Monday, Feb. 8 – Wednesday, Feb.
10, 2016
(Schedule Subject to Change)
8:00am – 10:00am
KEYNOTE - “Cool, Calm & Collected”: Helping Youth with Special Needs to keep it Together, Even
When It's Hard
Susan Hepburn, University of Colorado School of Medicine
This presentation will provide an overview of some recent research on coping and emotion regulation in people with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other developmental disabilities (e.g., Down syndrome, alcohol exposure, etc.) and try to connect this research with practical, real-life approaches for families, educators and therapists.
BREAKOUTS
10:30am – 12:00pm (1.5 hrs)
Student view of Student led IEP meetings
Monica Stockburger, Homer High School/ Kenai Peninsula Borough School District - mstockburger@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
Holly Zwink, Kenai Central High School - hzwink@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
Look at student led conferences through video clips of actual students leading their IEP meetings.
Consider the benefits for student, family and team members, time investment, physical documentation, and formats to accommodate all students for efficient student led conferences.
Helping Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder to Cope Better: Ideas for Less Verbal Individuals
Susan Hepburn, University of Colorado School of Medicine
This session will provide an overview of what anxiety looks like in a person with ASD, with an emphasis on youth who present with communication challenges (i.e., may or may not use words to communicate, may have difficulty communicating about something that happened in the past). General guidelines and strategies that do not require language will be presented to assist parents, teachers, and therapists to coach a person to cope with fears, worries and anxieties and other emotional regulation challenges.
Videotaped examples and case stories will be shared to illustrate the main ideas.
Updated: 11/5/15

Twice Exceptional: Improving Academic English for English Language Learners (ELLs) with Individual
Education Plans (IEPs)
Laraine Adams, Lower Yukon School District - ladams@loweryukon.org
Michelle Benisek, Lower Yukon School District - mbenisek @loweryukon.org
Come and learn about how to blend ELL supports, data, and resources (including ACCESS Assessment
Data and WIDA Resources) into IEP development for English Language Learners to improve Academic
English proficiency.
Alaska's AMP Assessment System, Universal Design, and Accessibility Features for Students with
Disabilities
Elizabeth Davis, Alaska Department of Education & Early Development - elizabeth.davis@alaska.gov
This session will focus on the accessibility features in the AMP assessment system and provide participants and opportunity to discuss effective strategies for the transfer of instructional accommodations to the assessment setting.
One Team, Shared Dream: building the future through shared leadership
Jessie Petersen, Bering Strait School District – jpetersen@bssd.org
Shawn Bernard, Anchorage School District – mr.bernards@gmail.com
Lori Rucksdashel, Anchorage School district, Rucksdashel_Lori@asdk12.org
During this session, participants will learn about the evidence-based leadership strategy called "Leading by Convening." This session will provide leaders with strategies, tools, and skills in order to create collaborative partnerships among all stakeholder groups utilizing shared vision to positively impact the achievement levels of all students and teachers.
Proloquo2Go 4.0
Meaghan Petrunic, Anchorage School District - petrunic_meaghan@asdk12.org
Proloquo2Go released a robust update over the summer. Come learn about the new features, including core-language-based page sets, the faster/easier way to build Activity Pages, and a brief overview of the new layout for editing.
Rethinking Classroom Rewards
Jeanne Gerhardt-Cyrus, Kobuk Valley Consulting - fasd@kobukvalleyconsulting.com
Looking at the impact of classroom reward systems especially their impact on students with Brain
Differences. Is the system positive or negative? Does it teach or only reward and punish? Are all learner a successful? Is it based on learning theory, and why might that be a problem?
Parents Helping Teachers Living with FASD -Parent Panel
Susan Nesbitt, Anchorage School District - nesbitt_susan@asdk12.org
True stories of hope. Families share their strategies that have helped their children succeed as students.
Advice from the from front lines and success stories. Please bring your questions.
Assistive Technology: Students with special needs and tools to help level the playing field
Craig Holmes, Anchorage School District - holmes_craig@asdk12.org
Tess Jones, Anchorage School District - jones_tess@asdk12.org
Assistive Technology: Students with special needs and some of the tools we use to help level the playing field.
Focusing on:
Written Expression: Motor Aspects and Comprehension.
Updated: 11/5/15

Co:Writer, Voice to Text, PixWriter.
Reading: Fluency and Comprehension.
PAR Assessment tool, iBooks, Text to Speech.
