Saturday Sessions
8:15 AM - 9:25 AM Colorado Spotlight
Are We Having FUN Yet? Reconnecting to Joy
Presented by Cynthia Hildner
Has stress increased and your FUN factor for teaching decreased? Discover ways to reclaim balance and enjoyment. Explore self-discovery frameworks that may surprise you and your students will love too! Gain powerful tools that reveal and course correct towards having fun teaching and learning.
The Calm Before the Learn: Creating Trauma-Informed Classrooms for Teachers and Students
Presented by Tracy Gerschwin
Understanding trauma’s impact on learning and behavior is essential. This session offers practical, trauma-informed strategies through interactive activities and real-life examples to help create a calm, supportive classroom. Learn to recognize trauma signs and implement evidence-based practices that foster healing and learning for students and teachers.
Building a Better Road - Colorado Decision Review
Presented by Beth Friel
Every year, Colorado's Department of Education, the Office of Administrative Courts, and Colorado's Federal District Court release decisions that determine the outcomes of disputes involving students with disabilities. As the judicial system analyzes these disputes, what evidence are they relying upon? What signals are they sending to parties in their holdings and dicta? Learn from these decisions to inform your efforts to plan well for students, resolve disputes productively, and present a case convincingly to decision makers.
10:20 AM - 11:30 AM Breakout Sessions
Teaching Teachers to Manage ADHD/Executive Function in Their Classroom
Presented by Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHDCSSP & Carly Wolf, MA
Spec Ed Teachers are often taxed with supporting students best served by their Gen Ed Teacher within the classroom. This presentation helps you support Gen Ed teachers with tools and strategies to better support all students with task initiation, time management, and managing challenging behaviors.
Educating Ourselves & Others: Strategies from LEAD Students
Presented by Aaron Miller & LEAD Students
Join the LEAD program’s session to hear strategies and stories from the students themselves. Learn how these students are drivers of their academic achievement and growth, and engage in dialogue about how adults can empower them as they navigate their learning disabilities and ADHD.
Collaborative Goal Writing with Dynamic Service Delivery
Presented by Dr. Bri Makofske
Collaboration for goal writing and coteaching interventions/groups allows more flexibility in service delivery. Learn how to provide students with opportunities to be engaged while targeting multiple skill deficits and developing skills to successfully problem solve and interact with others.
Special Education Assessment of Multilingual Learners: Accuracy over Compliance
Presented by Bryn Harris & Hunter Smith
Learn about IDEA and CDE guidance regarding conducting equitable bilingual special education evaluations. Participants will understand when native language assessment is warranted and what to do when a bilingual evaluator isn’t available.
Training, Appreciating, and Hopefully Retaining Paraprofessionals
Presented by Heather Lyons
Learn about paraprofessionals with a preference profile, share ideas on defining roles and responsibilities, train with clear expectations to be shared with teachers, and share ideas for appreciating paraprofessionals' hard work everyday in hopes of retaining paraprofessionals.
Addressing Early Childhood Trauma in the Preschool Classroom
Presented by Nicole Crain Girten
Childhood trauma is potentially the most important public health crisis in recent times. In fact, 1 in 4 children has experienced one or more traumatic events before the age of 6. Learn trauma informed strategies to help address the impact of early childhood trauma in the classroom.
Inclusion, Self Regulation and Body Awareness Through Adaptive Yoga in the Classroom
Presented by Stefanie R. Gross
Adaptive yoga practices (taught in classrooms) offer invaluable benefits for neurodiverse and physically challenged students, teachers and care teams. Learn about practical adaptive yoga techniques, such as intentional breathing exercises for self regulation, movements that enhance proprioception.
School Crisis Response: Considerations for Special Education Students
Presented by Brandi Vos, Ed.S.
From the Colorado Office of School Safety's new Crisis Response Unit, considerations for special needs populations in crisis preparedness, response and after care.
Avoiding Pearson, Specter, Litt: Legal Compliance
Presented by Dr. Jacque Phillips
Interesting cases from Colorado 2024 will be shared. We will identify "what went wrong" and howto make it right. Word track for meetings will be shared that can keep schools off the legal path.Unlike Mike Ross, the presenter is an actual attorney.
I'm a Participant? Engaging General Educators in IEPs
Presented by Maddie Karanevich & Peter Karanevich
General education teachers are important members of IEP development. Learn to enhance collaboration between general educators and special educators. Create a space where general education teachers are confident in contributing to the IEP meeting and don’t feel they are there to just “check a box”.
