TransformED 2026: Full Schedule

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

8:30am EDT

Building Belonging in Jackson County: Bringing Best Buddies to K–12 Schools

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Building Belonging in Jackson County: Best Buddies Across All Grade Levels explores how K–12 schools can create inclusive communities where students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities build meaningful, one-to-one friendships. Participants will learn how Best Buddies can integrate into existing school structures and empower students as leaders for inclusion across elementary, middle, and high school.

Speakers

Lydia Goff, MSW

Lead Program Manager, Best Buddies

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Academic Enrichment, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Administrators/Leadership, Special Educators

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership, Special Education

8:30am EDT

Dollars & Decisions; Personal Finance Reimagined: Less Lecture, More Action

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Come prepared to play! Play the games you'll use to teach investing, savings, credit, and more! Take away free, ready-to-use resources that align with the Michigan Standards of Financial Education. Though this lesson is geared toward high school, elementary and middle school resources will also be available and you're guaranteed to have fun all around!

Speakers

Janelle Merritt

Director of Community Partnerships, TRUE Community Credit Union

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Best Practice/Instructional Strategies, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Math Teachers

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

8:30am EDT

Fact vs. Fiction: Mastering Your Stories

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

What internal story are you bringing to your toughest conversations? When stakes are high our brains naturally jump to conclusions. Join this workshop to master your internal narrative. You will walk away with practical tools to dismantle unhelpful assumptions, regain emotional control and enter high stakes discussions ready to achieve real results.

Speakers

Kelsea Roe

Continuous Improvement Education Consultant, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Best Practice/Instructional Strategies, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Administrators/Leadership

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership

8:30am EDT

Google Slides: Tips, Tricks, & Time Savers

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Google Slides can be more than a presentation tool—it can be a time-saving system for creating, organizing, and reusing instructional materials. In this hands-on session, teachers will explore Google Slides basics along with practical tips and tricks for creating polished, transferable slide decks that are easy to update, duplicate, and use year after year.

Speakers

Darcy Heselschwerdt

Early Literacy Coach, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Best Practice/Instructional Strategies, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

8:30am EDT

Artificial Intelligence and the Whole Child

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

This presentation explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping the development of the whole child by influencing academic learning, social-emotional well-being, creativity, physical health, and digital citizenship. It highlights the benefits of AI, such as personalized learning, increased accessibility, and skill development, while also addressing challenges like screen time and reduced face-to-face interactions. The presentation emphasizes the importance of educators, families, and communities working together to ensure AI is used responsibly to support every child's intellectual, emotional, social, and physical growth.

Speakers

Rachael Harris

Mental Health Professional, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

8:30am EDT

Children and Grief

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Understanding childhood grief and supporting grief in the school system.

Speakers

Erika Van Poppel, MA, LPC

Hospice Bereavement Department, Henry Ford Health

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

8:30am EDT

Integrated Social Emotional Learning

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Integrated Social Emotional Learning is a creative way to being SEL services to the student while building peer connections throughout classes. By using the strengths of the students to meet the needs of the class, it promotes an interactive way to strengthen the student community.

Speakers

Bryana Johnson, BSW

School Social Worker, Vandercook Lake Schools

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, Administrators/Leadership, Other

Company All Levels
Audience Administrator/Leadership

8:30am EDT

Seasons of Teaching: Rooted, Resilient and Rising: A Teacher Cafe'

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Teaching isn't just a job—it’s a journey with distinct seasons! In this session we will be setting aside your lesson plans and the stresses of your role to focus on what matters most: YOU! Inspired by the nationally recognized Parent Cafe’ model, this Teacher Cafe’ will use protocols like small-group, guided conversations to give opportunity for meaningful dialogue, shared wisdom, and genuine camaraderie. Join us to unwind, recharge your emotional battery, and leave feeling lighter and more connected. Come as you are…leave with a stronger community!

Speakers

Erin Slater

Parent Liaison, Jackson Public Schools

Becky Burton

Parent Liaison, Jackson Public Schools

Julie Page

SEL/Mental Health & Wellness Coordinator, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

8:30am EDT

Thriving in Teaching: Wellness Practices for Educators

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Teaching is both rewarding and demanding. Educator wellness matters. This session explores proactive strategies to manage stress, prevent burnout, and reduce compassion fatigue, enabling educators to thrive while supporting students’ academic, social, emotional, and behavioral well-being.

Speakers

Delilah Smith, M.A., LPC

K-12 Literacy Dyslexia Consultant, MiMTSS TA Center

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Administrators/Leadership, Special Educators

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership, Special Education

8:30am EDT

Modeling with Meaning: Using CORE vocabulary Effectively

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Participants will gain an understanding of CORE Vocabulary (what it is, how it is used, applying to student needs) and learn how to model CORE Vocabulary using the SMORRES Technique. This is a great session for general or special education teachers and teacher assistants, especially those supporting students using low tech or speech generating devices to aid in communication skills. A brief overview of Assistive Technology resources, including specific CORE vocabulary visuals, will be included in the session.