Access to the curriculum: Fine Motor and Organization.
Keyboards, Joysticks, PDF expert.
BREAKOUTS
1:15pm – 2:45pm (1.5 hrs)
Helping Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders to Cope Better: Ideas for More Verbal Youth
Susan Hepburn, University of Colorado School of Medicine
This session will begin with an overview of what anxiety looks like in a person with ASD who is using language fairly effectively (i.e., speaks or uses Augmentative/Assistive communication to express spontaneous complete sentences and communicate about something that happened in the past).
Specific strategies will be shared for parents, teachers and therapists to consider when trying to help a person with ASD to cope with intense fears, persistent worries, and anxiety. As with the earlier breakout session, videotaped examples and case stories will be shared to generate discussion about the main ideas.
BREAKOUTS
1:15pm – 2:45pm & 3:00pm – 4:30pm (3 hrs with 15 minute break)
Sign Language: It's For Everyone!
Cindy Just, Just Sign With Me - cindy@justsignwithme.com
Discover the benefits of using American Sign Language vocabulary in the classroom and at home, and learn ways to incorporate it into your environment.
Alaska's AMP Assessment: Results of the First Year and Next Steps
Elizabeth Davis, Alaska Dept. of Education & Early Development - elizabeth.davis@alaska.gov
Participants will:
• Understand the purpose, design, and score ranges of AMP, including the accessibility features for students with disabilities.
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Learn how to read AMP reports.
Collaborate with colleagues about how to use AMP results to inform instructional practice.
• Learn strategies for effectively communicating AMP results with students, families, and colleagues.
An Introduction to Into Action: A Neurobehaviroal Approach for Teaching Students with FASD and other Brain Differences
Jeanne Gerhardt-Cyrus, Kobuk Valley Consulting - fasd@kobukvalleyconsulting.com
A brief introduction to a strengths based approach to teaching students with brain differences and supporting the success of all students. Developed by Diane Malbin.
Just AACt Naturally:
Strategic intervention for students with absent or limited speech
Megan Humphrey, Anchorage School District - humphrey_megan@asdk12.org
This session provides educators with the framework and tools to support the development of authentic self-advocacy and language in students who are nonverbal or low-verbal. Hands-on activities and video
Updated: 11/5/15

clips will be used to illustrate concepts and enable participants to gain familiarity with strategies. Expect to leave with new perspectives and skills you can use right away to support kids.
We Can Do This!
Elizabeth Falk, KPBSD - efalk@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
Deb Evensen - devensen@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
Real strategies for success in the classroom and beyond for students with FASD. This session will provide advanced training for educators, administrators, and paraprofessionals who work with students already identified with FASD. Our workshop will include an opportunity for questions and answers to specific dilemmas you may be experiencing in your current districts/classrooms.
The Resilience Breakthrough: Keys to Creating a Resilient School Climate
Christian Moore, WhyTry
Drawing from the vital skills of resilience in WhyTry Founder Christian Moore’s book, “The Resilience
Breakthrough: 27 Tools for Turning Adversity into Action,” this engaging presentation empowers participants to learn resilience and to deliver these skills to students of any background and learning style, enabling them to thrive both in school and in life.
MOVIE VIEWING: Paper Tigers - With Discussion
Joanne Healy, University of Alaska Fairbanks - jhealy7@alaska.edu
Join us for the premier of the documentary, Paper Tigers, hosted by Alaska Children’s Trust, Alaska
Council for Exceptional Children Student Chapter.
Directed by James Redford, Robert Redford’s son, Paper Tigers is an exciting new documentary that shows the level of impact trauma-informed practices can have on our children and youth. Set in Walla
Wall, Washington, it follows the lives of multiple students from an impoverished area as they attend alternative school that has begun to use trauma-informed practices. Paper Tigers looks at real life examples on how we can help our children heal from trauma and how healing is ultimately a more effective and cheaper response than punishment. The film is rated PG-13 for adult language and content.
The movie explores the impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and how the power of resiliency helps youth overcome these adversities. ACEs are stressful or traumatic experiences, including abuse, neglect and a range of household dysfunction such as witnessing domestic violence, or growing up with substance abuse, mental illness, parental discord, or crime in the home. When children are exposed to chronic stressful events, neurodevelopment can be disrupted. Societal impacts of trauma are major and lifelong. It impairs a child’s physical, social and intellectual development resulting in increased risk of poor performance in school, mental health problems, suicide, substance abuse, problems with the law and serious long-term health problems. The financial toll of is equally staggering.
