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Weston PD March 21, 2025 Choice
Friday, March 21
 

TBA

Schedule Parameters LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 TBA
Friday March 21, 2025 TBA

8:00am EDT

Empowering Assessment Practices with InnerOrbit: A Self-Paced Exploration LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Library A-1 Self-paced
Feedback Survey
This professional development opportunity provides educators with a structured yet flexible pathway to enhance their assessment practices using InnerOrbit. Through self-paced modules, teachers will explore key topics, including getting started with InnerOrbit, designing effective formative and summative assessments, and analyzing student data to drive instruction. By engaging with these resources at their own pace, educators will gain practical strategies for leveraging InnerOrbit to support student learning and make data-informed decisions in their classrooms.
Speakers
IP
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Library A-1 Self-paced 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Assessment, One Session

8:00am EDT

MAP Growth: Student Growth and Goal Setting K-5 LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
E-5
Feedback Survey
Explore ways to involve students in the process to increase their motivation, sense of ownership, and likelihood of success using MAP growth data
Speakers
JG

Joyce Gerber

Professional Learning Consultant, NWEA
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
E-5 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Assessment, One Session

8:00am EDT

Designing and Assessing Engineering Solutions (Part 1 of 2) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
E-7
Feedback Survey
In this professional learning experience, educators will deepen their understanding of the engineering design process and how to assess student solutions to real-world problems effectively. Participants will explore best practices for evaluating design solutions based on criteria and constraints, examining examples and research-based strategies. Following this learning, teachers will collaborate to develop a common 6-12 scoring guide, ensuring alignment, consistency, and clarity in assessing student work. This process will support meaningful feedback, promote student growth, and enhance problem-solving skills in STEM classrooms.
Speakers
avatar for Erin Lucia
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
E-7 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, Multiple Sessions

8:00am EDT

Getting Comfortable with Nearpod LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-2
Feedback Survey
Discover Nearpod while experiencing an interactive lesson exactly the same way your students will. Briefly explore the Nearpod platform as a teacher, beginning with the Nearpod Library of lessons. Find, edit and learn to launch lessons in Live or Student-Paced.
Speakers
GT
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

8:00am EDT

Introduction to Play-based Learning LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Library Classroom, A-2
Feedback Survey
Discover how play enhances learning for Grades 3-5 students and examine the effects of recent CT legislation on play-based learning in these grades. Explore teh various benefits of different types of paly and reflect on real-world classroom examples.
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Library Classroom, A-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

8:00am EDT

Mastering Fractional Learning Progressions LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
E-6
Feedback Survey
Participants will explore fractional learning progressions aligned with Connecticut's state standards and gain valuable insights into how to break down complex concepts into manageable learning steps, ensuring students build a solid foundation in math. You’ll learn effective strategies to scaffold fraction instruction. Empower yourself with the tools and techniques to foster student success through a deep understanding of fractional learning progressions.
Speakers
avatar for Lindsey Ramos

Lindsey Ramos

Education Specialist, Capitol Region Education Council (CREC)
Lindsey Ramos began her career as a high school mathematics teacher in Manchester, CT. During her ten years in the classroom her experience ranges the span from Algebra I to Calculus. Currently, she is an Education Specialist with the Capitol Region Education Council Resource Group... Read More →
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
E-6 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

8:00am EDT

Maximizing Instructional Support for Literacy Success: Strategies, Scaffolds, and SchoolPace (ARC) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-13
Feedback Survey
Join us for an interactive professional learning session designed for classroom teachers using the American Reading Company (ARC) curriculum. Together, we'll explore best practices for effective instructional support across the literacy block, from whole-group instruction to small-group differentiation. Learn how to leverage available resources to plan and deliver high-impact scaffolds, ensuring all students thrive. Plus, discover how SchoolPace can serve as a powerful tool for tracking progress and maintaining seamless communication about individual student needs. Walk away with actionable strategies to enhance collaboration and student growth in your literacy classrooms!
Speakers
TG

Teresa Giolito

Bilingual Executive Coach, American Reading Company
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-13 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

8:00am EDT

PE Standards in Focus: Aligning Connecticut with National Goals LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
E-12
Feedback Survey
Participants will compare and analyze the new SHAPE America PE standards with CT standards. They will discuss their observations and begin scaffolding the standards to create a scope and sequence to support future curriculum design. In addition, participants will continue advancing their work from previous standards cross walk design work.
Speakers
MZ
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
E-12 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

8:00am EDT

Strategies for teachers of English Language Learners (MLLs) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Library Main Area
Feedback Survey
This professional development opportunity will offer a variety of strategies to support Multilingual Learners (MLLs) from grades K to 12. Join us to learn about culturally responsive teaching and highly practical strategies to enhance achievement and help build confidence in both students and teachers.
Speakers
RP
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Library Main Area 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

8:00am EDT

Write, Reflect, Renew: A Guided Journaling Experience LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-10
Feedback Survey
Join us for a restful and rejuvenating session of journaling. A variety of prompts and possibilities will be offered, including visual and collage journaling, along with more traditional approaches. No experience required. Come try it out! Journals will be provided.
Speakers
IO
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-10 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Personal Wellness Education, One Session

8:00am EDT

Yoga FULL
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
New Gym
Feedback Survey
Find your flow for the day through gentle yoga practice. You will be guided through gentle poses and breathwork in a class that will have you feeling calm and centered.
Speakers
SJ
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
New Gym 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Personal Wellness Education, One Session

8:00am EDT

Beyond the Basics: Advanced DBT Strategies for Managing Anxiety in the Classroom LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-9
Feedback Survey
Many educators are already familiar with core DBT skills like mindfulness and distress tolerance, but how do we go beyond traditional interventions to address persistent classroom anxiety? This session will introduce innovative, real-time DBT-based strategies that foster autonomy, build resilience, and encourage emotional regulation in students struggling with anxiety. This session will be interactive and solution-focused, giving teachers new, creative approaches to help anxious students break avoidance cycles and build confidence while maintaining academic rigor and classroom flow.
Speakers
E

Erin Winner

Coastal Connecticut Counseling
EF

Emily Faro

Director of Growth and Development, Coastal Connecticut Counseling
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-9 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, One Session