Speakers

Elisabeth Mills

Special Education Teacher, JCISD

Lynnelle Tans

Speech Pathologist, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Special Education, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Administrators/Leadership, Special Educators

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership, Special Education

8:30am EDT

Canva Power Hour

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Move beyond the basics and unlock the Canva features built to save you time and energy! In this interactive 75-minute workshop, we will explore high-speed workflow hacks, troubleshoot your specific Canva questions, and showcase hidden tools that streamline content creation. Come ready with your laptop, your trickiest Canva questions, and an idea of how you use Canva to share with other educators during our wrap-up exchange!

Speakers

Jeanelle Wonders

Educational Technology Consultant, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Technology, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

9:55am EDT

Stronger Together: Activating Family Partnerships in MTSS

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Family partnerships are an essential component of effective school systems and student success. When families and educators collaborate, they can better support students' academic, behavioral, and social development.

This session introduces the concept of family partnerships within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). Participants will explore the foundational principles of family engagement, examine the differences between family involvement and authentic partnerships, and learn strategies for schools to collaborate with families across the MTSS tiers. By the end of the session, participants will better understand how meaningful family partnerships support data-based decision-making and student outcomes.

Speakers

Amy Basket

Implementation Specialist, MIMTSS Technical Assistance Center

Amy Basket, MEd, MAT, is an educational leader and Implementation Specialist for Michigan's MTSS Technical Assistance Center. Based in Essexville, Michigan, she partners with District Implementation Teams to build sustainable, data-driven systems for behavior and reading support. Amy brings an extensiv... Read More →

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership

9:55am EDT

Unlocking The Potential For Students To Drive Their Learning

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

This session highlights signature practices featured in the Illustrated Guide to Visible Learning that educators can use to increase student engagement and agency. Participants will leave this session understanding the relationship between Teacher
Clarity and Students That Drive Their Learning and some of the skills critical to creating Visible Learner classrooms.

Speakers

Tommy Thompson

Educational Consultant, Corwin

Tommy Thompson is a full-time educational consultant who has delivered presentations in
nearly all 50 states as well as Canada. Mr. Thompson draws from his experiences as an award-
winning principal, classroom teacher, and school district leader. His partnerships with leading
resear... Read More →

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership, Special Education

9:55am EDT

More Than a Story: Using Interactive Read-Aloud to Build a Community of Meaning-Makers

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Interactive read-aloud is a responsive instructional practice that supports students’ social, emotional, and cognitive growth. It sparks creativity, strengthens critical thinking, and builds vibrant literacy communities. In this hands-on session, participants will experience the power of interactive read-aloud and explore engaging ways to cultivate book joy with their students.

Speakers

Lisa Pinkerton Ph.D.

The Department of Teaching & Learning, The Ohio State University

Lisa Pinkerton is the Marie Clay Endowed Chair and a Clinical Associate Professor of Literacies, Literature, and Learning in the Department of Teaching and Learning. Her teaching, scholarship, and service are shaped by a deep conviction that books matter, that the right story at the... Read More →

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Academic Engagement, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

9:55am EDT

Restorative Practices: Building Relationships to Improve Student Outcomes

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

This interactive session introduces educators to the principles and purpose of restorative practices and explores how they can be used to strengthen relationships, build community, and respond to student behavior in more meaningful ways. Participants will examine the difference between restorative and traditional punitive approaches, experience restorative strategies firsthand, and practice conversations they can use immediately with students and colleagues. The session will conclude with participants identifying one practical restorative action they can bring back to their school and implement right away.

Speakers

Kim Brown

Attendance, Truancy & Special Populations Coordinator, Jackson County Intermediate School District

Kimberly Brown (Kim) is a member of the Whole Child Team at Jackson County Intermediate School District (JCISD), where she currently serves as the Attendance, Truancy, and Special Populations Coordinator and County Attendance Officer. She has held this role for the past five school... Read More →

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Academic Engagement, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Administrators/Leadership

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership

9:55am EDT

Starting an Astronomy Club

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Academic Clubs are a great way for students express interest but it can be hard to find funding or other resources to host a club. Jackson College is dedicated to helping revive interest in space science in our community. Not only do we host a whole slew of events on campus that any astronomy club could take advantage of as well as specialized equipment, including an observatory, we are looking to lend out equipment to interested teachers willing to host their own astronomy club. If you have a group of interested students join us and see what we can offer to help provide students with more amazing experiences.

Speakers

Travis Marlow

Astronomical Observatory Coordinator, Jackson College

Steve Albee-Scott, Ph.D.

