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2020 NJPSA/FEA/NJASCD Fall Conference – Schedule

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2020

8:30 am – 9:00 am

  • Welcome

9:00 am – 10:00 am

  • Keynote- George Couros

10:30 am -11:30 am – Workshop Session #1

SPECIAL SESSION: Blogging as Professional and Student Portfolio - George Couros, 2020 Fall Conference Keynote Speaker

Blogging has become a tool that is used often in the classroom but has also become a valuable tool for educators to use in their own professional learning.  To effectively use digital portfolios for students and assessment, educators have the opportunity to learn this process to be valuable for meaningful assessment and creating powerful evidence of learning for both them and their students. This session is focused both on educator and student portfolios to showcase both the process and product of learning.

LEGAL ONE Session

David Nash, Esq. – Director of Legal Education – Description coming soon.

Retirement Session

Robert Murphy – Assistant Executive Director and Director of Retirement Services – Description coming soon.

Creating an Effective ESL and Bilingual Program

Julie Ochoa, Supervisor of ESL/Bilingual Programs – Franklin Township Public Schools – Do you need to fine-tune your ESL or Bilingual Program? Do you need to create a program? Are you looking for ideas for meeting the needs of English Learners? In this workshop, we will discuss program structure, curriculum, scheduling, assessment and use of Title III funds. Additionally, we will talk about challenges faced during Remote Learning. Examples from our State-designated “model program” will be shared as well as resources to take back to your district.

Supporting Challenging Students: Mental Illness and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)

Dumar Burgess, Principal – Hawthorne Elementary School/Willingboro Township; Aaron Edwards, Assistant Principal – Cherry Hill High School East – One out of five students suffer from some form of mental illness. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been linked to negative health outcomes for students. The goal of this workshop is to engage building administrators in an exploration of how mental illness and ACEs impact students, schools, and relevant outcomes. In addition, participants will gain strategies for how to support students who struggle with these challenges.

Formative Assessment: An Essential Tool for Hybrid Teaching and Learning

Janet Ciarrocca, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, North Brunswick Schools – Formative assessment is a powerful tool to drive instruction in the current hybrid learning environments. Dylan William and John Hattie both emphasize the influence that formative assessment and feedback to students can have on accelerating their learning. This session will share strategies and tools that leaders can use to support PLCs as they develop, implement and analyze common formative assessments to intentionally check in with student learning and drive their instructional practices.

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

  • Lunch Break
  • School Leaders’ Panel: Stories of Resilience from Across New Jersey

12:30 pm -1:30 pm – Workshop Session #2

Arts Integration for the Non-Art Classroom

Kim Tucker, Consultant and Retired Supervisor of Curriculum & Instruction/Principal – This session will help participants identify, define, and design arts integration for implementation in non-art classrooms. Strategies for leading an arts-integration initiative will be shared, based on one district’s initiative over a five-year span. Examples of the arts as curriculum, arts-enhanced curriculum, and arts-integrated curriculum will be shared. School leaders will also learn how to connect an Arts Integration initiative with Problem-Based Learning and Universal Design for Learning.

Looking at the Man in the Mirror: Exploring the Effects Our Implicit Biases Have on Our Practice

Jennifer Minaya-Osemwegie, Director of Community Education – South Brunswick School District – This workshop focuses on introducing the underlying concepts that inhibit cultural acceptance and competence. Participants will engage in reflection of their own inherent biases and consider how these can hinder relationships with students and families. They will also explore how inherent biases manifest via attitudes, thought processes, interactions and pedagogical practices. The workshop’s goal is to provide strategies that create safe and trusting environments where staff are able to discuss concepts of identity and diversity and support their journeys towards awareness.

Principal as Coach

Tom Marshall, Principal – Paramus Public Schools – It’s critical for principals to be mentors (or at least proficient partners) for their teachers. When they work in classrooms alongside teachers, they help improve practice, but more importantly, it creates a new sense of credibility and trust and opens up relationships to new conversations about teaching, learning, and professional practice. Join Paramus principal and author Tom Marshall, and discover why, when, and how to create a culture of instructional coaching that will transform your school.

Standards Based Grading & Assessment that Boosts Student Achievement

Jack Marcellus, Superintendent/Principal – Gibbsboro School District – In this presentation, participants will leave with the example of a successful model for creating and implementing a standards-based culture in a school. As our state strives for excellence in the area of equity, standards-based grading reports out. Solely on levels of learning and allows areas such as homework, participation, effort, and conduct to still be communicated but not as part of the assessment of their learning. Resources that will be shared will be our student information system setup, teacher made rubrics, parent presentations, and sample report cards.