8:00am EDT

Culturally Responsive Practices Part 1 of 2 (8:00-10:15) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
E-2
Feedback Survey
This interactive two-hour professional learning session introduces the framework of Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors as a lens for creating culturally relevant and inclusive learning environments. Educators will explore how instructional materials, teaching practices, and classroom culture can affirm students’ identities (mirrors), expose them to diverse perspectives (windows), and empower them to engage across differences (sliding glass doors). Participants will examine key culturally relevant teaching strategies, reflect on their current practices, and develop actionable steps to make curriculum and instruction more equitable and student-centered.
Speakers
LD
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
E-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, Multiple Sessions

8:00am EDT

Developing Executive Functions in Students of All Ages (Part 1 of 2) FILLING
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-6
Feedback Survey
Part 1: Executive functions are a set of mental processes that allow us to connect past experiences to present and future action. Executive functions also help us plan, organize, strategize, focus, remember, manage time and space, and regulate emotions and impulses. Students with strong executive functioning perform better in school, have better attendance and behavior, and are more likely to achieve long-term goals they set for themselves. This worshop provided tools and strategies t help teachers systematically improve students' executive functioning skills at all grade levels.
Speakers
avatar for Kate Field

Kate Field

Teacher Development Specialist, Connecticut Education Association
Kate Field was a history teacher for 18 years and a school administrator for three before taking a position at the Connecticut Educational Association in 2015, where she specializes in professional learning, new teacher induction and support, and teacher evaluation. A 2007 finalist... Read More →
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-6 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, Multiple Sessions

8:00am EDT

Problem-solving strategies: moving away from exclusionary discipline to restorative accountability LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-4
Feedback Survey
Participants will learn to hold students accountable for their misbehavior/actions by using context-dependent decision-making rather than using context-blind exclusionary consequences.
Speakers
avatar for Joann Freiberg

Joann Freiberg

Consultant, School Climate Consultants
Jo Ann Freiberg recently retired as an Educational Consultant with the Connecticut State Department of Education working in the Turnaround Office. She managed the wide arena of Bullying, Improving School Climate, Restorative Practices, Childhood Trauma, Cultural Competence and Character... Read More →
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-4 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, One Session

8:00am EDT

Successfully Playing the Restorative Game at the Secondary Level LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-3
Feedback Survey
Participants will learn to create positive climate-based classrooms and operate restoratively in the day-to-day.
Speakers
PC
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-3 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, One Session

8:00am EDT

The Anxious Generation: A Thoughtful Discussion FULL
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-11
Feedback Survey
Join us for an engaging discussion on The Anxious Generation, where we’ll explore the book’s insights into rising anxiety among young people and the societal shifts contributing to this trend. Together, we’ll examine key themes, share perspectives, and discuss practical takeaways for parents, educators, and community members. Whether you’ve read the book in full or are just curious about the topic, this conversation will provide a thoughtful space to reflect on the challenges and solutions for supporting today’s youth.
Speakers
avatar for Kara Swezey
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
D-11 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, One Session

8:00am EDT

AI for Educators – Practical Applications for Beginners FILLING
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
E-3
Feedback Survey
Are you curious about how AI can support your teaching while avoiding common pitfalls? This beginner-friendly workshop explores AI’s role in lesson planning, assessments, and classroom activities while addressing key concerns like misinformation, bias, and academic integrity. Participants will engage in hands-on activities and leave with takeaways to use in their classrooms.
Speakers
avatar for Fran Kompar

Fran Kompar

Educational Consultant, Educational Innovations
Fran currently Director, Instructional Technology and Digital Learning, Wilton Public Schools in Wilton, CT. She also serves as an Educational Consultant for Cooperative Educational Services (C.E.S) where she implemented a multi-year program entitled Re-Imagining the School Library... Read More →
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
E-3 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Technology, One Session

8:00am EDT

Balancing AI and Authentic Learning: Exploring Classroom Applications LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
E-10
Feedback Survey
This hands-on professional development session will explore how AI can be integrated into educational experiences while maintaining a focus on critical thinking, creativity, and independent learning. Grounded in the central principle of balancing emerging AI capabilities with durable, authentic learning experiences, the session will introduce some "school-friendly" AI platforms such as SchoolAI, MagicSchoolAI, CharacterAI, etc. Participants will have the opportunity to try these tools firsthand and engage in discussion about potential applications, challenges, and best practices for fostering meaningful student engagement across disciplines and grade levels.
Speakers
WD
Friday March 21, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
E-10 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Technology, One Session

9:15am EDT

Application of New Learning LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
Library
Feedback Survey
After engaging in content-specific training, teachers have the opportunity to select an Application of New Learning session. This time is designed for educators to reflect, process, and apply their new learning in a way that is meaningful to their practice. Whether planning next steps, developing instructional strategies, or collaborating with colleagues, this session provides dedicated time to turn ideas into action. In some sessions, support staff will be available to offer guidance, answer questions, and assist with implementation planning.
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
Library 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Application of New Learning, One Session

9:15am EDT

Empowering Assessment Practices with InnerOrbit: A Self-Paced Exploration LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
Library A-1 https://academy.innerorbit.com/goals-pd/innerorbit-training/
Feedback Survey
This professional development opportunity provides educators with a structured yet flexible pathway to enhance their assessment practices using InnerOrbit. Through self-paced modules, teachers will explore key topics, including getting started with InnerOrbit, designing effective formative and summative assessments, and analyzing student data to drive instruction. By engaging with these resources at their own pace, educators will gain practical strategies for leveraging InnerOrbit to support student learning and make data-informed decisions in their classrooms.
Speakers
IP
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
Library A-1 https://academy.innerorbit.com/goals-pd/innerorbit-training/ 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Assessment, One Session

9:15am EDT

MAP Growth: Student Growth and Goal Setting 6-10 LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
E-5
Feedback Survey
Explore ways to involve students in the process to increase their motivation, sense of ownership, and likelihood of success using MAP growth data
Speakers
JG

Joyce Gerber

Professional Learning Consultant, NWEA
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
E-5 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Assessment, One Session

9:15am EDT

Designing and Assessing Engineering Solutions (Part 2 of 2) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
E-7
Feedback Survey
In this professional learning experience, educators will deepen their understanding of the engineering design process and how to assess student solutions to real-world problems effectively. Participants will explore best practices for evaluating design solutions based on criteria and constraints, examining examples and research-based strategies. Following this learning, teachers will collaborate to develop a common 6-12 scoring guide, ensuring alignment, consistency, and clarity in assessing student work. This process will support meaningful feedback, promote student growth, and enhance problem-solving skills in STEM classrooms.
Speakers
avatar for Erin Lucia
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
E-7 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, Multiple Sessions