Director of Environmental Sciences, Jackson College

Steve Tuckey

Math Professor, Jackson College

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Academic Engagement, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Science Teachers

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

9:55am EDT

"You want me to 'read' what?" Using primary and secondary sources in your classroom.

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Engaging students with and thru sources--primary, secondary, fiction, non-fiction--is vital for conversation, content acquisition, and general cultural literacy. But how can we do this? We will discuss and leave with several quick "use tomorrow" strategies for getting students to interact with source material--and with each other.

Speakers

Erika Sponsler

Teacher, Western High School

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Best Practice/Instructional Strategies, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), ELA Teachers, Social Studies Teachers

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

9:55am EDT

Using AI to Design Better Tests in Less Time

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Good assessments are essential to good teaching. Can AI help to bridge the gap between high-level test design and high-quality question writing--all while saving teachers time? Yes! In this session you'll learn to use AI to instantly "blueprint" assessments aligned with your specific standards, ensuring that what you teach is exactly what you measure. You'll also master AI prompting techniques to generate valid, reliable test items—from multiple-choice to essays—while using AI tools to slash grading time and provide personalized student feedback. This is the ultimate shortcut for educators who want to use their testing data to help students without spending hours on manual test construction.

Speakers

Don Beck

Implementation Facilitator, Calhoun ISD

Kim Nichols

Student Services Consultant, Calhoun ISD

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Best Practice/Instructional Strategies, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

9:55am EDT

Children and Grief

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Understanding childhood grief and supporting grief in the school system.

Speakers

Erika Van Poppel, MA, LPC

Hospice Bereavement Department, Henry Ford Health

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

9:55am EDT

Connect Reflect and Renew

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Connect Reflect and Renew: A space for educators to refuel with like minded individuals and other educators to talk about their experiences

Speakers

Joyce Hicks

Mental Health Professional, JCISD

Fran Adams

Mental Health Professional, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

9:55am EDT

Looking Beneath the Surface: Understanding Trauma, Behavior, and Educator Well-Being

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Student behavior often communicates a need rather than a problem to be solved. This trauma-informed training helps educators better understand the impact of trauma on behavior, emotional regulation, and learning while providing practical strategies for fostering safety, connection, and resilience in the classroom. Participants will also explore the importance of educator wellness, recognize signs of secondary traumatic stress, and learn strategies to support their own well-being. Attendees will leave with increased compassion, practical tools, and a renewed understanding of how to support both students and themselves.

Speakers

Alexandra Brankovich-Esham,MS,Med, LPC, CAADC

Soul Haven Counseling PLLC

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Administrators/Leadership

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership

9:55am EDT

Seasons of Teaching: Rooted, Resilient and Rising: A Teacher Cafe'

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Julie Page

SEL/Mental Health & Wellness Coordinator, JCISD

Erin Slater

Parent Liaison, Jackson Public Schools

Becky Burton

Parent Liaison, Jackson Public Schools

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Special Educators

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Special Education

9:55am EDT

Step Into My Shoes: Uncovering Blind Spots

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

We all share the same goal, supporting student success, yet the daily realities of teaching in a classroom and leading a school can feel worlds apart. This interactive workshop is designed to step past surface level assumptions and explore unseen realities in each others roles.

Speakers

Kelsea Roe

Continuous Improvement Education Consultant, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Administrators/Leadership

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership

9:55am EDT

Unlocking the Secrets to Staff & Student Well-Being: Escape Room

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Well-being is the key to a thriving school community—but the solutions may be hidden in plain sight!

In this interactive escape room experience, participants will work collaboratively to solve clues, crack codes, and complete challenges designed to uncover practical strategies for supporting staff and student well-being. As teams navigate the escape room, they’ll explore the interconnected elements of well-being, including mental health, relationships, belonging, self-care, and creating supportive school environments.

More than just a fun challenge, this session transforms learning into an engaging, hands-on experience. Participants will reflect, problem-solve, collaborate, and discover actionable strategies they can take back to their schools immediately.

Speakers

Kara Klotz

Whole Child Coordinator: Comprehensive School Mental Health, Jackson County Intermediate School District

Kara Klotz serves as a Whole Child Coordinator for the Jackson County Intermediate School District within the Learning Services Department’s Whole Child Team. Specializing in Comprehensive School Mental Health, Kara plays a pivotal role in coordinating 31n mental health services... Read More →

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

9:55am EDT

AAC Apps Training

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Participants will gain an understanding of the 3 main AAC (Augmentative/Alternative Communication) apps that students use within our county (TCWP, LAMP, TD Snap), Learn how to edit, create buttons, and navigate 3 AAC apps. Bring a device and specific questions for your students!