Costs included health care, mental health, child welfare system, law enforcement/judicial system, lost work productivity, crime, and the list goes on.
This premier is a chance to begin a grassroots conversation about prevention of trauma and resilience in
Alaska. Alaska has some of the highest rates of child abuse and neglect in the nation and affects us economically and socially. A panel of experts working around children will be available following the film to allow for an opportunity to learn more about the work going on throughout Alaska and how people can get involved in healing our children.
Updated: 11/5/15

BREAKOUTS
3:00pm – 4:30pm (1.5 hrs)
Why All Children & Adults Can be Taught to Read and Comprehend
Melissa Garner, Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes - support.forschools@lindamoodbell.com
The presenter will lead an informative Q and A on solutions for a range of learning challenges, including those associated with Dyslexia, ADHD, and ASD. The discussion will focus on the relationship between learning challenges, and the underlying sensory-cognitive functions needed for reading and comprehension.
Rebuilding the Foundation of Mathematics for Increased Student Success
Janet Bales, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt - janet.bales@hmhco.com
When students have a foundational understanding of mathematics, they can make connections to new math concepts and skills. Learn about resources that engage struggling math learners, situate mathematics in real world scenarios and connect to tasks that embrace the rigor of our new standards.
Building the Bridges for Paraprofessional/Teacher Relationships
Shawn Bernard, Anchorage School District - mr.bernards@gmail.com
Sometimes, para-educators are required to build a bridge of student success without the blueprint. They are forced to learn- sometimes the hard way. As the foreman, teachers can positively impact the role of a paraprofessional. In this workshop, you'll review supervising teacher responsibilities related to paraeducator supervision, assigning tasks, providing on-the-job training, holding planning meetings, designing instructional plans, directing and monitoring daily activities, and providing feedback through coaching. (Repeat of last year’s presentation)
8:00am – 10:00am
KEYNOTE- Self-Determination: Finding your Inner Strength
Maricar Marquez, Helen Keller National Center
Keynote addressed by Maricar Marquez who is an assistant program coordinator at Helen Keller
National Center in Sands Point, NY. She will talk about her life as a Deaf-Blind person and her journey through her career working in the deaf-blind field.
BREAKOUTS
10:30am – 12:00pm (1.5 hrs)
Paraprofessionals as Essential Inclusion Team Members
Monica Stockburger, Homer High School/ Kenai Peninsula Borough School District - mstockburger@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
Brief presentation of current Homer High School inclusion model and presentations by two paraprofessionals describing their roles, responsibilities, changes in implementing IEP goals, daily activities, best practices, and personal thoughts. A panel style question and answer session will follow.
Puzzled With Purpose: Autism in My Own Words
Tara Maltby, Alaska Autism Resource Center - tmaltby@sesa.org
Heidi Kelly, Puzzled With Purpose
Heidi Kelly is a talented, Anchorage based, artist and mother who experiences autism. She is an engaging speaker who has great insight to share with professionals and parents alike. In this
Updated: 11/5/15

presentation, Heidi will share her personal experience with autism, and some tips for those of us supporting individuals with ASD.
Measures of Student Growth and Teacher Evaluation
Bob Ermold, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District - bermold@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
Session attendees will learn how the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has incorporated measures of student growth into educator evaluations to meet Alaska’s teacher evaluation requirements. The
Student Growth Map process will be introduced, measures of student growth and goal setting will be discussed, and sample Growth Maps from KPBSD’s pilot project will be shared. Successful strategies and pitfalls to avoid when creating Student Growth Maps in Resource and Self-Contained settings will be shared.
Communication and Decision Making in the IEP Meeting - Avoiding the Bridge to Nowhere
Bob Deitrick, Alaska Special Education Mediation Services - deitrick@ptialaska.net
Dave Thomas, Alaska Special Education Mediation Services - thomaswf@centurytel.net
Participants will examine conflict within special education teams, practice active listening and communication skills, problem solving, and consensus building. There will be interactive simulations and teamwork exercises.
The DLM Alaska Alternate Assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities
Grace Gray, State of Alaska - grace.gray@alaska.gov
A brief overview of the assessment, how it is delivered, and required training will be provided.
Discussion around accommodations for students will be included.
Participants will:
• Understand the purpose and design of the assessment.
• Learn how to use the online training system.