9:15am EDT

Discovering Newsela Content and Features (Virtual Session) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-8 https://newsela.zoom.us/j/99718225879?pwdkEaNBGFLymko8apVVLfryzloVh27vG.1
Feedback Survey
Participants will explore Newsela resources that support the needs of your content area; assign Newsela resources to support skills and content knowledge for subject-specific success; identify important insights generated by students as they complete assignments and/or read independently. (Virtual session-please bring earbuds) Agenda
Speakers
AW
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-8 https://newsela.zoom.us/j/99718225879?pwdkEaNBGFLymko8apVVLfryzloVh27vG.1 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

9:15am EDT

Getting Started with Gizmos: Interactive Learning Made Easy LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
G-2
Feedback Survey
This session is designed to prepare teachers to use Gizmos immediately in their classrooms. The course introduces the major features and functions of the ExploreLearning website and shows teachers how Gizmos can look in their classrooms.
Speakers
avatar for Carol Wenk

Carol Wenk

Certified Instructor, Explore Learning
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
G-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

9:15am EDT

Mastering Ratios and Proportional Reasoning Learning Progressions LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
E-6
Feedback Survey
Participants will explore ratio and proportional reasoning learning progressions aligned with Connecticut's state standards and gain valuable insights into how to break down complex concepts into manageable learning steps, ensuring students build a solid foundation in math. You’ll learn effective strategies to scaffold ratio instruction. Empower yourself with the tools and techniques to foster student success through a deep understanding of ratios and proportional learning progressions.
Speakers
avatar for Lindsey Ramos

Lindsey Ramos

Education Specialist, Capitol Region Education Council (CREC)
Lindsey Ramos began her career as a high school mathematics teacher in Manchester, CT. During her ten years in the classroom her experience ranges the span from Algebra I to Calculus. Currently, she is an Education Specialist with the Capitol Region Education Council Resource Group... Read More →
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
E-6 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

9:15am EDT

Maximizing AP Classroom: Engaging, Assessing, and Elevating Student Learning LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-11
Feedback Survey
In this session, participants will explore best practices for using AP Classroom's resources including assessments, progress checks, data tracking, and personalized feedback tools. Leave with practical strategies to seamlessly integrate AP Classroom into your teaching and support student success.
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-11 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

9:15am EDT

Maximizing Instructional Support for Literacy Success: Strategies, Scaffolds, and SchoolPace (ARC) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-13
Feedback Survey
Join us for an interactive professional learning session designed for classroom teachers using the American Reading Company (ARC) curriculum. Together, we'll explore best practices for effective instructional support across the literacy block, from whole-group instruction to small-group differentiation. Learn how to leverage available resources to plan and deliver high-impact scaffolds, ensuring all students thrive. Plus, discover how SchoolPace can serve as a powerful tool for tracking progress and maintaining seamless communication about individual student needs. Walk away with actionable strategies to enhance collaboration and student growth in your literacy classrooms!
Speakers
TG

Teresa Giolito

Bilingual Executive Coach, American Reading Company
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-13 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

9:15am EDT

PE Standards in Focus: Aligning Connecticut with National Goals LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
E-12
Feedback Survey
This session will serve as a collaborative space for PE/Health teachers to continue refining and enhancing the health and PE curriculums. Teachers will work within and across grade bands to align instructional goals, address gaps, and ensure a seamless progression of learning for students.
Speakers
MZ
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
E-12 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

9:15am EDT

Trauma Informed Approaches to Writing Instruction LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-10
Feedback Survey
Writing can be a healing, empowering, and liberatory process for student writers, but it can also be a source of fear, dread, and even trauma. This interactive session will define what a trauma-sensitive approach to writing can be, and how it might be enacted.
Speakers
IO
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-10 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

9:15am EDT

Empower Yourself with Self Defense LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
Old Gym
Feedback Survey
Boost your confidence, sharpen your instincts, and learn practical skills in our self-defense class designed for all fitness levels. Our expert instructors from the WPD will guide you through real-world techniques to help you stay safe and react effectively in any situation.
Speakers
JM
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
Old Gym 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Personal Wellness Education, One Session

9:15am EDT

Beyond Validation: DBT Strategies to Reignite Motivation in Students with Depression LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-9
Feedback Survey
Teachers often see students with depression disengage, withdraw, or struggle with academic persistence. While DBT’s core skills—validation, opposite action, and behavioral activation—are essential, what happens when those aren't enough? This session will go deeper, offering creative DBT-informed strategies to help students reconnect, re-engage, and find momentum, even when motivation is low. This session will move beyond traditional encouragement and validation to provide actionable, classroom-friendly interventions that increase engagement, reduce shutdowns, and help students build a sense of agency in their learning.
Speakers
E

Erin Winner

Coastal Connecticut Counseling
EF

Emily Faro

Director of Growth and Development, Coastal Connecticut Counseling
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-9 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, One Session

9:15am EDT

Culturally Responsive Practices (Part 2 of 2; 8:00-10:15) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
E-2
Feedback Survey
This interactive two-hour professional learning session introduces the framework of Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors as a lens for creating culturally relevant and inclusive learning environments. Educators will explore how instructional materials, teaching practices, and classroom culture can affirm students’ identities (mirrors), expose them to diverse perspectives (windows), and empower them to engage across differences (sliding glass doors). Participants will examine key culturally relevant teaching strategies, reflect on their current practices, and develop actionable steps to make curriculum and instruction more equitable and student-centered.
Speakers
LD
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
E-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, Multiple Sessions

9:15am EDT

Developing Executive Functions in Students of All Ages (Part 2 of 2) FILLING
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-6
Feedback Survey
Part 2: Executive functions are a set of mental processes that allow us to connect past experiences to present and future action. Executive functions also help us plan, organize, strategize, focus, remember, manage time and space, and regulate emotions and impulses. Students with strong executive functioning perform better in school, have better attendance and behavior, and are more likely to achieve long-term goals they set for themselves. This worshop provided tools and strategies t help teachers systematically improve students' executive functioning skills at all grade levels.
Speakers
avatar for Kate Field