Speakers

Elisabeth Mills

Special Education Teacher, JCISD

Lynnelle Tans

Speech Pathologist, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Special Education, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Administrators/Leadership, Special Educators

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership, Special Education

9:55am EDT

Unlock Your Well-being: Balance is the Key

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Balance is the key to wellness. This session will support educators in achieving a state of well-being through a holistic exploration of the dimensions of wellness. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on how each dimension of wellness influences their overall well-being by using the wellness wheel. While all dimensions are interconnected and important, this session will focus on providing additional learning to support the physical dimension (caring for your body now and to stay healthy in the future).

Speakers

Angela Blood Starr

Gifford/Schultz Service Center, Calhoun Intermediate School District

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Staff Wellness, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

9:55am EDT

Game On! Gamification 101

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Unlock student potential by bringing gaming into your teaching practice. Designed for educators seeking innovative instructional tools, this session covers popular gamified assessment platforms to create a more immersive and interactive classroom environment.

Speakers

Jeanelle Wonders

Educational Technology Consultant, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 11:10am EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Technology, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), ELA Teachers, Math Teachers, Science Teachers, Social Studies Teachers, Art Teachers, Music Teachers, Physical Education Teachers, Admini

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership, Special Education

9:55am EDT

Inclusion is Evolving - Are You?

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

(Virtual Presentation) For inclusion to be possible in today’s complex classrooms and schools, we need to evolve from outdated interpretations of what it means to understand and support students. In this session, through humor and real-world stories, Dr. Moore unpacks what has changed, what hasn’t, and what comes next. Participants will reexamine what inclusion means through updated lenses of diversity, identity, and belonging. In our ongoing journey towards more equitable education for all students, together we’ll surface hard truths, explore diverse lived experiences, and reflect on concepts that are critical to consider when understanding and implementing inclusion as everyday practices.

Speakers

Shelley Moore Ph.D.

Based in British Columbia, Canada, Dr. Shelley Moore is a highly sought-after inclusive education researcher, teacher, consultant and storyteller. She has worked with school districts and community organizations around the world. Her research explores how to support teachers to design... Read More →

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership, Special Education

9:55am EDT

Using Place as Text & Teacher: Entry Points to Place-Based Education

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

One of the fundamentals of a place-based teaching strategy is connecting your curriculum to your local place. But what do we mean by 'place'? Our places include the physical, historical, and social fabric of our communities. Authentic and student-driven investigations of place can reveal connections to history, culture, socioeconomic and civic systems, ecology, literature, chemistry, and so much more. In this session we will explore entry points to using the many facets of your place as a bridge to meaningful and compelling learning. We'll share tools for beginning to lift learning opportunities from your landscape and strategies to sustainably and collaboratively grow your own skills and capacity to be a masterful place-based educator.

Speakers

Anna Balzer

Director, Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition

Anna Balzer (she/her) is the Director of the Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition (SEMIS), a network of educators, students, and community members that facilitates school-community partnerships to develop students as citizen-stewards of healthy ecological-social systems. In this... Read More →

Lisa Voelker

Programming Director, Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Best Practice/Instructional Strategies, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

9:55am EDT

Become a Google Gemini Certified Educator

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Discover how Google's AI assistant, Gemini, can support teaching and learning while preparing to earn the Google Gemini for Education Certification. This hands-on workshop guides educators through Gemini's educational features, responsible AI practices, prompting techniques, and classroom applications.

Participants will receive coaching, hands-on practice, and dedicated time to complete the certification exam during the session.

Speakers

Paul Smith

Educational Technology Consultant, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Technology, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Administrators/Leadership

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership

9:55am EDT

Health and Physical Education Workshop

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

This workshop will focus on ways to support and promote physical activity throughout the school community, along with an overview of new health education standards. Participants will share games, instructional strategies, and practical ideas that can be used immediately in health and physical education settings. The workshop will provide an opportunity to collaborate, share best practices, and learn from one another to strengthen health and PE instruction.
ALL PARTICIPANTS will attend the 8:30 Keynote. This workshop is intended for K-12 Health and PE Teachers.

Speakers

Eric Swihart

School Health Coordinator, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 9:55am - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Health/PE, K-12

Company All Levels

11:20am EDT

More Than a Story: Using Interactive Read-Aloud to Build a Community of Meaning-Makers

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Lisa Pinkerton Ph.D.

The Department of Teaching & Learning, The Ohio State University

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Academic Engagement, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

11:20am EDT

Out of the Box Interventions: Practical Strategies to Re-Engage Students Before They Disengage

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

This interactive session challenges educators to shift from “What’s wrong with this student?” to “What does this student need?” Participants will explore creative, relationship-based approaches to addressing the root causes of student absenteeism, disengagement, and challenging behaviors. Through collaboration and hands-on activities, participants will design intervention plans that move beyond traditional consequences and identify at least five practical strategies they can implement immediately to better support student attendance and engagement.