Our Journey with CAR: How one school experienced a rebirth of Teaching and Learning via the Connected Action Roadmap

Tom Conroy, Principal; Christina Scaduto, Principal; Dena Dias, Teacher Leader; Christin Morales, Teacher Leader; Brookside Elementary, Westwood Regional School District – The Connected Action Roadmap (CAR), endorsed by NJ Department of Education and the leading educational organizations across the state, is a coherent and systemic approach to strengthening teaching and learning as it shifts the focus from programs to practice. At Brookside Elementary School, teams of educators have been implementing CAR for the last five years and ensuring equitable access to high quality curriculum and instruction for all students. Come to this session to hear about the personal journey of the Brookside team as they redesigned their PLCs to create common learning goals, design assessments, implement effective instructional practices, and navigate the school’s culture and climate.

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Workshop Session #3

Building Communities Through Restorative Practices

Robyn Ivanisik, Climate/Culture Specialist – Hamilton Township – Restorative practices develop relationships within the classroom and manage conflicts by repairing the harm. Building a sense of community in the classroom helps students become self-confident, engaged learners. Learn about the six building blocks of restorative practices and how they enable students to engage in active, interested learning; encourage student collaborations within a positive learning community through modeling core values; and help develop positive behaviors for all. Restorative practices support teacher effectiveness, higher student achievement, and improved school culture.

Beyond Woke: Doing the Work to Address Trauma, Build Cultural Capacity and Create Opportunity

Tracie E. Morrison, Professional School Counselor – Montclair Public Schools – COVID-19 exposed the trauma, inequity and racial injustice experienced by students of color and their families on a daily basis. It is no longer acceptable to simply be woken or aware of current issues. School leaders must now move into action. As we look to the uncertain future of schooling, prioritizing a sense of connectedness and belonging above rigor will be the hallmark of increased student outcomes of success.

Technology as Friend or Foe? Strategies for Distance Learning in Early Childhood Education

Andrew Coban, Supervisor of Elementary Education – Belleville Public Schools; Nicole Shanklin, Director of Elementary Education – Belleville Public Schools; Michael Vargas, Director of Early Elementary Education – Belleville Public Schools – COVID-19 has disrupted face-to-face instruction worldwide; moreover, it has made visible the strengths and weaknesses of school districts’ capabilities to implement distance learning programs. As districts must continue to heavily lean on technology, one subgroup of learners are unable to equitably participate in the education process: early learners. Presenters of this workshop will explore the effects of technology on the developing brain and provide suggestions on how teachers and administrators can appropriately leverage technology’s appropriate use in early childhood distance learning.

Education, Can You Hear Me Now? Using Podcasts in the Classroom

Joseph Stefanelli, ELA Teacher – Brick Memorial High School; Rebecca Decker, ELA Teacher – Brick Memorial High School – This workshop will present a framework for adding podcasts to the classroom to support literacy in any content area, with a focus on ELA classes. Integrating the use of podcasts with curriculum texts is key to creating relevance while maintaining the sanctity of the curriculum and buy-in from students. We will also be discussing how to utilize the creation of podcasts as assessment tools as well. The end result is an upsweep in reading skills and student participation about their content, as well as another avenue to utilize technology as an assessment tool.

PLC + LMS = Personalized Staff and Student Learning = Successful COVID Caused Distance Learning

Dr. Michael Vinella, Principal – East Brunswick High School; Matthew Hanas, Assistant Principal – East Brunswick High School – Hear our story of leveraging a Learning Management System into the PLC framework to personalize staff and student learning, and successfully transition to distance learning. Using a systems thinking approach, grounded by teacher evaluation and student achievement data, participants will hear how certificated staff collaboratively developed student engagement activities, questions/discussion sessions, and assessment strategies for blended learning in Canvas. Learn how this disruptive system allowed for a seamless transition to COVID caused distance learning for 2100 quarantined students.

