, more patient, and empathetic educational experience that benefits students and educators alike. Kindness, patience, and empathy are essential pillars of an effective culture that drives educational improvement.

This presentation will review how education and our society has moved from a “we” ideology to a “me” focus. From tracing the words, we use, actions of schools, and historical antidotes the audience will gain a sense of how far from community we have come. By using my journey as a first-year principal in the COVID era and being candid about grief, depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, humor, love, embracing the chaos, contact tracing, trauma, building student self-esteem, and the triumph of students, the audience will learn how to build a school based “we” that fosters finding peace within themselves and how that builds a better school and fosters community. The audience will leave with the understanding that they too can foster their own “we” by looking deep into their “me”. If someone in the audience has considered their “why” from a perspective of anxiety, stress, or even contemplated leaving the field, but retains the resolve to remain in education – this presentation will provide them with the insight and tools to sustain their energy and mental health to do the work, and to share what they have learned with others. So that our “we” can support and retain “me”.