Speakers

Kim Brown

Attendance, Truancy & Special Populations Coordinator, Jackson County Intermediate School District

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Academic Engagement, Other

Company All Levels
Audience Administrator/Leadership

11:20am EDT

Starting an Astronomy Club

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Travis Marlow

Astronomical Observatory Coordinator, Jackson College

Steve Albee-Scott, Ph.D.

Director of Environmental Sciences, Jackson College

Steve Tuckey

Math Professor, Jackson College

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Academic Engagement, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Science Teachers

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

11:20am EDT

The Power of Voice: Creating Space for Perspective and Authentic Engagement

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

This session is designed to capture your voice and perspective as an educators. Through interactive protocols, participants will unpack and share their own experiences in the classroom, helping surface insights into the realities of teaching today. By capturing and honoring the perspectives in the room, we will not only build collective understanding, but also think about practical ways to apply these shared protocols and approaches into your classroom. You will leave with tools and resources to foster environments where all voices are valued and learning becomes a shared journey.

Speakers

Sheri Butters

Network Manager, Jackson Collaborative Network

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Academic Engagement, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

11:20am EDT

Building Belonging in Jackson County: Bringing Best Buddies to K–12 Schools

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Lydia Goff, MSW

Lead Program Manager, Best Buddies

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Academic Enrichment, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Administrators/Leadership, Special Educators

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership, Special Education

11:20am EDT

Launching Your Behavior Framework Playbook

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Kick off your districts journey toward systemic clarity in this hands on workshop. This will be the first in a series dedicating to authoring a custom, physical Behavior Framework Book. Leaders will take core behavioral values, map out book architecture and draft clear thresholds for all components of a behavior system. Walk away with Chapter 1 drafted and a clear roadmap for your districts playbook.

Speakers

Kelsea Roe

Continuous Improvement Education Consultant, JCISD

Julie Page

SEL/Mental Health & Wellness Coordinator, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Behavior Intervention, Administrators/Leadership

Company All Levels
Audience Administrator/Leadership

11:20am EDT

Build the System, Not the Initiative A District Infrastructure That Sustains Any Priority

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Every district has a graveyard of good ideas, initiatives that launched with energy, drifted, and quietly disappeared when the person driving them moved on. The problem is rarely the initiative. It's the absence of a durable structure to carry it.

This session gives district leaders a practical, initiative-agnostic implementation system: one set of teams, routines, coaching structures, and data practices that any priority can plug into- literacy, attendance, grading reform, AI policy, or whatever comes next. Grounded in implementation science from the National Implementation Research Network and the coherence work of Fullan and Quinn.
Participants will leave with the six essential components of an implementation infrastructure, the NIRN Hexagon as a selection gate for deciding what's worth adopting in the first place, a meeting-level operating structure that survives staff turnover, and a self-diagnostic for locating the gaps in their own district.

Participants will be able to:

Distinguish the what of an initiative from the how of implementation, and explain why sustainability lives in the latter
Identify the six components of a district implementation infrastructure and assess their district's current state
Apply a structured selection process to evaluate new programs for need, fit, and capacity before adoption
Name concrete first moves to strengthen implementation infrastructure without a reorganization

Speakers

Cari Bushinski

Director of Professional Development, Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Best Practice/Instructional Strategies, Administrators/Leadership

Company All Levels
Audience Administrator/Leadership

11:20am EDT

Dollars & Decisions: Personal Finance Reimagined: Less Lecture, More Action

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Janelle Merritt

Director of Community Partnerships, TRUE Community Credit Union

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Best Practice/Instructional Strategies, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Math Teachers

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

11:20am EDT

Using Micro Data for In-Class Tier I Differentiation

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

As part of our MTSS structures in Michigan, our schools regularly look at macro-data to make systems level decisions. Much of the movement for individual students comes from looking closely at micro data (data collected daily/weekly in very small, specific chunks) to make immediate instructional students for students. This micro data is most helpful in ensuring that all students have access to the supports they need to access Tier I content and be successful. This session will teach a simple strategy to educators at any level for turning micro data into an actionable classroom routine. Participants should bring a completed classroom set of either exit tickets, mastery checks, or short quizzes to practice the strategy in action and will leave the session with a differentiation small group plan to implement in their classroom that week.

Speakers

Stephanie Kristovic

Director of Instruction, Northwest Community Schools

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Best Practice/Instructional Strategies, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

11:20am EDT

Outdoor Learning at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Curious how the Dahlem Environmental Education Center can support what you do in the classroom and provide outdoor learning opportunities for your students? Join us to find out more about field trip options, including the immersive Annie’s Big Nature Lesson, as well as outreach to your school and other program opportunities. We will share environmental education program topics, financial assistance resources, and how you can sign up for a program.

