Professional Development Opportunities
2025 SPRING Mental Health Summit
Session Information
***You can only pick two! Choose before you register***
Wednesday, April 30
NEWCOMER SUPPORTS
Sonya Rich + Liliana Martinez
4-7 P.M.
Participants will learn about considerations for welcoming newcomer immigrant students and the diversity of their experiences, as well as strategies to support their mental health, social emotional development, and behavior in the classroom.
TIER ONE CLASSROOM DATA COLLECTION & BEHAVIOR SUPPORT
Andrew Blonigen + Michelle Pacini
4-7 P.M.
Participants will learn the importance of behavioral data collection in the Tier 1 setting. During this session, participants will review different sources of behavioral data, discuss ways to make decisions based on collected data and opportunities to practice using resources that will be easy to bring back to the classroom. Additionally, participants will review easy to implement classroom based strategies to help their students when experiencing an increase in behavior needs.
MINDFULNESS
Elisabeth Nealon
4-7 P.M.
This session will explore a variety of mindfulness practices for staff and students that support the cultivation of present-moment awareness and acceptance of thoughts, feelings, and sensations. Specific practices that you will engage in include breathing practices, mental concept practices as well as experiential strategies utilizing art and meditation in motion. Each participant will leave with a piece of artwork created during the session.
CULTIVATING SOCIALLY SUSTAINABLE STUDENTS & ESL
Amanda Norris
4-7 P.M.
Participants will identify how using a social sustainability framework can positively impact all aspects of a student's life. Through learning about the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal and the impact of Social Emotional Learning, we will explore barriers and factors people face and identify opportunities to create and use SEL lessons with ease.
Saturday, May 3
DITCH THE CLIP: TIPS & TOOLS FOR CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Jack Rein + Alison Espinoza
8-11 A.M.
Participants will learn and practice a variety of strategies to support students within the school setting. These strategies will focus on build classroom community and de-escalating situations.
WHO WE ARE, HOW WE BEHAVE, & WHY WE DO THE THINGS WE DO
Jen Evans + Kym Mosley
8-11 A.M.
Taking an inward look at how trauma impacts the ways we think and act in order to establish a culture that supports individuals and yourself. If participants wish, please bring a yoga mat, blanket and/or towel for your own personal use.
STRATEGIES FOR SUPPORTING STUDENTS OF COLOR/ENHANCING ACADEMICS
Jerry Cook
8-11 A.M.
Participants will reflect on the role of schools in promoting cultural assimilation and how they maintain cultural homeostasis to the detriment of students of color. Participants will increase their understanding of cultural factors that prevent students of color from feeling like they belong to the school community, impacting academic achievement. Finally, participants will be presented with strategies that can be implemented within schools to improve students’ sense of belonging, leading to greater engagement and increased academic outcomes
MEANINGFUL MOVEMENT
Candy Kramer
8-11 A.M.
Meaningful movement in the classroom encourages students to engage physically with learning, enhancing focus and cognitive function. By incorporating purposeful activities such as group discussions, hands-on learning activities, or brain breaks, educators foster a dynamic environment where learning is active and holistic. This approach not only supports physical health but also boosts creativity, collaboration, and retention of information.
SCHOOL BASED CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Amanda Norris
8-11 A.M.
Explore the risk factors and negative impact that conflict, anger, fighting, and crisis can have on the global school setting. Participants will participate in the learning around the core conflict resloution skills, and its effects on relationships to walk away with a tool kit of positive communication examples to promote de-escalation in the school setting.
Thursday, May 8
BEHAVIOR ACADEMIES IN THE CLASSROOM
Jack Rein + Alison Espinoza
4-7 P.M.
Participants will engage in discussions and learning on the practical use of Behavior Academies in the classroom to systematically and strategically manage behaviors within the classroom setting.
MAKE LEARNING RELATABLE
Aimee Raczkowski
4-7 P.M.
Participants will be actively listening, doing and discussing how to make connections to all students. We will dig deep into the "why" we need to make connections to all of our students and what activities can promote learning across all content areas.
REFOCUSING ATTENTION
Christina Rodriguez
4-7 P.M.
Participants will learn how to recognize subtle signs of distraction, uncover common causes such as environmental factors, technology use, and personal challenges. Participants will discover best practices for fostering an environment that promotes sustained attention and active participation. The session will provide valuable tools to enhance classroom focus and support student success.
IMPACT OF POSITIVE COMMUNICATION
Amanda Norris
4-7 P.M.
Explore communication styles through identifying your own personal communication practices. Learn to effectively set boundaries and expectations using written and verbal communication and walk away with your own unique blueprint for positive and effective communication styles, techniques, and tactics.
3 DAYS OF WORKSHOPS!
(You Are Only Allowed To Pick Two)
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
3545 S. 61st Ave, Cicero, IL 60804
Wednesday, April 30
4-7 P.M.
Saturday, May 3
8-11 A.M.
Thursday, May 8
4-7 P.M.