Persistent Leadership Challenges and Evolving Issues during COVID-19 and Beyond

Dr. Adele T. Macula, Director of Curriculum and Instruction (NJEXCEL and NJTLC) – FEA; Marie Adair, Executive Director of NJASCD (Retired); Dr. Bari A. Erlichson, Visiting Lecturer – Princeton University
Joanne Kerekes, Educational Consultant/Assistant Superintendent (Retired); Willa Spicer, Deputy Commissioner (Former) – NJ Department of Education – A collaborative conversation focused on current issues and essential questions facing educators in leadership positions in schools. The topics/issues encompass both virtual and in-person school models. Participants will engage in sharing effective thinking, strategies, and elements of good solutions that can address today’s complex problems including:

  • making courageous mid-course decisions in a time of disruptive and unexpected change
  • transitioning from wishful thinking to purposeful change
  • maintaining integrity while ensuring equity and diversity through culturally responsive instructional opportunities for all students
  • creating a community of care to address the mental, emotional, and physical health of all entrusted to us
  • developing strategies for progress monitoring of student learning
  • making decisions with an informed team of professionals in areas connected to the issue at hand, and
  • providing the ongoing professional learning for staff to function effectively in new environments.

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

  • Networking/Member Reception
  • Meet the Board
  • Exhibits, Prizes, Sponsor Recognition

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

8:30 am – 9:00 am

  • Welcome

9:00 am -10:00 am

  • Keynote- Zaretta Hammond

10:30 am -11:30 am – Workshop Session #1

SPECIAL SESSION: Staying Rooted in Instructional Equity During Distance Learning – Zaretta Hammond, 2020 Fall Conference Keynote Speaker

In this breakout session, we will examine the equity issues beyond access that distance learning has created. What is it that instructional leaders need to do to ensure that all students, but especially our under-performing diverse students are continuing to grow as learners. We will explore 3 core practices for instructional leaders to embrace.

LEGAL ONE Session

David Nash, Esq. – Director of Legal Education – Description coming soon.

Retirement Session

Robert Murphy – Assistant Executive Director and Director of Retirement Services – Description coming soon.

Engaging the Whole Family

Dr. John J. Cafagna, Principal – Cherry Hill; Dr. Kirk Rickansrud, Principal – Cherry Hill – Now more than ever, families are needed to encourage students to actively participate in all school activities regardless of whether a school is in-person or remote. Families sometimes struggle to feel included or know how to support their child(ren). We will explore successful ways to make learning fun, involve families, and support teachers. We will also uncover a variety of ways to remove barriers when communicating with families.

VOICES: How One District Shifted From Neutral to Zoom-ing Ahead in the Face of COVID-Closure

Emil Carafa, Coordinator of Professional Learning – NJPSA/FEA; Susan Gilbert, Coordinator of Districts Grant Project – NJPSA/FEA; Jeannine Lanphear, Supervisor of Gr. 5-8 Math and Science – North Brunswick – The North Brunswick Fifth Grade Math team was poised to bridge an academic restructuring initiative to build a brand new PLC. Hours before starting, schools were COVID-closed, and collaboration paused for two months. In this session, learn how the district and grant coach remotely used CAR, the PLC structure, and NJDOE instructional units to restart building a new PLC. Central to the work was a focus on a culture of shared teacher leadership and sensitivity to the challenges faced by PLC members during the emergent response to the pandemic. Get the latest progress update on how the team has used their platform to deliver equitable learning.

11:30 am -12:30 pm – Lunch & Prizes

  • Lunch Break (11:30 am – 12:15 pm)
  • Prizes (12:15 pm -12:30 pm)

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm – Workshop Session #2

The Feedback Process

Dr. Robert Price, Adjunct Professor – Montclair State University; Dr. Julie Glazer, Superintendent – Nutley School District – The Feedback Process will provide an insightful treatment on the power of learner-focused feedback to improve professional learning practice. This session will share the research base and examples that bring greater clarity to the application of feedback types for varying purposes. Tools, templates, and contextual examples will be balanced with provocative ideas and practical strategies for using feedback as a process to promote learning.

Reimagining the Gifted and Talented Identification Process to Increase Equity and Access

Jane Losinger, Supervisor of Literacy and Gifted and Talented Programming – Howell Township Public Schools; Erin Fedina, Supervisor of Mathematics, Science, and Gifted and Talented Programming – Howell Township; Bruce Preston, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction and Personnel – Howell Township Public Schools – In 2019, Howell Township Schools set out to expand its gifted and talented screening process. When we were forced to close schools due to the pandemic, we were further challenged to innovate our identification measures. Join us as we chronicle our progress on the path to greater equity and inclusion in gifted education, ​the silver linings we found in a disrupted school year, and collaborate with us as we co-create next steps for our district and yours!