Speakers

Hannah Schauer

Executive Director, Jackson County Dahlem Center

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

11:20am EDT

From Small-Town Classroom to National Geographic Expedition

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Step beyond the classroom and discover how the National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship in partnership with Lindblad Expeditions transforms professional development into authentic adventure and meaningful learning. Through stories and experiences from expedition travel and exploration, educators will see how real-world learning can reignite creativity, strengthen student engagement, and inspire new opportunities within their own schools and communities.

Speakers

Dakota Bahlau

George Long Elementary Teacher, Grass Lake Community Schools

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Professional Development, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Science Teachers

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

11:20am EDT

How to stay in it for the long haul: How to consistently show up and be your best to be the educator you aspire to be

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

The field of education can be an exhausting grind. This session will teach you self-management strategies around movement, eating, sleep and connection with others so that you can have awesome energy every day to be the positive force for students that you want to be.

Speakers

Joe Zessin

Jackson High Assistant Principal 9th & 10th Grade, Jackson Public Schools

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Administrators/Leadership

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership

11:20am EDT

Integrated Social Emotional Learning

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Bryana Johnson, BSW

School Social Worker, Vandercook Lake Schools

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, Administrators/Leadership, Other

Company All Levels
Audience Administrator/Leadership

11:20am EDT

The Coaching Journey: Empowering Practice through Mediated Thinking

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Unlock your professional potential with a transformative approach to instructional growth. "The Coaching Journey" is a specialized session designed to empower educators by integrating Cognitive Coaching principles with the innovative power of AI.
In this journey, you are the expert. The AI serves as your dedicated process coach, acting as a sophisticated sounding board to deepen your reflection rather than providing ready-made answers.
By handling the cognitive "heavy lifting" of planning and analysis, this partnership allows you to focus your energy where it matters most: on your students
.

Speakers

Max Clark

Continuous Improvement Education Consultant, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Administrators/Leadership

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership

11:20am EDT

What's Beneath the Behavior Escape Room

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

What if challenging behavior is not the whole story—but a clue?

In What's Beneath the Behavior?, participants step into an interactive professional learning escape room where they will work together to uncover the hidden story behind student behavior. Through realistic scenarios, clues, puzzles, and team-based challenges, participants will explore what behavior may be communicating and consider how stress, unmet needs, relationships, environment, and other factors can shape what we see.

Designed for all school personnel—including teachers, paraprofessionals, office staff, administrators, bus drivers, food service teams, counselors, and support staff—this engaging experience emphasizes a shared schoolwide approach to understanding behavior.

Speakers

Kara Klotz

Whole Child Coordinator: Comprehensive School Mental Health, Jackson County Intermediate School District

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

11:20am EDT

Canva Power Hour

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Jeanelle Wonders

Educational Technology Consultant, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Technology, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

1:45pm EDT

Building Capacity: Unlocking potential through clarity, confidence, and connection

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

This session explores how to build capacity through strengthening efficacy, leading with clarity, and providing feedback in dynamic environments that lead to greater impact. It equips leaders and teams with actionable strategies to cultivate confidence and competence, ensuring sustained growth and resilience. Through a focus on common challenges educators face in today’s schools, participants will learn concrete approaches that can be implemented immediately to harness the potential and capacity of those they serve.

Speakers

Tommy Thompson

Educational Consultant, Corwin

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Company All Levels
Audience Administrator/Leadership

1:45pm EDT

Cultivating Critical Thinking and Engaged Learning

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

In this workshop, we will start by reflecting on our critical thinking practices within our subject areas and teaching. We will engage in activities to help with considering how we approach the difficult and challenging thinking we do daily in our work.

Not only will we reflect on and learn more about our own critical thinking, we will use what we learn to think through ways to help our students learn to both think critically and solve problems thoughtfully and reflectively. Even with the prevalence of AI, most cognitive tasks remain uniquely human. In this workshop, with our focus on critical thinking, we will explore and name these in ways that will inform our teaching.

Some of the questions guiding our work will include,
- In what situations do we rely on critical thinking?
- How do we approach these situations? What does our critical thinking entail and look like in them?
- What are the types of problems in our subject areas that students can solve, and how can we scaffold those problems meaningfully for students?
- What tasks or activities can be offloaded to technology, and what might that look like and/or entail in your subject area and/or at the grade level at which you teach?
- What tasks or activities can not be offloaded to technology? How should/might those be approached?
- What are some tools and strategies for making thinking visible that we ourselves use?
- What are some strategies, activities, and tools for making thinking visible that we can ask students to use?

As we explore these and related questions, we will engage in processes of reflection and inquiry to learn about and to find ways to make our own ways of thinking more visible. We’ll also consider the ways our problem solving and critical thinking show up in the work we ourselves do, and how we can teach these kinds of practices and processes to our students.

