Leadership Conference

Tuesday, February 3 —
 
Breakout Session A
Tuesday ∼ 10:00 – 11:15 a.m.

A1 ∼ Have you developed your school or district "learning agenda" for educators? Fred Brown A learning agenda is a collection of strategies or designs leaders select in order to ensure that educators can understand and apply practices that improve their own performance and student outcomes. Learning agendas help create a supportive environment that allows individuals and teams to reflect on and learn from their own and others' practices, and then create action plans to deepen their practice around what they are learning. During this session, participants will expand their understanding of a learning agenda and consider strategies to ensure educators' learning needs are being met. Conference Strand: PL Interactive

A2 ∼ Professional Learning: United We Stand Kirsten Blankenship and Emily Gilpin Creating time for teacher collaboration and meaningful professional development is key to student success! Participants will learn about Pratt's plan for professional development, as well as experience a "Quadrant D" activity for students that is an outcome. Conference Strand: PL Informational

A3 ∼ Fabulous Facebook Pages and Twitterific Classrooms Dyane Smokorowski, Micah Brown, Traci Wood, Raven Genereux Looking to build better communication lines with your parents and the greater community? Consider the power of social media through this interactive session on the how and why's of implementing Facebook Fan Pages and Twitter in the classroom. Conference Strand: Technology Interactive

A4 ∼ Blending Curriculum and Responsibility Megan Berry Students take responsibility for their own learning through a blended classroom format. Seniors learn the government and civics curriculum through a structure that makes for a better transition to college. Learn about the class format, technology integration, and engaging lessons. Conference Strand: Content/Cross Curricular Informational

A5 ∼ One District's Journey with Student Growth Measures New! Teresa Tosh Asst. Superintendent of Learning Services, USD 261 Every district is working to put measures in place to demonstrate student growth and reflect the talents of their staff. Come hear how one district is making that happen. Conference Strand: Evaluation Informational

 
Tuesday ∼ 11:30 – 1:45 p.m. - Lunch, followed by Speaker

Fred Brown Educators today are working so hard to meet the learning needs of their students, but are school systems doing what's necessary to meet the learning needs of their adults? In a "learning system," educators at the district and school levels share responsibility for their own learning and for ensuring great teaching for every student every day. During his remarks, Frederick Brown will expand on these and other key ideas from the newly released text Becoming a Learning System.

 
Breakout Session B
Tuesday ∼ 2:15 – 3:30 p.m.

B1 ∼ Be Human Online - Structuring and Effective Cyber-Bullying Program Kris Meyer Learn a variety of approaches to develop a powerful cyber-bullying program which makes an impact on student learning. Examine characteristics of effective cyber-bullying programs and standards for being "human" online. Leave with ready-made mini lessons to implement within your school. Conference Strand: Technology Interactive

B2 ∼ Explore the MyLearningPlan Learning Loop MLP Participants will learn how to leverage MyLearningPlan PDMS and MyLearningPlan OASYS to meaningfully incorporate targeted professional learning into the performance assessment process to form an ongoing cycle of reflection and professional growth. Conference Strand: PL

B3 ∼ Building Personalized Learning with Weekly Game-Based Challenges Dyane Smokorowski, Micah Brown, Shannon Hobbs, Rhonda Kindle, Liz Ukena In this session participants will explore the power of personalized professional learning for teachers and how gaming interactivity through Google+ communities. Come hear from teachers who found success with this environment and from the instructional coaches who design the learning. Conference Strand: PL Interactive

B4 ∼ What Every Teacher and Administrator Needs to Know About Student Motivation and Engagement Dr. Curtis Chandler Primary Objective — Explore tools and strategies for improving student motivation and engagement in the classroom. Conference Strand: Technology, Interactive

B5 ∼ Zoom In - Supporting History Inquiry with Technology Noah Goodman and Glen Wiebe Zoom In is a free online platform that supports middle-school US history teachers and students as they dive into documents, collect textual evidence, and build understanding through writing. Learn how teachers are using Zoom In to support literacy standards and historical thinking skills. Conference Strand: Content/Cross Curricular Informational

Wednesday, February 4 —
 
Breakout Session C
Wednesday ∼ 8:15 – 11:00 a.m.

C1 ∼ MyLearningPlan User Group/Team Talk MyLearningPlan Bring your district's MLP team (the central office leaders and staff who manage your MLP systems) to engage in a collaborative conversation with other district leaders from around the state. We will review recent systems updates, respond to questions, and facilitate cross-district dialogue. (This conversation will be shaped by the questions and topics that come from the group, so this session is only relevant for participants who are currently using one or more MLP products.)

C2 ∼ If Professional Learning IsnÕt the Answer, What is? Dayna Richardson Effective leaders design professional learning carefully, knowing that ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL!! Which designs result in improved educator effectiveness and learning for ALL students? In 2012 our KSBE approved the Standards of Professional Learning, and have infused these standards throughout the KESA (Kansas Educational System Accreditation) During this session, LEARNERS "experience" the Standards of Professional Learning AND make connections with initiatives (KESA, KCCRS, educator evaluation, etc) in their district. Two standards will be highlighted: Learning Communities & Learning Designs. Bring your possibility thinking and solutions finding!! Conference Strand: PL Interactive

C3 ∼ Research, Explore, and Create Anywhere with Global Collaboration Dyane Smokorowski, Micah Brown, Todd Flory, Heather Hawkins In this workshop participants will explore how to connect students to experts, museums, National Parks, zoos and even other classrooms around the globe through video conferencing tools and how to build real world connections to curriculum content. Conference Strand: Content/Cross Curricular Interactive

 
Breakout Session D
Wednesday ∼ 8:15 – 9:30 a.m.