Kate Field

Teacher Development Specialist, Connecticut Education Association
Kate Field was a history teacher for 18 years and a school administrator for three before taking a position at the Connecticut Educational Association in 2015, where she specializes in professional learning, new teacher induction and support, and teacher evaluation. A 2007 finalist... Read More →
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-6 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, Multiple Sessions

9:15am EDT

Play-based Learning in Action: A Hands-on Play Experience FILLING
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
Library Classroom, A-2
Feedback Survey
Unlock the power of play! Join us for a hands-on session where
you'll experience play-based learning activities tailored for PreK-2
classrooms. Gain practical ideas to incorporate play through the
content areas.
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
Library Classroom, A-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, One Session

9:15am EDT

Problem-solving strategies: moving away from exclusionary discipline to restorative accountability LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-4
Feedback Survey
Participants will learn to hold students accountable for their misbehavior/actions by using context-dependent decision-making rather than using context-blind exclusionary consequences.
Speakers
avatar for Joann Freiberg

Joann Freiberg

Consultant, School Climate Consultants
Jo Ann Freiberg recently retired as an Educational Consultant with the Connecticut State Department of Education working in the Turnaround Office. She managed the wide arena of Bullying, Improving School Climate, Restorative Practices, Childhood Trauma, Cultural Competence and Character... Read More →
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-4 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, One Session

9:15am EDT

Successfully Playing the Restorative Game at the Secondary Level LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-3
Feedback Survey
Participants will learn to create positive climate-based classrooms and operate restoratively in the day-to-day.
Speakers
PC
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-3 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, One Session

9:15am EDT

AI for Educators – Enhancing Instruction & AI Literacy for Intermediate Users LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
E-3
Feedback Survey
For educators already familiar with AI, this workshop dives deeper into advanced applications, critical AI literacy, and ethical concerns. Participants will explore AI-driven lesson design, assessment automation, and research tools while addressing risks like bias, misinformation, and over-reliance on AI. Through hands-on activities, educators will practice using AI responsibly, fact-check AI-generated content, and discuss strategies for teaching students ethical AI use
Speakers
avatar for Fran Kompar

Fran Kompar

Educational Consultant, Educational Innovations
Fran currently Director, Instructional Technology and Digital Learning, Wilton Public Schools in Wilton, CT. She also serves as an Educational Consultant for Cooperative Educational Services (C.E.S) where she implemented a multi-year program entitled Re-Imagining the School Library... Read More →
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
E-3 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Technology, One Session

9:15am EDT

Creating with Nearpod LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-2
Feedback Survey
Customize any digital lesson to personalize the instruction for your students. Learn how to take your resources and make them come to life with rich media and interactive activities to engage your students
Speakers
GT
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Technology, One Session

9:15am EDT

Generative AI in the Classroom using Magic School and Class Companion FULL
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-12
Feedback Survey
Explore how generative AI platforms can support your teaching and spark student engagement. This session covers hands-on strategies and best practices for seamlessly integrating three leading tools—MagicSchool, Class Companion, and Brisk—into everyday classroom activities and instructional planning. Learn how to harness these resources to inspire creativity, support personalized learning, and foster critical thinking for students of all grades (K-12).
Speakers
avatar for Andrew Marone
Friday March 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
D-12 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Technology, One Session

10:30am EDT

Application of New Learning LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Library
Feedback Survey
After engaging in content-specific training, teachers have the opportunity to select an Application of New Learning session. This time is designed for educators to reflect, process, and apply their new learning in a way that is meaningful to their practice. Whether planning next steps, developing instructional strategies, or collaborating with colleagues, this session provides dedicated time to turn ideas into action. In some sessions, support staff will be available to offer guidance, answer questions, and assist with implementation planning.
Speakers
avatar for Fran Kompar

Fran Kompar

Educational Consultant, Educational Innovations
Fran currently Director, Instructional Technology and Digital Learning, Wilton Public Schools in Wilton, CT. She also serves as an Educational Consultant for Cooperative Educational Services (C.E.S) where she implemented a multi-year program entitled Re-Imagining the School Library... Read More →
CA

Cyndi Adams

Literacy Teaching and Learning Specialist, Cooperative Educational Services
SC
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Library 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Application of New Learning, One Session

10:30am EDT

Diving Deeper on Standards Based Grading LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-12
Feedback Survey
Have you heard about Standards-Based or Mastery Grading and are ready to give it a try? In this workshop we will take the first concrete steps towards trying a Standards-Based System in your class. Participants in this workshop should bring an assessment or a unit plan that they currently teach. We will then engage in work time individually to write learning objectives for the unit and audit existing assessments for alignment with those objectives. Finally we will discuss our plans in small groups to allow for reflection and revision. There will also be time to plan for how to deliver skills-based feedback to students, allow for reassessment, and integrate skills-based feedback with numerical grades.
Speakers
avatar for Lucas Walker

Lucas Walker

Teacher, Weston High School
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-12 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Assessment, One Session

10:30am EDT

Empowering Assessment Practices with InnerOrbit: A Self-Paced Exploration LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Library A-1 https://academy.innerorbit.com/goals-pd/innerorbit-training/
Feedback Survey
This professional development opportunity provides educators with a structured yet flexible pathway to enhance their assessment practices using InnerOrbit. Through self-paced modules, teachers will explore key topics, including getting started with InnerOrbit, designing effective formative and summative assessments, and analyzing student data to drive instruction. By engaging with these resources at their own pace, educators will gain practical strategies for leveraging InnerOrbit to support student learning and make data-informed decisions in their classrooms.
Speakers
IP
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Library A-1 https://academy.innerorbit.com/goals-pd/innerorbit-training/ 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Assessment, One Session

10:30am EDT

MAP Growth: Student Growth and Goal Setting K-5 LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
E-5
Feedback Survey
Explore ways to involve students in the process to increase their motivation, sense of ownership, and likelihood of success using MAP growth data
Speakers
JG

Joyce Gerber

Professional Learning Consultant, NWEA
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
E-5 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Assessment, One Session

10:30am EDT

Creating Choice Boards with Nearpod LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-2
Feedback Survey
Choice boards and hyperdocs offer many learning opportunities for students in a single lesson. This session will show you step-by-step how to build a choice board directly in Nearpod and how to bring in boards you might already use
Speakers
GT
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