• Collaborate with colleagues about how to implement accommodations using the Participation
Guidelines.
The FASD Game: Experience the reality of the disorder.
Deb Evensen, Fetal Alcohol Consultation & Training Services - debevensen@alaska.net
Kee Warner, Whitecrow Village - whitecrow@telus.net
Getting out of the box together! Through this dynamic, interactive “game” comes real time understanding of living with FASD. Participants will walk in the shoes of an individual with the brainbased differences of FASD and – along the way – gain a deeper, personal understanding of how to guide students to success.
Role Comparisons: An Interpreter, Intervener and Support Service Provider
Maricar Marquez, Helen Keller National Center
This informative session will explain the roles of an interpreter, intervener and support service provider
(SSP) working with children and adults who are deaf-blind. Each role will be discussed in different settings.
Updated: 11/5/15

BREAKOUTS
1:45pm – 2:30pm (45 min.)
Technology for Reading, Writing and Comprehending
George Robertson, Kurzweil Education - george.robertson@kurzweiledu.com
Leigh Ann Keirnan
Provide your students with a multisensory approach to learning with Kurzweil 3000-firefly. Built-in tools foster active participation throughout the entire learning process—while anytime, anywhere access to curricula promotes independent learning at home and in the classroom.
My Journey
Alesha Ferguson, Denali Borough School District - aleshaferguson@dbsd.org
A presentation on Autism and Dyslexia from the perspective of a student who faced the impact of these issues in rural Alaska and then became an educator in the field of Special Education.
Ensure success with you Direct Instruction implementation
Jill Martin, McGraw-Hill Education - jill.martin@mheducation.com
This session will highlight the essential components for a successful implementation of Direct Instruction programs such as placement tests, instructional procedures and pacing.
Inclusive Sports and Activities in School
Sarah Arts, Special Olympics Alaska - sarah@specialolympicsalaska.org
Janette Gagnon, Juneau Douglas High School - janette.gagnon@juneauschools.org
Unified Sports® is an initiative that combines approximately equal numbers of students with and without intellectual disabilities on sports teams for training and competition. Through Unified Sports®, students enjoy the rewards of competing on a team as well as the inclusive environment it creates.
Through the Special Olympics Alaska School Program inclusive social, recreational, and sport activities are provided for students of all grade levels and abilities.
Alaska's Special Education State Performance Plan
Sam Jordan, Alaska Dept of Education and Early Development - samuel.jordan@alaska.gov
This presentation will review the goals of Alaska's Special Education State Performance Plan and review current statewide data trends.
Classroom Management / Personalities with Discipline
Carrie Bauer, NSBSD - carrie.bauer@nsbsd.org
Maintain control of your classroom while giving the students a positive teaching and learning experience using Love & Logic and Dr. Robert Rohm's Personality Insights.
Self-Advocacy, Empowering Deaf-Blind
Maricar Marquez, Helen Keller National Center
This session will provide a general overview of deaf-blind self-advocacy training based on the curriculum conducted by HKNC's Information, Professional, and Research Department. It explains the importance of eight modules in different areas of communication, mobility, accessibility and other aspects related to people who are deaf-blind.
Updated: 11/5/15

BREAKOUTS
2:45pm – 3:30pm (45 min.)
Teaching Life Skills with Practical Real-World Experiences
Alison Reppel, Yukon Flats School District - alison.reppel@yukonflats.net
Are you tired of trying to teach life skills using worksheets? Open your mind to other possibilities, like having the students learn the skills through creating a small business. The profit provides the students the opportunity to experience and practice life skills in a real world setting while on an end of the year field trip.
Playing to Learn with OSMO
Joanne Healy, University of Alaska Fairbanks - jhealy7@alaska.edu
Brain research validates children learn best when they connect it to prior learning, collaborate with others, and activities stimulate an emotion. OSMO provides all three, making learning fun through play.
Session will provide ideas for using this tool individually or with small groups in the classroom or at home.
Selecting Legally Defensive Accommodations and Modifications
Philip Patterson, University of Alaska Fairbanks - PPPatterson@alaska.edu
The provision of accommodations and modifications can sometimes follow a predetermined rigid list options. Conversely, they can also be approached as an endless menu of selections. This workshop will: review mandates of federal laws; examine complaints and litigation; and summarize processes by which accommodations and modifications should be selected.