11:45 AM - 12:55 PM Breakout Sessions
Creating Inclusive Communities through Unified Sports and Activities
Presented by Maricela Shukie & Amber Vanzant
Unified Champion Schools foster inclusive environments through sports & activities, inclusive youth leadership, and inclusive wellness. Maricela Shukie, Sr Director of UCS, and Amber Vanzant, Unified Coach, will discuss what UCS is, the benefits of UCS, and how to create an inclusive school culture.
Foundations and Best Practices in Adapted Physical Education
Presented by Bryan Wickoren, Kelly Kennedy, Sarah Brockberg, & Katie Spirek
How to provide modifications and accommodations so students with disabilities can successfully
access the general physical education curriculum and gain an understanding of the Federal Law and how it pertains to Adapted Physical Education.
Social Media and The Fight for Kids’ Attention
Presented by Dr. Rachel Toplis
Educators and parents continue to struggle with the negative effects of screen time and social media. This presentation will focus on current research around challenges with behaviors, attention and social interactions related to screen time and social media use, and what we can reasonably do today.
Empowering Inclusive Learning: Advancing Special Education in Separate School Environments.
Presented by Robin Howard & Gina Trujillo
Explore strategies for inclusive learning in separate school settings, promoting equity and accessibility for students with special needs. Discover tailored approaches to empower diverse learners, fostering an inclusive educational environment.
When Innovation Meets Compassion: Reimagining Preschool Inclusion
Presented by Kristin Schrader, Ph.D., NCSP, LC, Shay Markle, OTR/L, DSc, Jill Sprafke, & Barb Umsted, MS, CCC-SLP
Innovative and inclusive programming for preschoolers with significant social-communication needs requires active collaboration, explicit skill development, and a strengths-based approach. Learn strategies for collaboration between teachers and SLP/OT/MH, embedding targeted evidence-based practices to increase engagement, and providing meaningful wraparound experiences for all students.
Utilizing Animal Assisted Interactions Across a Tiered System
Presented by Ashley Goodwin Hebert
During this interactive session, participants will gain a better understanding of how to utilize Animal Assisted Interactions (AAI) in schools as a support of creating a positive school climate and culture.
Living on the Bell Curve (or not)
Presented by Scott Schwartz, Ph.D., CCC/SLP
The bell curve determines a child’s standing within a normal distribution in intellect, language, and academics. Not all domains conform to this curve: relatedness, attention, life experiences, etc. Understanding diverse neurodivergent profiles via these domains facilitates better student outcomes.
Accelerate Reading, Spelling, and Writing for ALL Students
Presented by Nora Chahbazi & Lindsay Journo
Teach, practice, apply. Your time instructing students is a precious commodity! Learn about EBLI, a speechfirst, integrated, comprehensive, effective, efficient, research aligned approach to teaching literacy to students of any age or reading level, from EBLI’s founder and a Denver educator.
Resilience is a Journey
Presented by Raquel Caspi, Ph.D.
Resilience is a journey, one life teaches us about during difficult times. If we learn to view resilience as a process, one which has key points we can work on in our daily lives, it will be easier to access these tools from our toolkit when difficulties arise.
Centering Families in IEP Meetings
Presented by Andrea Laser & Julia Pfitzer
This session will provide participants an opportunity to hear current research about families' perspectives of IEP meetings, key components of ensuring meaningful participation, reflect on current processes, and plan for future additions or changes.
Mental Health 101 for Educators: Strategies to Support Student Wellbeing
Presented by Krista Klabo, Ed.S., NCSP
This session introduces educators to foundational mental health concepts and highlights the critical connection between student emotional wellbeing and academic success. Participants will explore practical, evidence-based strategies to create supportive, empathetic classroom environments and recognize signs of mental health challenges. The session equips educators with tools to enhance student resilience, foster engagement, and promote a culture of emotional support while encouraging.
Pre-Retirement Planning
Presented by PERA
Stop worrying, start planning! This workshop will guide you through three key steps to help you retire with confidence. We will provide you with the tools and resources necessary to estimate your future retirement income, identify expenses, and address any gaps that might get in the way of reaching your retirement goals. Get ready to create a plan that will set you on the path to retire with everything you need! All are welcomed and will find value; if you are around 5 – 10 years from retirement, this workshop has been specially designed with you in mind!