10:30am EDT

Differentiating Instruction (Virtual Newsela Session) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-8 https://newsela.zoom.us/j/97183931093?pwdPmGIyXAfUi1AepMKa2aVHGuybtAPuy.1
Feedback Survey
Participants will foster engagement through literacy knowledge; deliver representation by activating background knowledge, provide action & expression through verbal reasoning and student actions on Newsela. (Virtual session - bring earbuds) Agenda
Speakers
AW
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-8 https://newsela.zoom.us/j/97183931093?pwdPmGIyXAfUi1AepMKa2aVHGuybtAPuy.1 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

10:30am EDT

Exploring an Illustrative Math Lesson: A Teacher's Guide to How the Lesson Flows LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
E-9
Feedback Survey
In this session, teachers will experience a live Illustrative Math lesson, focusing on the structure and key components that make it effective. We will analyze the various parts of the lesson, including the warm-up, problem-solving activities, and the whole-class synthesis, and explore how these elements promote student engagement and deeper understanding. Following the lesson, teachers will engage in a collaborative discussion to reflect on best practices of the lesson.
Speakers
EB

Erin Barlow

Elementary 3-5, Weston Public School
KD
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
E-9 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

10:30am EDT

Mastering Fractional Learning Progressions LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
E-6
Feedback Survey
Participants will explore fractional learning progressions aligned with Connecticut's state standards and gain valuable insights into how to break down complex concepts into manageable learning steps, ensuring students build a solid foundation in math. You’ll learn effective strategies to scaffold fraction instruction. Empower yourself with the tools and techniques to foster student success through a deep understanding of fractional learning progressions.
Speakers
avatar for Lindsey Ramos

Lindsey Ramos

Education Specialist, Capitol Region Education Council (CREC)
Lindsey Ramos began her career as a high school mathematics teacher in Manchester, CT. During her ten years in the classroom her experience ranges the span from Algebra I to Calculus. Currently, she is an Education Specialist with the Capitol Region Education Council Resource Group... Read More →
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
E-6 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

10:30am EDT

Maximizing Instructional Support for Literacy Success: Strategies, Scaffolds, and SchoolPace (ARC) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-13
Feedback Survey
Join us for an interactive professional learning session designed for classroom teachers using the American Reading Company (ARC) curriculum. Together, we'll explore best practices for effective instructional support across the literacy block, from whole-group instruction to small-group differentiation. Learn how to leverage available resources to plan and deliver high-impact scaffolds, ensuring all students thrive. Plus, discover how SchoolPace can serve as a powerful tool for tracking progress and maintaining seamless communication about individual student needs. Walk away with actionable strategies to enhance collaboration and student growth in your literacy classrooms!
Speakers
TG

Teresa Giolito

Bilingual Executive Coach, American Reading Company
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-13 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

10:30am EDT

Social Studies - A Look at the New Standards LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-11
Feedback Survey
This session is for anyone who teaches Social Studies. JHD, from the CT council for Social Studies will be joining us to review the new content and inquiry standards. This will also be an opportunity to work on applying the new standards to your curriculum.
Speakers
JH
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-11 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

10:30am EDT

Syncing Success: Aligning Pacing Guides with Gizmos Simulations LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
G-2
Feedback Survey
In this hands-on workshop, teachers will have dedicated time to align their scope and sequence with available Gizmos, ensuring a seamless integration of interactive simulations into their instruction. Participants will explore the vast library of Gizmos, identify relevant resources for their upcoming units, and develop a plan for effective implementation.
Speakers
avatar for Carol Wenk

Carol Wenk

Certified Instructor, Explore Learning
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
G-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

10:30am EDT

Nutrition for Overall Wellness and the Food-Mood Connection FULL
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
E-12
Feedback Survey
Nutrition for Overall Wellness and the Food Mood Connection will cover macronutrients, micronutrients, and lifestyle choices affecting wellness and how to utilize this information into daily life. We will also dive into the relationship between food and how it can affect the brain and one’s moods. Participants can look forward to a relatable, informative session with opportunity for open discussion at the end.
Speakers
KG
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
E-12 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Personal Wellness Education, One Session

10:30am EDT

Yeast Mode: Bring Your Sourdough Starter to Life FULL
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Senior Lounge
Feedback Survey
Get ready to activate Yeast Mode! You will learn how to create, nurture, and maintain your very own sourdough starter. Whether you're a total beginner or a dough devotee, this session will break down the barrier starting a starter, the fermentation, troubleshoot common starter struggles, and get you prepped for your first tangy, bubbly loaf. Expect some wild yeast magic, a bit of kitchen alchemy, and plenty of “proof” that making sourdough from scratch is easier (and funnier) than you think. By the end, you’ll be armed with a thriving starter! It’s time to go full Yeast Mode! Participants MUST bring a jar, similar to a Mason jar, in order to make their own starter!
Speakers
DP
MP
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Senior Lounge 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Personal Wellness Education, One Session

10:30am EDT

Beyond Reflection: Deepening Culturally Relevant/Sustaining Practices in the Classroom (2-Hour session Part 1 of 2) FULL
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
E-2
Feedback Survey
This session builds on Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors by helping educators move from reflection to practical application. Participants will revisit key culturally relevant practices and instructional strategies, then engage in guided lesson planning to integrate these approaches into their own classrooms. Through discussion, examples, and small-group collaboration, educators will refine their ability to select texts, frame discussions, and create learning experiences that honor student identities and perspectives.
Speakers
LD
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
E-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, Multiple Sessions

10:30am EDT

Emotional Regulation: Practical Strategies for Students of All Ages FULL
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-6
Feedback Survey
This workshop provides an overview of emotional regulation and offers and array of simple, research-based strategies teachers can use to help student manage strong feelings in healthy, productive ways. The workshop is designed for the elementary grades but may be customized for middle or high school.
Speakers
CK
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-6 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, One Session

10:30am EDT

Problem-solving strategies: moving away from exclusionary discipline to restorative accountability LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-4
Feedback Survey
Participants will learn to hold students accountable for their misbehavior/actions by using context-dependent decision-making rather than using context-blind exclusionary consequences.
Speakers
avatar for Joann Freiberg

Joann Freiberg

Consultant, School Climate Consultants
Jo Ann Freiberg recently retired as an Educational Consultant with the Connecticut State Department of Education working in the Turnaround Office. She managed the wide arena of Bullying, Improving School Climate, Restorative Practices, Childhood Trauma, Cultural Competence and Character... Read More →
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-4 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, One Session

