Professional Development Courses: Schedule

This course is designed to provide concrete, immediate, experiential, prevention/intervention skills to deal with the issues of conflict, anger, and violence. Conflict is constant in the lives of ever-changing human beings, but conflict, left unchecked, becomes unhealthy. Anger and subsequent violence have brought fear into our schools, classrooms, and our children’s daily experience. No one is perfect. It is unrealistic to think we can avoid conflict and anger completely. Furthermore, it is unrealistic to think these emotions cannot be harnessed in a safe, healthy manner. In this course, we will cognitively and experientially understand the “seeds” of violence and develop healthy individual and school system responses.

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.