What the Virtual Learning “Pilot” Created During the Pandemic, Means to the Future of Schools

Rick Cave, Director of Technology – West Windsor-Plainsboro RSD – What did we learn and how will we adapt as a result of that learning? During the pandemic, students, teachers and parents all became Guinea Pigs as schools tried to figure out how best to continue learning in a virtual environment. In this session, attendees will discuss what worked and what did not work in the virtual classroom, as well as reflect on how these new learning experiences can improve teaching and learning when students return to school full time.

Sharing Your Story Utilizing Social Media and Branding in the Digital Age

Scott Passner, Principal – North Brunswick Early Childhood Center – Share your school story effectively! This session will explore ways educational leaders are developing brands that promote your school community in the digital world. We will explore structure and foundations that impact the way a powerful message is shared with your various stakeholders. Attendees will explore the tools utilized to successfully promote your brand to your staff, families, and community members.

Doing School Differently: The Time for Change is Now

Jay Billy – Ben Franklin Elementary School/Lawrence Township – Doing school the way we’ve always done it is not working for our students!. Especially now that the pandemic has shown us that change in instruction needs to happen. We know the research behind effective school practices, and we also know what the world values in future employees. In this presentation, I will share research and offer ideas on how we can change our schools so that our students feel empowered and engaged. We will offer concrete examples of student agency and empowerment along with sharing practices that we have used in our schools to make a difference. Finally, I will challenge school leaders to look at their current practices and create ideas for change.

Addressing Trauma and ACEs Through Healing Centered Engagement: Now More Than Ever!

Thomas Barclay, FEA Consultant; Susan Coyle, Middlesex County Coordinator, Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth, RBHC; Rosie Grant, Executive Director, Paterson Education Fund – The willingness and capacity to learn is deeply impacted by the sense of safety (physical, psychological, social, and moral safety), belonging and self-confidence one brings to the place of learning. It is evident that many of our students, the teachers who work alongside them, the families, and the community from which they come, have experienced some form of adverse childhood experiences. This session will explore the ways that schools can become places of healing centered engagement in order to address ACEs and trauma.

Supporting Student Engagement and Attendance in a Virtual Learning Environment

Victoria Duff, Coordinator of Professional Learning, FEA; Mary Beth Currie, Coordinator of Special Projects, FEA – In this session, attendees will learn how the school and classroom climate can enhance student engagement and support and promote regular participation in virtual or hybrid learning environments. Attendees will explore strategies that can be applied in a face-to-face setting as well as a virtual setting to make the transitions between the two environments seamless. Participants will be introduced to the “Attendance Works” Toolkit resources as a way to strengthen innovative, student-centered learning environments.

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Workshop Session #3

Rise & Shine: NJPAC’s Collaborative and Core Values Based Approach to Virtual Arts Programming

Lisa Gunn-Becker, Teaching Artist – NJPAC; Sheikia ‘Purple’ Norris, Faculty Lead, Hip Hop – NJPAC; Ashley Mandaglio, Manager, Professional Development – NJPAC – This presentation explores how New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) pivoted its traditional in-person arts programming to an engaging and collaborative virtual model. Join NJPAC’s summer artistic directors as they discuss the process of developing a virtual arts curriculum that incorporates student voice, core values, and an interdisciplinary approach during this unprecedented time.

High School: It Is Not Just About Grades

Dr. Kwame Morton, Sr. Principal – Cherry Hill High School West; Allison Staffin, Assistant Principal – Cherry Hill High School West – Our students must see themselves, their value and potential in all that they do. Research has pointed to the value of relationships in helping students to deal with school related stress and anxiety. We have committed that no child in our hallways, classrooms, and building will be invisible to us. We will share strategies that will focus on what this work looks like at High School West and what can be done in your own buildings.

Culturally Responsive Guide to Non-Racist Communication

Robin Harden Daniels, Ed.D., Educational Consultant, FEA and InFlight LLC – Communication is a powerful tool societies use to organize themselves and adapt to their environments. As societies develop, cultural assumptions and modes of communication reflect the biases embedded within those cultures. Language then becomes a venue for expressing racialized cultural narratives that impede teaching and learning. This workshop acknowledges these dynamics and teaches participants to:

  • Identify racialized expressions common to the classroom
  • Utilize a style of communication that halts biases and affirms relationships

Using Digital Tools to Inform Instruction

Michelle Papa, Assistant Principal – Jefferson Township High School – Many of us are familiar with some of the most innovative edtech tools, but are we using all of their features to best support students’ diverse needs? After we integrate tools like Kahoot, Google Forms, Nearpod, EdPuzzle & NewsELA to engage and assess students, what comes next? You will learn how to collect and use data to inform your instruction during and after a lesson using educational technology tools. Attendees will participate in sample assessments throughout the presentation and have time for Q&A and collaboration.