10:30am EDT

Successfully Playing the Restorative Game at the Secondary Level LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-3
Feedback Survey
Participants will learn to create positive climate-based classrooms and operate restoratively in the day-to-day.
Speakers
PC
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-3 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, One Session

10:30am EDT

The School Avoidance Cycle: Breaking Barriers & Rebuilding Bridges with DBT (Part 1 of 2) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-9
Feedback Survey
School avoidance is one of the most complex challenges educators face, often driven by a mix of anxiety, depression, executive dysfunction, and environmental triggers. While exposure therapy and behavioral contracts can help, what if students refuse to engage? This session goes beyond traditional DBT approaches to explore creative, flexible strategies that encourage school reintegration without reinforcing avoidance patterns. By blending behavioral science, real-world classroom strategies, and DBT-based interventions, this session will provide educators with practical ways to guide students back to school, build emotional resilience, and sustain attendance success. Participants do not need to attend Part 2, if it doesn’t work for their schedule.
Speakers
E

Erin Winner

Coastal Connecticut Counseling
EF

Emily Faro

Director of Growth and Development, Coastal Connecticut Counseling
Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
D-9 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, Multiple Sessions

11:35am EDT

OPTIONAL Session: 1:1 Q&A with Prudential Advisor LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 11:35am - 12:35pm EDT
Lobby Area Outside of Athletics
Feedback Survey
OPTIONAL Session: 1:1 Q&A with Prudential Advisor
Speakers
PA
Friday March 21, 2025 11:35am - 12:35pm EDT
Lobby Area Outside of Athletics 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Personal Wellness Education, One Session

12:40pm EDT

Application of New Learning
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
Library
Feedback Survey
After engaging in content-specific training, teachers have the opportunity to select an Application of New Learning session. This time is designed for educators to reflect, process, and apply their new learning in a way that is meaningful to their practice. Whether planning next steps, developing instructional strategies, or collaborating with colleagues, this session provides dedicated time to turn ideas into action. In some sessions, support staff will be available to offer guidance, answer questions, and assist with implementation planning.
Speakers
EB

Erin Barlow

Elementary 3-5, Weston Public School
KD
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
Library 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Application of New Learning, One Session

12:40pm EDT

Empowering Assessment Practices with InnerOrbit: A Self-Paced Exploration LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
Library A-1 https://academy.innerorbit.com/goals-pd/innerorbit-training/
Feedback Survey
This professional development opportunity provides educators with a structured yet flexible pathway to enhance their assessment practices using InnerOrbit. Through self-paced modules, teachers will explore key topics, including getting started with InnerOrbit, designing effective formative and summative assessments, and analyzing student data to drive instruction. By engaging with these resources at their own pace, educators will gain practical strategies for leveraging InnerOrbit to support student learning and make data-informed decisions in their classrooms.
Speakers
IP
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
Library A-1 https://academy.innerorbit.com/goals-pd/innerorbit-training/ 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Assessment, One Session

12:40pm EDT

MAP Growth: Student Growth and Goal Setting 6-10 LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
E-5
Feedback Survey
Explore ways to involve students in the process to increase their motivation, sense of ownership, and likelihood of success using MAP growth data
Speakers
JG

Joyce Gerber

Professional Learning Consultant, NWEA
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
E-5 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Assessment, One Session

12:40pm EDT

Designing Learning Experiences with Newsela LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
D-8 https://newsela.zoom.us/j/96902597730?pwdub2UM3hPZBIIY8jeUbA2avj34Gv4eR.1
Feedback Survey
Participants will utilize Newsela’s 4 Ps to support lesson design; use Newsela features to support the effective implementation of lessons; outline a learning experience with clear guidance for what students will learn and how. (Virtual session - bring earbuds) Agenda
Speakers
AW
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
D-8 https://newsela.zoom.us/j/96902597730?pwdub2UM3hPZBIIY8jeUbA2avj34Gv4eR.1 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

12:40pm EDT

Empowering Students Through Choice: Designing Meaningful & Engaging Tasks LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
E-9
Feedback Survey
In this session, participants will explore the power of student choice in learning tasks and its impact on engagement, motivation, and deeper learning. Through exploration of examples, educators can reflect on how they currently incorporate choice and identify opportunities for growth. Participants can then apply their learning by revising an existing task to provide more meaningful choices for students, ensuring that all learners can engage in ways that align with their interests and strengths.
Speakers
avatar for Stacey Greenberg
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
E-9 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

12:40pm EDT

Getting Comfortable with Nearpod LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
D-2
Feedback Survey
Discover Nearpod while experiencing an interactive lesson exactly the same way your students will. Briefly explore the Nearpod platform as a teacher, beginning with the Nearpod Library of lessons. Find, edit and learn to launch lessons in Live or Student-Paced
Speakers
GT
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
D-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

12:40pm EDT

Igniting Scientific Inquiry with Gizmos: Part 1 of 2 LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
G-2
Feedback Survey
Teaching Scientific Inquiry with Gizmos equips teachers to use inquiry-based strategies and Gizmos to deepen student understanding of key science concepts. Through modeled best practices, educators learn to guide students in asking questions, making observations, and constructing explanations, fostering scientific inquiry skills.
Speakers
avatar for Carol Wenk

Carol Wenk

Certified Instructor, Explore Learning
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
G-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, Multiple Sessions

12:40pm EDT

Mastering Ratios and Proportional Reasoning Learning Progressions LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
E-6
Feedback Survey
Participants will explore ratio and proportional reasoning learning progressions aligned with Connecticut's state standards and gain valuable insights into how to break down complex concepts into manageable learning steps, ensuring students build a solid foundation in math. You’ll learn effective strategies to scaffold ratio instruction. Empower yourself with the tools and techniques to foster student success through a deep understanding of ratios and proportional learning progressions.
Speakers
avatar for Lindsey Ramos

Lindsey Ramos

Education Specialist, Capitol Region Education Council (CREC)
Lindsey Ramos began her career as a high school mathematics teacher in Manchester, CT. During her ten years in the classroom her experience ranges the span from Algebra I to Calculus. Currently, she is an Education Specialist with the Capitol Region Education Council Resource Group... Read More →
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
E-6 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