Speakers

Ann Blakeslee, Ph.D.

Professor of English Language and Literature, Eastern Michigan University

Kristine Gatchel

Professor of Children's Literature, Eastern Michigan University

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Academic Engagement, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), ELA Teachers, Math Teachers, Science Teachers, Social Studies Teachers, Art Teachers, Music Teachers, Physical Education Teachers, Admini

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership, Special Education

1:45pm EDT

More Than a Story: Using Interactive Read-Aloud to Build a Community of Meaning-Makers

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Lisa Pinkerton Ph.D.

The Department of Teaching & Learning, The Ohio State University

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Academic Engagement, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

1:45pm EDT

Spark & Gauge: Igniting Curiosity, Measuring Progress

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Presenters will share tried and true strategies that allow for comprehension, formative assessment, and student engagement. Participants will participate in a workshop format and leave with guided strategies and a "blue print" to sparking curiosity of students, understanding of content and improved comprehension of material.

Speakers

Jamie Isham

Middle School Teacher, Springport Public Schools

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Academic Engagement, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

1:45pm EDT

"You want me to 'read' what?" Using primary and secondary sources in your classroom.

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Speakers

Erika Sponsler

Teacher, Western High School

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Best Practice/Instructional Strategies, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), ELA Teachers, Social Studies Teachers

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

1:45pm EDT

Build the System, Not the Initiative A District Infrastructure That Sustains Any Priority

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Speakers

Cari Bushinski

Director of Professional Development, Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Best Practice/Instructional Strategies, Administrators/Leadership

Company All Levels
Audience Administrator/Leadership

1:45pm EDT

Using Micro Data for In-Class Tier I Differentiation

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Stephanie Kristovic

Director of Instruction, Northwest Community Schools

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Best Practice/Instructional Strategies, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

1:45pm EDT

Outdoor Learning at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Hannah Schauer

Executive Director, Jackson County Dahlem Center

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

1:45pm EDT

Building Relationships and Positive Interactions

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will equip teachers with evidence-based strategies to build positive relationships with students and create a respectful classroom culture that supports student success and reduces the need for behavioral correction.

Speakers

Tami Morrow

SEBH Professional Learning Specialist, Michigan Technical Assistance Center ( MIMTSS TA Center)

My name is Tami Morrow and I earned my master in social work in 1994 from Wayne State University. After earning my MSW, I worked in a variety of clinical and community settings, particularly an outpatient mental health practice specializing in providing individual, group and family... Read More →

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, Elementary School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), ELA Teachers, Math Teachers, Science Teachers, Social Studies Teachers, Art Teachers, Music Teachers, Physical Education Teachers, Administrators/Leadership, Special Educators

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership, Special Education

1:45pm EDT

From Burnout to Balance: Women's Mental Health for Educators.

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

This professional development session explores women’s mental health through the unique intersection of the brain, hormones, stress, and the demands of the education profession. Educators will learn about women’s anxiety and depression, the effects of chronic stress, and the impact of perimenopause and menopause on mood, sleep, energy, and cognitive functioning. The session will also move beyond traditional ideas of “self-care” to explore practical, sustainable strategies for managing stress, setting boundaries, recognizing personal needs, and building greater well-being. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of women’s mental health and practical tools to support themselves—and the women around them—through different stages of life and career.

Speakers

Courtney Vincent

Mental Health Professional, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Administrators/Leadership

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership

1:45pm EDT

Junior Change-makers

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

As educators, we can all relate to the constant advocacy for change in the school that is directed by the students. With Junior Change-Makers, this is a space for them to help create the change that is meaningful for the student culture.

Speakers

Bryana Johnson, BSW

School Social Worker, Vandercook Lake Schools

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, Administrators/Leadership, Other

Company All Levels
Audience Administrator/Leadership

1:45pm EDT

Looking Beneath the Surface: Understanding Trauma, Behavior, and Educator Well-Being

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Alexandra Brankovich-Esham,MS,Med, LPC, CAADC

Soul Haven Counseling PLLC

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Administrators/Leadership

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership

1:45pm EDT

Mental Health Awareness for Educators: Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

This session explores internalizing and externalizing behaviors in children and adolescents, including what they are, how they affect learning, relationships, and well-being. Participants will deepen their understanding of the factors that contribute to these behaviors and explore practical ways schools can support student mental health.

Speakers

Delilah Smith, M.A., LPC

K-12 Literacy Dyslexia Consultant, MiMTSS TA Center

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Special Educators

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Special Education

1:45pm EDT

Teacher Resilience: Recognizing and Resetting Automatic Negative Thoughts

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) are fast, involuntary, and harmful thoughts patterns that trigger stress. These thoughts can influence our experiences and impact our mental well-being and relationships. As educators, we have a million thoughts going through our brain, and it can be hard to manage it all. In this presentation, we will learn how our thoughts can impact our lives, and strategies to catch and reframe unhelpful thinking patterns to develop quality relationships and improve overall mental well-being, in and out of the classroom.