Rural and Remote Teaching = Bush Teaching
Gale Pratt, Yukon Flats School District - gale.pratt@yukonflats.net
Are you up for a challenge? Have you considered teaching in a small, rural, and remote village in
Alaska? It can be a test of your character and imagination, and it can be the most rewarding teaching experience you may ever have. Come and join me for a look at what "teaching in the bush" can be.
What kind of day is it going to be?
Bonny Overturf, Denali Borough School District - bonnyhamm@dbsd.me
Introducing a tool that can save you time and energy.This tool doesn’t cost anything just a few minutes of your time and an open mind. Doctor’s, nurses, parents, and teachers use this tool. This presentation touches on Charlotte Danielson’s Framework for Teaching, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and assessment skills.
Next Career Step - SPED Director: What do you need to know?
Laraine Adams, Lower Yukon School District - ladams@loweryukon.org
John Hargis, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District - john.hargis@k12northstar.org
If you are feeling like your next career step is to become a SPED District Leader, this is the session for you. A panel of SPED Directors from across the state will answer guided questions by the session facilitators about the key components of the work of SPED District Leaders in Alaska. Also, come ready with your own questions for the panel.
Finding and Implementing a Peer Tutor Program in your high school.
Janette Gagnon, Juneau School District - janette.gagnon@juneauschools.org
Janette Gagnon is a Special Education Teacher at Juneau-Douglas High School who has implemented a
Peer Tutor program where students can earn credit by helping their peers. Learn about the variety of
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ways in which students are selected, as well as how they help their peers in both regular and special education classes.
Special Education Handbook Review with Q&A
Donald Enoch, State of Alaska - donald.Enoch@alaska.gov
Colleen Gabriel, State of Alaska - Colleen.Gabriel@alaska.gov
A brief review of some of the contents of the state special education handbook with an opportunity to ask questions and pose hypothetical situations.
We work smart when we collaborate and build partnerships!
Jim Kreatschman, Alaska DVR - jim.kreatschman@alaska.gov
Katy Boneta, Anchorage School District - Boneta_Katy@asdk12.org
Gina Bastian, Alaska DVR - gina.bastian@alaska.gov
This session will spotlight the Anchorage School District's exciting summer work program which provided paid work experiences for 24 students this past summer. Participants will come away with an understanding of how schools, businesses and DVR can work together to give students opportunities and how to replicate and fund a successful work experience program.
BREAKOUTS
2:45pm – 3:30pm & 3:45pm – 4:30pm (1.5 hrs with 15 min. break)
Open Forum for Administrators
Suzie Michaud
Shawn Bernard Anchorage School District – mr.bernards@gmail.com
Come join Special Education Administrators for a structured forum discussing how each district is supporting and working with staff and students.
BREAKOUTS
3:45pm – 4:30pm (45 min.)
Traumatic Brain Injury in Education: Linking Neuroscience and School Response
Joseph Reser, Anchorage School District - reser_joseph@asdk12.org
This presentation will examine Traumatic Brain Injury in the context of education: including a review of symptoms, causes, and neurological effects. School response to students who suffer a TBI will be discussed.
Sharing With Robots: Using NAO to Measure Joint Attention
Elizabeth Smith, University of Alaska Fairbanks - easmith16@alaska.edu
Joanne Healy, University of Alaska Fairbanks - jhealy7@alaska.edu
Dr. Joanne Healy and Undergraduate Researcher, Elizabeth Smith present on the findings of their 2015 case study of the effectiveness of using an Aldebaran humanoid robot, NAO, to increase instances of joint attention. The project observed one student experiencing autism and took place over the course of
8 sessions.
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Cultural Reciprocity through Pre-Service Special Education Teacher Self - Evaluation: First Year Results
Adrainne Thomas, University of Alaska Anchorage - cathomas11@uaa.alaska.edu
This presentation will address the first year results of a study on the use of the Alaska Native Cultural
Standards as a means of self-evaluation to facilitate cultural reciprocity as a method of empowerment for pre-service special education teachers, Alaska Native students with disabilities and their families.
Believing & Responding. Child Sexual Abuse Prevention & Education
Julie Dale, Standing Together Against Rape - jdale@staralaska.org
Child Sexual Abuse is often a difficult subject to discuss but with the proper tools this conversation can be made much easier for parents and educators alike.
Secondary Transition 101
Gail Greenhalgh, SERRC - gailg@serrc.org
John Cowper, SERRC - johnc@serrcorg
Emma Horrocks, SERRC - emmah@serrc.org
Overview of secondary transition requirements.