12:40pm EDT

Maximizing Instructional Support for Literacy Success: Strategies, Scaffolds, and SchoolPace (ARC) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
D-13
Feedback Survey
Join us for an interactive professional learning session designed for classroom teachers using the American Reading Company (ARC) curriculum. Together, we'll explore best practices for effective instructional support across the literacy block, from whole-group instruction to small-group differentiation. Learn how to leverage available resources to plan and deliver high-impact scaffolds, ensuring all students thrive. Plus, discover how SchoolPace can serve as a powerful tool for tracking progress and maintaining seamless communication about individual student needs. Walk away with actionable strategies to enhance collaboration and student growth in your literacy classrooms!
Speakers
TG

Teresa Giolito

Bilingual Executive Coach, American Reading Company
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
D-13 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

12:40pm EDT

Music Curriculum: Plan and Design with the End in Mind LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
B-4
Feedback Survey
In this session, MUSIC teachers will review the basic principles of Understanding by Design for refining Music Curriculum. Music teachers will create student centered learning tasks that engage all learners and provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning in an authentic way.
Speakers
LM
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
B-4 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

12:40pm EDT

Is Your Financial House in Order? LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
Auditorium
Feedback Survey
Want to make sense of your financial life, but not sure where to start? Let us show you how. Join us for a financial wellness educational seminar hosted by industry innovator, Prudential Pathways. Prudential Pathways aims to make building a financial planning strategy less intimidating and more empowering through easy-to-understand educational programs.
Speakers
PP
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
Auditorium 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Personal Wellness Education, One Session

12:40pm EDT

Beyond Reflection: Deepening Culturally Relevant/Sustaining Practices in the Classroom (2-Hour session - Part 2of 2) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
E-2
Feedback Survey
This session builds on Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors by helping educators move from reflection to practical application. Participants will revisit key culturally relevant practices and instructional strategies, then engage in guided lesson planning to integrate these approaches into their own classrooms. Through discussion, examples, and small-group collaboration, educators will refine their ability to select texts, frame discussions, and create learning experiences that honor student identities and perspectives.
Speakers
LD
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
E-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, Multiple Sessions

12:40pm EDT

Play-based Learning in Action: A Hands-on Play Experience LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
Library Classroom, A-2
Feedback Survey
Unlock the power of play! Join us for a hands-on session where you'll experience play-based learning activities tailored for PreK-2 classrooms. Gain practical ideas to incorporate play through the content areas.
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
Library Classroom, A-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, One Session

12:40pm EDT

The School Avoidance Cycle: Breaking Barriers & Rebuilding Bridges with DBT (Part 2 of 2) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
D-9
Feedback Survey
School avoidance is one of the most complex challenges educators face, often driven by a mix of anxiety, depression, executive dysfunction, and environmental triggers. While exposure therapy and behavioral contracts can help, what if students refuse to engage? This session goes beyond traditional DBT approaches to explore creative, flexible strategies that encourage school reintegration without reinforcing avoidance patterns. By blending behavioral science, real-world classroom strategies, and DBT-based interventions, this session will provide educators with practical ways to guide students back to school, build emotional resilience, and sustain attendance success. Participants do not need to attend Part 1, if it doesn’t work for their schedule.
Speakers
E

Erin Winner

Coastal Connecticut Counseling
EF

Emily Faro

Director of Growth and Development, Coastal Connecticut Counseling
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
D-9 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, Multiple Sessions

12:40pm EDT

AI for Educators – Enhancing Instruction & AI Literacy for Intermediate Users LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
E-3
Feedback Survey
For educators already familiar with AI, this workshop dives deeper into advanced applications, critical AI literacy, and ethical concerns. Participants will explore AI-driven lesson design, assessment automation, and research tools while addressing risks like bias, misinformation, and over-reliance on AI. Through hands-on activities, educators will practice using AI responsibly, fact-check AI-generated content, and discuss strategies for teaching students ethical AI use
Speakers
avatar for Fran Kompar

Fran Kompar

Educational Consultant, Educational Innovations
Fran currently Director, Instructional Technology and Digital Learning, Wilton Public Schools in Wilton, CT. She also serves as an Educational Consultant for Cooperative Educational Services (C.E.S) where she implemented a multi-year program entitled Re-Imagining the School Library... Read More →
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
E-3 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Technology, One Session

12:40pm EDT

AI-Powered Teaching: Streamline, Innovate, Inspire FULL
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
D-3
Feedback Survey
This session will explore practical ways AI can assist with IEP modifications, assist teachers in creating hands-on and engaging lesson ideas, and provide support for all students. Learn how to integrate AI into your teaching practice to save time, foster creativity, and improve student outcomes. Whether you’re new to AI or looking for advanced strategies, this session will help take the shame out of using AI as a teacher and prove some real-world applications to make AI work for you in the classroom.
Speakers
AJ
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
D-3 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Technology, One Session

12:40pm EDT

Create with Canva! FULL
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
D-4
Feedback Survey
Particiapnts will explore a teacher-friendly design program called Canva! Learn how to quickly design eye-catching lesson materials with the help of Canva's new AI tools.
Speakers
SR
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
D-4 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Technology, One Session

12:40pm EDT

Organization meets self-regulation (Part 1 of 2) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 3:00pm EDT
D-10
Learning in a group means balancing our own needs with the collective needs of the group. Executive function is one of our ways of understanding our needs. This presentation talks about executive functioning and strategies to support students who struggle in this area (students pre-k-4). The information presented derives from the Social Thinking curriculum.
Speakers
avatar for Lauren Offutt
Friday March 21, 2025 12:40pm - 3:00pm EDT
D-10 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, Multiple Sessions

1:55pm EDT

Application of New Learning FULL
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
Library
Feedback Survey
After engaging in content-specific training, teachers have the opportunity to select an Application of New Learning session. This time is designed for educators to reflect, process, and apply their new learning in a way that is meaningful to their practice. Whether planning next steps, developing instructional strategies, or collaborating with colleagues, this session provides dedicated time to turn ideas into action. In some sessions, support staff will be available to offer guidance, answer questions, and assist with implementation planning.
Speakers
avatar for Lindsey Ramos

Lindsey Ramos

Education Specialist, Capitol Region Education Council (CREC)
Lindsey Ramos began her career as a high school mathematics teacher in Manchester, CT. During her ten years in the classroom her experience ranges the span from Algebra I to Calculus. Currently, she is an Education Specialist with the Capitol Region Education Council Resource Group... Read More →
JG

