Engaging Educators 2025: Full Schedule

10:30am CST

A Taste of Adaptive Schools

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

Every educator wants every meeting they attend to accomplish the maximum amount of work in the minimum amount of time with an actionable outcome that makes a difference for teachers and students. Learn how Adaptive Schools helps build your understanding and skills to collaborate, grow, and get things done effectively!

Speakers

Bess Scott

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
TJ 114 N

Session 1

10:30am CST

Academic Language: What's Good for Some is Good for All

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

TJ 326

This session is designed to share information about four practical concepts that enhance academic language for all students. By learning about these concepts, educators will learn how strategies that are essential for students learning English can be beneficial for all students in all classrooms. Educators will learn about a webinar series that provides research behind these concepts and strategies that can be used immediately to strengthen inclusive Tier 1 Core practices and support students in building academic language within a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework.

Speakers

Anne Hubbell

Title III Assistant, English Learner Specialist, Nebraska Department of Education

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
TJ 326

Session 1

10:30am CST

All things Computer Science: Updates from the NDE

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

CATS 015

Shaun Young from the Nebraska Department of Education will share information on the Computer Science and Technology Education Act, including administrative requirements and curricular resources. Also discussed will be new, upcoming professional development opportunities for CS teachers as well as new ways for CS teachers to earn monetary stipends.

Speakers

Shaun Young

Computer Science and Technology Education Specialist, Nebraska Department of Education

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
CATS 015

Session 1

10:30am CST

Buff Nuggets: The EdTech Kitchen Sink

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

PAC

Get ready for a blast of Brian’s latest EdTech apps, tips, and classroom examples. You’ll definitely want to bring an appetite and a doggie bag for this fast-paced and jam-packed session. You’ll experience plenty of updates and magic in Canva, Google Apps, AI Tools, and lesser known tools that will make this session a true treasure chest for all attendees. Most importantly, attendees will see how this tech is being used to promote student creativity, innovation, and collaboration.

Speakers

Brian Buffington

Brian Buffington loves helping teachers and leaders do more with technology. He’s passionate about using tech in creative, fun, and engaging ways. His background as a middle school teacher, musician, entrepreneur and youth minister gives him a unique perspective on K-12 education... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
PAC

Session 1

10:30am CST

Building Meaningful Conversations with the Strive for Five Framework

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

TJ 304

In this interactive session, PK-1st grade teachers will explore Tricia Zucker and Sonia Cabell’s Strive for Five Conversations, a powerful framework for fostering meaningful, extended conversations with young children. Participants will gain insights into the five-step model, designed to encourage back-and-forth exchanges that support children’s language and cognitive development. Through guided practice and real-world examples, teachers will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of each element and learn practical ways to integrate these techniques into daily classroom interactions. By the end of the session, participants will feel equipped and inspired to implement the Strive for Five approach, enhancing the quality of their conversations with students and promoting a language-rich classroom environment.

Speakers

Heidi Farmer

Regional Support Lead, NeMTSS

Amy Colwell-Williams

Early Childhood NeMTSS Implementation Facilitator - Region 1, NeMTSS - ESU6

Mary Jo McElhose

NeMTSS Systems Consultant, NeMTSS Systems Consultant

I am passionate about early Literacy instruction based on the decades of research that compiles the Science of Reading. It is a goal of mine to help bridge this important research to practice, and empower teachers with the application of this knowledge to the multitude of instructional... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
TJ 304

Session 1

10:30am CST

Creating an Indestructible Classroom Environment

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

TJ 325

Discover your superpower to create an indestructible classroom environment. Learn about six basic, yet “super” powerful practices designed to set students up for behavioral and academic success. This session will define and model what powerful practices look and sound like in the classroom environment. These powerful practices include setting up classroom expectations, routines, and procedures, creating engagement and opportunities to respond, encouraging appropriate behavior, using active supervision, creating a welcoming physical environment, and following a continuum of behavioral response. By embedding these practices into everyday teaching, you can cultivate an educational universe where everyone's a hero within the classroom community.

Speakers

Scott Eckman

SPDG Coordinator, ESU 6

Mackenzie Riedel

SEBL Specialist, NeMTSS Region 1 Team

Social Emotional Behavioral Learning Specialist with NeMTSS. I serve schools in ESU 4, 5, 6 & 18. I'm a School Psychologist by trade!

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
TJ 325

Session 1

10:30am CST

Empowering Paraeducators: Building Behavior Support Skills

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

TJ 302

This professional development session is designed to empower paraeducators with foundational skills in supporting student behavior within the classroom. Participants will explore essential concepts such as understanding behavior expectations, monitoring and documenting student behavior, and reinforcing positive behavior. Through structured guidance, paraeducators will learn proactive strategies to prevent non-compliance and respond effectively to challenging behaviors. Additionally, the session will introduce data-driven decision-making, enabling paraeducators to use behavior information to support individualized interventions and promote a positive learning environment. This training is ideal for paraeducators seeking practical tools to enhance their effectiveness and contribute to a supportive, structured educational experience for students.