Speakers

Lilly Mistopoulos

Mental Health Professional, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

1:45pm EDT

The Promise of Play: From Ideas to Possibilities

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

What if play isn’t a break from learning, but a powerful pathway to it? In this session, participants will view selected episodes of The Promise of Play documentary and unpack what they reveal about how humans learn through play. Through reflection and discussion, we’ll explore how these ideas can transform classroom environments, lessons, and instructional practices.

Speakers

Holly Nelson

Early Literacy Coach, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

1:45pm EDT

Trauma and Coping

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

This presentation will explore the impact of trauma on children and adolescents and how traumatic experiences can influence behavior, emotions, relationships, learning, and overall well-being. Participants will gain an understanding of how trauma affects the brain and nervous system, recognize common signs and responses to trauma, and learn how children may develop different coping strategies.

Speakers

Rachael Harris

Mental Health Professional, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

1:45pm EDT

The Big Picture of AT: Tech Tools for Learning, Literacy, and Life

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

This training equips educators with practical assistive technology tools and strategies to support students with a variety of deficits, especially reading and writing. Participants will learn to effectively utilize text-to-speech (TTS) for reading and reading comprehension and speech-to-text (STT) to aid written expression, fostering greater independence and literacy success. We will also explore JCISD’s assistive technology resources, including our top suggested Apps and Extensions. These tools and strategies will be explored on both iPads (iOS devices) and Chromebooks (Chrome browser/extensions). This is a hands-on session working through each tool, app, extension, etc.

Some devices will be provided but it is best if participants can bring their own laptop, iPad, and/ or Chromebook.

Speakers

Elisabeth Mills

Special Education Teacher, JCISD

Lynnelle Tans

Speech Pathologist, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Special Education, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), ELA Teachers, Math Teachers, Administrators/Leadership, Special Educators

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership, Special Education

1:45pm EDT

All About (Peri)Menopause

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

About 75 million women in the US are currently dealing with menopause symptoms from raging hormones to itchy skin to brain fog and yet the very word "menopause" continues to be associated with stigma and confusion. With so many educators being women age 35+, this is a topic that ALL of us need to be familiar with. This session will be based off of the information covered in actor Naomi Watts' "Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause" best selling book.

Speakers

Dede Rush

Northwest High School Science Teacher, Northwest Community Schools

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Staff Wellness, General Instruction (all/any grade levels), Administrators/Leadership, Other

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership

1:45pm EDT

Financial Wellbeing for Educators: Practical strategies for financial confidence for long-term success

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Financial stress is one of the leading sources of anxiety for working professionals, including educators. Teachers dedicate their careers to helping others succeed, yet many face challenges balancing budgets, managing debt, preparing for retirement, and navigating today's complex financial landscape.

This engaging and interactive professional development session will provide educators with practical, actionable strategies to improve their financial wellbeing. Participants will learn how financial wellness impacts overall health, workplace performance, and personal satisfaction while gaining tools they can immediately implement to strengthen their financial futures.

The session is designed to be educational, non-commercial, and focused on empowering teachers to make informed financial decisions.

Speakers

Thomas Harris

Small Business Relationship Manager, American 1 Credit Union

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Staff Wellness

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership, Special Education

1:45pm EDT

Prompt & Prep: AI Made Easy

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Join me for a hands-on session where you'll master the art of effective prompting and discover how Google Gemini can transform your daily prep work. I’ll demonstrate how combining fundamental prompting techniques with Gemini can supercharge your daily workflows, simplify lesson planning, and give you hours back in your week.

Speakers

Jeanelle Wonders

Educational Technology Consultant, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Technology, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher

1:45pm EDT

From Spark to Reality: Bringing a Big Idea to Life

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Have a great idea for your classroom or school, but not sure how to make it a reality? Whether it’s an innovative project, a new student club, a classroom revamp, or a community partnership, this hands-on workshop is designed to turn your "what-ifs" into actionable plans. In this session you will have dedicated time to flesh out your vision; begin to create a roadmap to execute it; meet a local funder and get an insider’s look at funding opportunities in our community; learn about what makes a project stand out; and workshop your ideas alongside fellow creative educators. Don’t let a great idea stay on the back of a napkin. Bring your vision! Leave with a plan and pathways to fund it!

Speakers

Stephanie Shiro

Grant Program Director, Jackson Community Foundation

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Whole Child, General Instruction (all/any grade levels)

Company All Levels
Audience Classroom Teacher