Professional Development Courses: Schedule

The course is designed to help teachers, administrators, and support staff assess their stress levels, identify primary causes of excess stress in both their professional and personal lives, and learn specific, realistic stress reduction strategies. Participants will learn how and why stress levels, burnout, and job dissatisfaction are disproportionately high in the educational field. Educators will explore the most appropriate and necessary choices facing anyone in high-stress occupations: change your skills, change your position, change your attitude, or change jobs. Participants will learn and practice relaxation and visualization techniques, safe and simple exercise options. and other strategies that are under their control.

This course explores neurodivergent disorders and their impact on cognitive function, behavior, and social interaction. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), Intellectual Disability, and Tourette Syndrome. The course will also examine evidence-based teaching strategies tailored to support neurodivergent learners in educational settings. Through research, case studies, and practical applications, students will develop the skills necessary to foster inclusive and effective learning environments for neurodiverse students.

This course equips educators with a deep understanding of the unique social-emotional challenges faced by English Learners (ELs). Educators will explore the cultural, linguistic, and emotional factors that influence EL students' learning experiences. Through practical strategies and research-based practices, participants will learn how to create inclusive, supportive classrooms that foster emotional well-being, build resilience, and enhance academic success for ELs. The strategies and approaches taught in this course are beneficial for all students, not just English Learners, making them valuable tools for any diverse classroom. By the end of the course, educators will be empowered to nurture both the language development and social-emotional growth of their diverse learners.

In this course, participants will explore the profound effects of social media on today’s youth, examining both the benefits and risks within diverse student populations. Through research, self-assessment, and real-world case studies, participants will gain a deeper understanding of social media’s biological, psychological, and sociological impacts. Educators will also experiment with strategies for personal social media management, while identifying social media design elements that perpetuate sustained attention and interaction. By the end of the course, teachers will be equipped with tools to foster healthier social media habits in themselves and their students.

Understanding the complex relationships between developing a positive relationship with students and achieving positive social emotional growth is a critical component of teaching today. Participants will be challenged through personal reflection to analyze their own "Success Mindset" and develop an individualized action plan for personal growth.

During this course participants will be exposed to how various factors influence social, emotional, and academic growth. Participants will also analyze current research on Developmental Relationships and explore ways in which fostering a "Success Mindset" can be systematically integrated into classroom and school culture. The term "Growth Mindset" has been used in education for years. By building positive relationships with students through conscious research-based practices, we expand that term to developing a "Success Mindset". Finally, participants will assess their classroom and/or building’s integration of existing supports to increase achievement and develop and implement a personalized plan to support a "Student of Concern", then reflect on the short-term outcomes.