D1 ∼ The Multi-Disciplinary Performance Task Suzy Myers The Kansas Assessment Program has added a new component this year -- The Multidisciplinary Performance Task. Participants will learn the intent of this assessment, what informed its creation, what students will experience, and information about the scoring rubrics. Conference Strand: Content/Cross Curricular

D2 ∼ Closing the GAP for EVERY student Š Ensuring SUCCESS! Angie McDonald Participants will interact with real student data as the presenter walks the audience through an authentic learning experience to map out a CCR plan for a student. Participants will identify the student data currently available in their districts and create a plan of action to take back to their leadership team so that they, too may become proficient at mapping the future for their students. Conference Strand: PL Interactive

 
Breakout Session E
Wednesday ∼ 9:45 – 11:00 a.m.

E1 ∼ The Importance of Professional Learning in Systems Reform Nancy Bolz Director of AdvanEd Bev Mortimer Superintendent, USD 333, Concordia Rick Kraus Assistant Superintendent, USD 308, Hutchinson Professional learning is a key component to changing and operating any system! Come hear how the AdvancED framework incorporates it into their continuous improvement model that leads to district/system accreditation and discuss how the process can be incorporated in your district. Conference Strand: PL Interactive

E2 ∼ Math Stations that Create Independent Learners Renee Smith, Tammy Fellers Experience a math station structure that creates independent learners and an opportunity for a teacher-led station for intervention or enrichment. Participants will experience fraction activities from the KCCRS. This approach develops conceptual understanding of math concepts in grades K-8. Conference Strand: Content/Cross Curricular Interactive

 
Wednesday ∼ 11:15 – 12:45 p.m. - Lunch and Speaker

The Soul of the Great Teacher Jeff Baxter 2014 Kansas Teacher of the Year The explosion of technology and global change has created a complex environment for today's students. What should the 21st century classroom look like? How should we educate students for a future we cannot predict. Jeff's presentation delivers substance and hope for the critical role teachers will play in teaching students for tomorrow. Jeff's presentation delivers substance and hope for the critical role teachers will play in teaching students for tomorrow by focusing on problem-solving and collaboration as part of any content or curriculum.

 
Breakout Session F
Wednesday ∼ 12:45 – 3:30 p.m.

F1 ∼ Using Formative Assessment Items in History, Government, and Social Studies Don Gifford This workshop will focus on the use and creation of formative assessment items that will inform instruction and prepare students for the Multidisciplinary Performance Task (MDPT)associated with the HGSS and ELA state assessments. Teachers will be shown the process test designers used to create an assessment item and practice in creating items for classroom use. If possible participants are asked to bring an electronic device to assist in the creation of these items. Should be useful and great fun! Conference Strand: Content/Cross Curricular

F2 ∼ Building Bridges for Change Vicki Bechard Discover how understanding the change process and adult learning needs, coupled with the Standards of Professional Learning and asking the right questions, can provide insight, strategies, and a framework for planning, implementing, and sustaining changes that improve educator effectiveness and increase student results. Build bridges that get everyone on board and move educators from knowing to doing! Conference Strand: PL

 
Breakout Session G
Wednesday ∼ 12:45 – 2:00 p.m.

G1 ∼ Technology Tools for Integrating Literacy Glen Wiebe Curious about how to integrate social studies into your elementary ELA instruction? Hang out with Glenn and walk away with four tasty tools aligned to the C4 Framework guaranteed to hook kids, increase literacy skills, and build historical thinking. Conference Strand: Technology Interactive

G2 ∼ Using Technology in Project Based Learning Eric Shipman Participants will learn how to use augmented reality and QR codes to create interactive posters. Participants will create short videos using iPads and ways for students to create short interactive quizzes and polls. Conference Strand: Technology Interactive

G3 ∼ Google Classroom—the Easy Button of Learning Management Systems for Teachers Dyane Smokorowski, Genesis Ackerman, Sarah Koehn Google Classroom is quickly becoming the most popular and free learning management tool to distribute assignments and collect homework. In this session, participants will hear from power user teachers and learn a few of their favorite tips and tricks. Conference Strand: Technology Informational

 
Breakout Session E
Wednesday ∼ 2:15 – 3:30 p.m.

H1 ∼ Creating a PreK-12 Math Curriculum Map Sheila Wendling, Jennifer Horn, Sarah Livesay A teacher from each grade in Newton PreK-12 met to determine effective instruction and research based strategies for the math classroom based on KCCRS. The process is collaborative for educators to be involved in deciding what instruction should be occurring. Participant outcomes: understand how to create a collaborative environment and steps to follow for the process of creating a math curriculum map to align instruction PreK-12. Conference Strand: PL Interactive

H2 ∼ You Don't Lose Weight by Getting on the Scale Jill Bergerhofer How can data collected through formative assessments be used as evidence of student learning? Session participants will leave with answers to this question as well as strategies for using assessment during the learning progression as a measure of academic success. Conference Strand: PL Interactive

H3 ∼ Chromebooks to Support Student Voice Dyane Smokorowski, Genesis Ackerman, Sarah Koehn, Shanie Rucker In this hands-on interactive session, participants will discover how Chromebooks can be used to support personalized learning, hear from teachers who purposefully design instruction with student voice and choice in mind, and explore a few of our favorite digital tools. Conference Strand: Technology Interactive