FASD - Social Skill Development
Vickie Coupchiak, ASD FASD Working Group - coupchiak_vickie@asdk12.org
Prenatal exposure to alcohol affects all aspects of a child's life. Students will often display severely delayed social skills. Learn how to support these students as they navigate through learning social skills and begin to apply them in their lives.
Mindfulness 101: A Valuable Skill-Set For Students
Becky Roth - beckysueroth@mac.com
Mindfulness is three attention skills (concentration, clarity & equanimity) working together. It needs to be practiced, just like music, art, or sports. This session is an introduction to Mindfulness training for students (mindfulschools.org). Young people of all ages (and everyone!) can learn to decrease toxic stress & impulsivity and increase attention, emotional regulation, classroom engagement and compassion for themselves and others.
The Alaska Math and English Language Arts Standards- Revisited
Deborah Riddle, Alaska Department of Education & Early Development - deborah.riddle@alaska.gov
This overview presentation will take a look at how these standards work to create a solid conceptual understanding of math and ELA concepts. Participants will examine the structure of the standards and engage in discussions about the instructional shifts and how this impacts their work with children.
8:00am – 10:00am
KEYNOTE - Leading with the Heart in Times of Cardiac Arrest
Christy Chambers, Beyond the Box, LLC
Job descriptions and contracts detail “what” we do. Leading with heart is “how” we must work to effect change and sustain success. Christy’s keynote address will provoke our thinking about who can and should lead while exploring head, heart and hands theory to support our journey toward effective leadership
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BREAKOUTS
10:30am – 12:00pm (1.5 hrs)
Teacher and Assistant Relationships: Common challenges and positive solutions
Christy Chambers, Beyond the Box, LLC
A strong and positive working relationship between teacher and teacher assistant in education is crucial to the success of instruction and achievement of students. And yet common challenges of working so closely together interrupt and interfere with the effectiveness of this important relationship. This session provides problem-solving templates and communication strategies you can implement Monday morning to address common challenges and ensure the classroom team’s effectiveness for the benefit of the students we serve.
Millennial Deaf & Hard of Hearing students in Alaska: Alaska State School for Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Ann Curry, Anchorage School District- curry_ann@asdk12.org
Courtney Westmann, Anchorage School District - westmann_courtney@asdk12.org
Tracy Pifer, Anchorage School District - pifer_tracy@asdk12.org
Alaska School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing will be presenting on current best practices for student who are deaf or hard of hearing. A description and virtual tour will be provided about our school and our services for administrators and special educators. Further best practice tools for supporting deaf and hard of hearing students in the mainstream such as interpreter standards, interpreter consumerism, support services and state and local resources in professional development related specifically to students that are deaf and hard of hearing. Attendees will understand the millennial student in deaf education is not what they think! Times are a changing!
Rhythmic Loom Project
Julia Frascona, Knapsack Consulting, LLC - knapsackstrats@gmail.com
Once upon a time, an Art teacher and an EBD teacher teamed up to write a grant for a large floor loom to be housed in an EBD resource room. With that, the Rhythmic Loom Project was born. Students learned to weave rag rugs and became loom experts while the benefits of repetitive rhythmic movement improved concentration, restored a sense of well-being, increased positive social interactions and academic successes as well as allowed for effective self-regulation.
Body, Brain, and Behavior: Working With the Dysregulated Student
Carolen Hope, Valdez School District - carolenhope@gmail.com
New findings from brain science can change the way we see problematic behavior patterns in students.
This presentation will weave together theory and practice to increase your understanding of relationships among body, brain, and behavior, and to share specific tools to support student learning.
Using the Alaska Career Information System (AKCIS) for Self-discovery and Education and Career
Planning
Emily Haag, Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education - emily.haag@alaska.gov
Julia Renfro, Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education - julia.renfro@alaska.gov
This session provides an introduction AKCIS, a robust, free online tool available to all Alaska residents.
AKCIS helps users discover their skills and interests, learn about various industries and occupations aligning with their skills and interests, and make a plan to attain the education needed to reach their career goals.
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Understanding the Alaska Mathematics Standards – Rigor and Conceptual Understanding
Deborah Riddle, Alaska Dept. of Education and Early Development – deborah.riddle@alaska.gov
Conceptual understanding is the foundation of success in Mathematics. We will examine ways to check for conceptual understanding using the standards as a guide. Group discussions will center on modifications and scaffolding.