Leading with Brand Clarity During Times of Challenge

Trish Rubin, M.Ed/MPA – Consultant/Marketing Instructor – Trish Rubin LTD/Baruch College – Education leaders can take control in a time of challenge by recognizing the value of a leadership Brand. A healthy professional brand can help you lead with clarity in the dual crises related to educating in a time of health concern and social change. Position yourself through brand Trust to navigate decision-making in a “Damned if you do, Damned if you don’t” school leadership climate. Define yourself and strengthen your stakeholder exchanges as the “Storyteller-in-Chief” of your school community by communicating a clear leadership brand.

Addressing Anxiety and School Refusal: A Journey Through Creating a Therapeutic Program

Jessica Gluck, Assistant Director of Special Services – Westwood School District; Ray Renshaw, Director of Special Services – Westwood School District – This session addresses a district’s response to the rise of mental health challenges among high school students through the creation of an in-house therapeutic program. Presenters will discuss the process of creating a specialized program that meets the needs of students who suffer from severe anxiety, depression and school avoidance and the strategies that were used to implement the new program

The Road Back

Peggy McDonald, Ed.D., Assistant Commissioner – New Jersey Department of Education – The Road Back, the New Jersey Department of Education’s plan for reopening and recovery, highlights implementing a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) as a framework for assessing student strengths and areas of need as they return to school and linking them to the right supports and interventions. Through the New Jersey Tiered System of Supports (NJTSS) project, a federally funded partnership with Rutgers Graduate School for Applied and Professional Psychology, a team of literacy coaches has been working intensively in approximately 30 school districts to facilitate implementation of NJTSS – New Jersey’s model of MTSS – for reading in K-3. In this presentation, the project coaching team, staff from a participating district and the NJDOE will share the details of their implementation journey, adjustments needed as a result of the pandemic, and tools and resources for implementation during either a hybrid or in-person school learning environment.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020

8:30 am – 9:00 am

  • Welcome

9:00 am -10:00 am – Workshop Session #1

Social-Emotional Learning Through High-Quality Arts Education

Bob Morrison, Director of Arts Ed NJ; Kira Rizzuto, Program Development Manager of Arts Ed NJ – The unique relationship between arts education and students’ social and emotional development is made explicit in the Arts Education and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Framework. Natural connections between the five social-emotional competencies and arts-based learning are amplified when SEL is embedded into instruction with intention. Participants will navigate key tools and resources, and learn from examples that showcase the significant benefits of arts-based learning on climate and culture, student engagement, and social-emotional well-being.

Healthy Staff Room, Healthy Classroom: Building an Impactful Staff Wellness Program

William Smith, Superintendent – Point Pleasant Beach School District; Brian Savage, Business Administrator – Point Pleasant Beach School District – Staff were feeling the effects of a prolonged contract negotiation combined with increasing expectations for student outcomes. The district was attending to students’ SEL needs, but we needed to support and re-invigorate the adults, and recover the camaraderie that existed pre-NCLB. Our Health and Wellness Initiative began as the seed of an answer to this challenge and grew to exceed our imaginations! We’ll tell our story and inspire you to make staff wellness your priority.

Teach Your Class Off: Moving Your Class From Surviving to Thriving

CJ Reynolds, Teacher/Author/YouTuber – Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia – Don’t wait to be the teacher you’ve always dreamed of becoming! In this session, we will cover some of the most difficult topics educators attempt to navigate and how they can take their classrooms from surviving to thriving, from creating student engagement to building strong relationships, to classroom management, and more. New and veteran teachers will learn practical skills that they can implement immediately to help them teach their class off.