Joyce Gerber

Professional Learning Consultant, NWEA
avatar for Dr. Linda Darcy

Dr. Linda Darcy

Director of Teaching and Learning, Learn Regional Education Service Center
Dr. Linda T. Darcy is the Director of Teaching and Learning for LEARN, a Regional Educational Service Center in Southeast Connecticut. Her credentials as an Equity Consultant include serving as the Diversity Trainer for the Connecticut Legislative Offices, Equity training for dozens... Read More →
TG

Teresa Giolito

Bilingual Executive Coach, American Reading Company
EF

Emily Faro

Director of Growth and Development, Coastal Connecticut Counseling
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
Library 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Application of New Learning, One Session

1:55pm EDT

Empowering Assessment Practices with InnerOrbit: A Self-Paced Exploration LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
Library A-1 https://academy.innerorbit.com/goals-pd/innerorbit-training/
Feedback Survey
This professional development opportunity provides educators with a structured yet flexible pathway to enhance their assessment practices using InnerOrbit. Through self-paced modules, teachers will explore key topics, including getting started with InnerOrbit, designing effective formative and summative assessments, and analyzing student data to drive instruction. By engaging with these resources at their own pace, educators will gain practical strategies for leveraging InnerOrbit to support student learning and make data-informed decisions in their classrooms.
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
Library A-1 https://academy.innerorbit.com/goals-pd/innerorbit-training/ 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Assessment, One Session

1:55pm EDT

Differentiating Instruction (Virtual Newsela Session) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
D-8 https://newsela.zoom.us/j/94435614219?pwdZGyq0aQZWYEecOarC1IPJEF9kMu5Lj.1
Feedback Survey
Participants will foster engagement through literacy knowledge; deliver representation by activating background knowledge, provide action & expression through verbal reasoning and student actions on Newsela. (Virtual session - bring earbuds) Agenda
Speakers
AM
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
D-8 https://newsela.zoom.us/j/94435614219?pwdZGyq0aQZWYEecOarC1IPJEF9kMu5Lj.1 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

1:55pm EDT

Executive Functions and Reading Comprehension - Organizing Thinking LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
E-12
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Students who struggle with executive functioning have difficulty recognizing and using structure inside of text to hold onto meaning. This session will discuss the ways in which text is organized at all levels, and ways to support students using these structures to create and use mental models of text.
Speakers
B
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
E-12 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

1:55pm EDT

Orthographic Mapping & High Frequency Word Instruction LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
D-12
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Why are sight words so tricky? Why do some students struggle to learn to read and spell these words? What’s the difference between sight words, high frequency words, heart words, power words, trick words and red words, anyway?

In this workshop we will better understand the different terms, consider how orthographic mapping strategies can support automatic word recognition and strengthen spelling, and share instructional strategies and routines. You will leave with 2-3 strategies you can try tomorrow with your students to support trick word acquisition using orthographic mapping!
Speakers
MK
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
D-12 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, One Session

1:55pm EDT

Teaching Scientific Inquiry Using Gizmos- Part 2 of 2 LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
G-2
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Teaching Scientific Inquiry with Gizmos equips teachers to use inquiry-based strategies and Gizmos to deepen student understanding of key science concepts. Through modeled best practices, educators learn to guide students in asking questions, making observations, and constructing explanations, fostering scientific inquiry skills.
Speakers
avatar for Carol Wenk

Carol Wenk

Certified Instructor, Explore Learning
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
G-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Content Area Focus, Multiple Sessions

1:55pm EDT

Knitting LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
E-7
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The OneRow Lace Scarf - This four stitch pattern repeated every row creates a beautiful lacy design. Some knitting experience is strongly suggested. A simple knit and purl scarf can also be knitted for those who are less adventurous. A finer type yarn with larger needles creates an open and airy design, perfect for Spring. Come join this knit-along!
Speakers
avatar for Susan Reens
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
E-7 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Personal Wellness Education, One Session

1:55pm EDT

Pickleball FULL
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
Old Gym
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Join us for a lesson and game-play in pickleball! Players of all abilities welcome.
Speakers
AA
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
Old Gym 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Personal Wellness Education, One Session

1:55pm EDT

Integrating Play into Science, Social Studies & Beyond LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
Library Classroom, A-2
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This session offers PreK-5 educators dedicated planning time to integrate play-based learning into science and social studies curricula. Participants will begin designing engaging, standards-aligned play experiences that foster joyful and interactive classroom environments.
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
Library Classroom, A-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, One Session

1:55pm EDT

Mini Mindfulness Activities for Today's Classroom FULL
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
D-4
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Learn a variety of 3-5 minute mindfulness activities that reshift the vibe in the room.
They reframe, recharge, calm, or rev up the classroom environment. And, they are FUN!
Speakers
PP
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
D-4 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, One Session

1:55pm EDT

Organization meets self-regulation (Part 2 of 2) LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
D-10
Learning in a group means balancing our own needs with the collective needs of the group. Executive function is one of our ways of understanding our needs. This presentation talks about executive functioning and strategies to support students who struggle in this area (students pre-k-4). The information presented derives from the Social Thinking curriculum.
Speakers
avatar for Lauren Offutt
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
D-10 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Social Emotional Learning, Multiple Sessions

1:55pm EDT

AI and Nearpod: Energizing Learning LIMITED
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
D-2
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Discover how generative AI and Nearpod can work together to differentiate instruction and meet the needs of diverse learners. Learn how to use AI tools to create personalized content that engages students, promotes mastery, and supports equitable learning experiences for all
Speakers
GT
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
D-2 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Technology, One Session

1:55pm EDT

AI for Educators – Practical Applications for Beginners FILLING
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
E-3
Feedback Survey
Are you curious about how AI can support your teaching while avoiding common pitfalls? This beginner-friendly workshop explores AI’s role in lesson planning, assessments, and classroom activities while addressing key concerns like misinformation, bias, and academic integrity. Participants will engage in hands-on activities and leave with takeaways to use in their classrooms.
Speakers
avatar for Fran Kompar

Fran Kompar

Educational Consultant, Educational Innovations
Fran currently Director, Instructional Technology and Digital Learning, Wilton Public Schools in Wilton, CT. She also serves as an Educational Consultant for Cooperative Educational Services (C.E.S) where she implemented a multi-year program entitled Re-Imagining the School Library... Read More →
Friday March 21, 2025 1:55pm - 3:00pm EDT
E-3 115 School Road, Weston CT
  Technology, One Session
 
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Friday, March 21
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