Teaching Students with Hearing Loss: Strategies, Accommodations, and Modifications
Olivia Yancey, Special Education Service Agency - oyancey@sesa.org
This presentation provides several teaching strategies, recommended accommodations and modifications for a teacher or paraprofessional to use in the mainstreamed setting with a student with hearing loss.
The Road to National Board Certification. Is it for you?
Derry Ruyle, Anchorage School District - ruyle_derry@asdk12.org
Tara Bivins, Anchorage School District - bivins_tara@asdk12.org
This course will give participants a brief overview of the process required to become certified by the
National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. Topics covered include: a brief history of National
Board Certification, requirements for completing the process, the cost, current district/state-based incentives and available supports for candidates.
BREAKOUTS
1:15pm – 2:45pm (1.5 hrs)
IEP Goals: From Paper to Classroom to Families
Heather Batchelder, University of Alaska Southeast-habatchelder@uas.alaska.edu
Participants will learn to take their students’ IEP goals from the paperwork and embed learning opportunities throughout the day to take and track data on the students’ progress towards their goals.
Communicating progress towards the IEP goals and how they “look” when their children actively engage in learning opportunities to families in the community is important as families may want to extend their child’s opportunities to learn in the domestic setting.
Leading with Heart in Times of Cardiac Arrest: Resources for team leaders
Christy Chambers, Beyond the Box, LLC
Whether we lead a committee, a building team, an IEP team, classroom instruction or an education department, we all need an arsenal of resources to motivate, develop and enrich our team members and their collective ability to work together effectively. This session provides resources including activities, games for team development, workbooks, authors, websites and other resources with suggestions on how to use these resources for fun and for the development of effective teams.
Ed Connector: Free Promising Practices for all Districts
Lora Jorgensen, Ed Connector / CEAAC - lora@edconnector.org
Struggle with:
• Meeting mandates and designing innovations?
• Finding tools you know are working here in AK?
• Securing quality service vendors?
LEARN how EdConnector.com allows district administrators to:
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1. Access curated best practices
2. Share quality material, curricula, and models
3. Rate/track vendor support
4. Collaborate with peers across the state
The long term effects of Early Childhood Trauma on children
Shelly Vendetti-Vuckovich, Save the Waiver AK - vendettis@aol.com
On overview of what Early Childhood Trauma looks like, in the home and in the classroom. What happens to a child witnessing violence in the classroom and how to help these victims not suffer regression; addressing the need for family notification and mental health intervention.
Multiple Tier Supports for Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders: Improving Behavioral and
Academic Outcomes
Chris Huzinec, Review360 Pearson Clinical Assessment - chris.huzinec@pearson.com
Stewart Pisecco, Pearson Clinical Assessment
This presentation discusses “best practices” in implementing multi-tiered behavioral solutions with students with emotional and behavioral issues. It focuses on examining effective interventions and how a web-based system can be used to facilitate the process of progress monitoring. Additionally, it describes an evaluation chronicling the impact on student outcomes.
What Does Happen at The Mat-Su Day School?
Amy Tucker, Mat-Su School District- amy.tucker@matsuk12.us
Michelle Sarro, Mat-Su School District- michelle.sarro@matsuk12.us
This session will provide understanding of the history, purpose and practices of an intensive behavior and therapeutic separate school setting and describe its place on the continuum of service We will also look at the mandate of Least Restrictive Environment. Participants will walk away with a better grasp of our mission and the particular components that we use to facilitate the stabilization of our students and their transition back into their boundary schools.
Barriers to Successful Employment for Individuals with Mild Intellectual Disabilities
Mubarak Aldosari, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University - mubarak415@hotmail.com
The focus of this qualitative study was to explore the major barriers to successful employment for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). An analysis of the interviews revealed four major factors that impede individuals with ID from successfully gaining employment: (a) work experience, (b) social skills, (c) attitude towards individuals with ID, and (d) transportation.
Please tell me how I can work with DVR
Jim Kreatschman, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation - Jim.kreatschman@alaska.gov
A facilitated discussion designed to answer teacher's questions about coordinating transition services with DVR. This session will provide teacher's with concrete examples of how DVR is coordinating with schools across the state to provide pre-employment transition services. Teachers will leave this session with a clear understanding of who can benefit from a referral to DVR and dispel misconceptions.
Updated: 11/5/15