Creating Equity and Opportunity: Option 2 for Newcomers

JoAnne Negrin, Ed.D., Supervisor of ESL, Bilingual Education, World Languages and Performing Arts – Vineland Public Schools; Andrea Fontenez, Ed.D., Director of Bilingual and ESL – New Brunswick Public Schools; Mary Ann Mena, Coordinator, ESL/Bilingual – Atlantic City Public Schools – Diverse learning opportunities for all high school students are essential! Individualized Student Learning Opportunities (“Option Two”) allow students to receive graduation credit for diverse learning experiences. Traditionally, this option has been leveraged by students of higher socioeconomic status. In this workshop, we will demonstrate how districts can use this option to provide graduation credits to ELLs who come to our districts without a traditional educational background, thus providing them with a pathway to a high school diploma.

School Leadership Teams: Building an Inclusive School Culture

Robin L. Moore, Ed.D., Principal – Roland Rogers Elementary School – The culture and climate of a school speaks to its character which should reflect a convivial atmosphere and inclusivity. Whether operating virtually or in the actual building, school leaders need to address the cries of society and ensure the school culture & climate are welcoming and inclusive. Whether it’s creating a positive culture or enhancing student achievement, it takes effective leadership to make it come to fruition. A school’s climate & culture are important factors in the success of the entire school community. Come find out how to create and utilize administrative leadership, teacher and student leadership to create an inclusive school culture.

Make it Visual: 9 AWESOME Reasons to Bring Infographics Into Your World

Jacqueline Frangis, Consultant – NJPSA/FEA; Bobbie Felip, Consultant – NJPSA/FEA – “As the saying goes ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’! Since infographics have both ‘pictures’ and ‘words’, they represent the best of both worlds –the ability to dissect a complex subject, and the ability to sustain the attention of the reader while doing so. “It (infographic) keeps people’s interest by lending a storytelling and visual element to what can be sterile research.” – Caitlin McCabe. Explore the world of infographics. Discover ways to incorporate them into your practice and increase critical thinking in an engaging, interactive, and enjoyable way.

10:45 am -12:00 pm

  • Special Guest – Captain Sullenberger

12:00 pm -12:45 pm

  • National & Visionary Awards

12:45 pm -1:30 pm

  • Lunch Break

1:30 pm -2:30 pm – Workshop Session #2

SPECIAL SESSION: Blogging as Professional and Student Portfolio – George Couros, 2020 Fall Conference Keynote Speaker

Blogging has become a tool that is used often in the classroom but has also become a valuable tool for educators to use in their own professional learning. To effectively use digital portfolios for students and assessment, educators have the opportunity to learn this process to be valuable for meaningful assessment and creating powerful evidence of learning for both them and their students. This session is focused both on educator and student portfolios to showcase both the process and product of learning.

LEGAL ONE Session

David Nash, Esq. – Director of Legal Education – Description coming soon.

Culturally Responsive Teaching: Building a Community of Practice Through the Arts

JoAnn Nocera, Supervisor of Instruction – Toms River School District –  It’s time to step up! Our students are crying out to feel seen and heard. How do we start honest equity conversations with our staff and ourselves? Come see how to help deliver culturally responsive pedagogy to engage and empower all students to their fullest potential. This session will begin with a self-assessment, and will include interactive activities to explore creative teaching strategies and analyze curriculum to include culturally responsive resources.

Leading Through Crisis

Daniel D. Simon, Sr., School Director – Calvary Christian School – In these unprecedented times everything rises and falls on leadership! This session is designed to guide participants through an exchange of thoughts, values, and decisions to help implement daily, small, practical steps that will allow for experiencing greater peace and empowerment in leading through crisis.

Teaching Mathematics to English Language Learners in the General Education Classroom

Dr. Darlyne de Haan, Director of Curriculum/Instruction – Math and Science; Bridgeton School District – How do we pave the way for ELL students to be successful in mathematics classrooms? Participants will learn how to create differentiated lessons based on cognitive demand and contextual support that will increase the potential for ELLs to acquire academic literacy in math while reducing the linguistic difficulties associated with mathematical discourse and managing to avoid the many pitfalls that can occur during instruction.

Essential Elements for Blended Learning: Maintain Continuity & Student Engagement

Brian Lepire – Lexia Learning – As the landscape of school continues to shift, it is critical to stick to the principles of solid instruction and proven approaches for continuity of teaching and learning. Explore necessary essential elements to ensure that digital content engages teachers and students in order to scale positive outcomes. Concrete examples from Lexia® Core5® Reading and Lexia® PowerUp Literacy® will be referenced in order to expand the conversation. Join in a dialogue with a New Jersey education leader focused on supporting your goals as you build out your plans for this school year.