Speakers

Wendy Craig

Director of Special Education, ESU4

Dani Niss

Special Education Coordinator, Educational Service Unit 4

Dani is the Special Education Coordinator at ESU 4 in Auburn, Nebraska, which includes classroom behavior coaching and inclusion coaching, among other things. Throughout her role at ESU 4, Dani has also spent time as the principal of B-FIT, a level 3 behavior placement.

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
TJ 302

Session 1

10:30am CST

Get Your Think On: Exploring Tasks in a Thinking Classroom

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

TJ 230

We will be presenting on thinking tasks that are "low floor, high ceiling" tasks that allows students of all levels to work together and challenge all ability levels. Thin slicing tasks will be presented showing how you start at the most basic level and increase difficulty as the tasks progress.

Speakers

Whitley Albury

Megan Howe

Secondary Math Teacher, HTRS

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
TJ 230

Session 1

10:30am CST

HAL Hacks: Resources for Supporting HAL Students and Families

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

TJ 301

Join this interactive session to pick up quick, practical strategies for working with high ability learners and partnering with their families. We’ll share easy ways to boost engagement, simple enrichment ideas, and tips for keeping communication with families smooth and effective. You’ll leave with useful tools and resources you can start using right away to make a big impact!

Speakers

Sheyanne Smith

High Ability Learning, Nebraska Department of Education

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
TJ 301

Session 1

10:30am CST

Health and Physical Education Collaboration

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

CATS 209

This session will allow for health and PE teacher collaboration and discussion of resources for the classroom.

Speakers

Shayla Ruth

Health and PE Specialist, Nebraska Department of Education

Shayla Ruth has recently joined the NDE’s Teaching, Learning & Assessment Team as the Health and Physical Education Specialist. Shayla has a Bachelor of Science in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Science in Organizational Management... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
CATS 209

Session 1

10:30am CST

Nebraska State Bar Foundation - It's more than Social Studies

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

TJ 203

This session will highlight the various resources that the Nebraska State Bar Foundation offers including Mock Trial Competition, Mock Trial Journalist Competition, Law Day, the Age of Majority resources, exciting information about Project Citizen, and much more!

Speakers

Lori Broady

Civic Education Consultant, Nebraska State Bar Foundation

After teaching Social Studies at Johnson-Brock for 23 years, Lori worked at ESU4 as a teaching and learning specialist. Upon retirement, she now works part-time for the NSBF supporting civic education across the state of Nebraska.

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
TJ 203

Session 1

10:30am CST

Playful Printmaking

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

AV 101

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into the colorful world of printmaking. In this hands-on session, we’ll explore two super techniques that you can bring back to your classroom. First, we’ll use Gelli plates and layer colors and textures to create one-of-a-kind prints. Then, we’ll switch things up with aluminum foil and water-based markers to make vibrant designs. Whether you’re a printmaking pro or just looking to try something new, this session is all about experimenting, having fun, and discovering fresh ideas to spark your students’ creativity.

Speakers

Cody Talarico

Arts Education Specialist, NDE

Cody Talarico, is a musician and supporter of arts education. Cody taught music in the Bellevue (NE) Public Schools and is currently serving Nebraska as the Arts Education Specialist at the Nebraska Department of Education where he leads and supports visual arts, media arts, dance... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
AV 101

Session 1

10:30am CST

Superintendents' Discussion

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

CATS 107

This session is for superintendents or their specific designees only for their discussion topics.

Speakers

Gregg Robke

Administrator, ESU 4

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
CATS 107

Session 1

10:30am CST

Teaching Writing With AI: Painting the Gray

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

TJ 114 S

This session moves beyond the binary debate of "to ban or not to ban" AI in writing instruction, delving into the nuanced interplay between human and artificial intelligence in the writing process. Participants will receive a comprehensive multi-modal resource that includes videos and practical strategies designed to help educators thoughtfully integrate AI into their teaching. Together, we will engage with innovative tools, philosophies, and approaches that promote inquiry and critical thinking about the role of AI in the classroom.

(Session repeated at 12:15)

Speakers

Andrew Easton

Digital Learning Coordinator, ESU Coordinating Council

Evi Wusk

Assistant Professor of Educational Technology, Peru State College

Dr. Evi Wusk, Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at Peru State College, draws from over 17 years of classroom experience. Her roles include High Ability Learning Coordinator, 7-12 Language Arts and Journalism Teacher, fifth-grade classroom teacher, and certified PK-12 Librarian... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
TJ 114 S

Session 1

10:30am CST

Understanding Your Retirement Plan + Q&A

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

CATS 201

A brief overview of your amazing defined benefit retirement plan and an opportunity to ask your NPERS experts those burning questions you want to know!

This content will be repeated at 12:15, though the 10:30 session will likely include more detail.

Speakers

Session 1

10:30am CST

What Can 4-H Bring to Your Classroom?

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

TJ 228

Learn about the core programs that Nebraska 4-H will offer to ALL Nebraska schools beginning in the 2025-26 school year!

Speakers

Stephanie Bartels

UNL Nebraska Extension Office

Friday February 7, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
TJ 228

Session 1