Educator U

Educator U: Personalized Learning for Today’s Educator

Educator U is a dynamic, choice-driven professional learning experience for teachers. Participants can personalize their journey by selecting from a variety of courses focused on relevant topics and real classroom challenges. Each session delivers practical strategies, collaborative learning opportunities, and actionable takeaways designed to support continued growth and development. With flexible options and meaningful content, Educator U empowers every educator to strengthen their practice in the areas that matter most to them.

Available Sessions:

• MORNING SESSIONS:  8:30 AM – 11:00 AM
• AFTERNOON SESSIONS:  12:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Educators/Schools can choose half-day, full-day, or school flat rate with unlimited access. The following courses will be provided in both morning and afternoon sessions. (*EXCEPTION: The morning session for the AI course is focused on tools for educators, while the afternoon session focuses on resources available for students.)

Order in the Room: Classroom Management Essentials – This session equips educators with the tools and insights needed to build a positive, well-managed classroom environment. Participants will craft an Opening Statement that reflects their vision for the school year, examine their personal tolerance levels, and engage in open dialogue about consistent expectations through Guilty/Not Guilty scenarios. By evaluating the Expert Witnesses’ discipline theories, teachers will identify the most relevant approaches for their classrooms, match common student infractions with fair and appropriate consequences, and analyze Teacher Testimonies for practical strategies. Ultimately, educators will formulate a clear, evidence-based classroom discipline plan that is both sound and justifiable.

Trainer:  Taylor Hartigan
Content Area:  Classroom Management
Grade Level:  K-12

Engaging Exceptional Learners:  Boosting Academic Engagement Through Interdependent Group Contingencies

Do you need simple, effective strategies to help your ESE students stay engaged during instruction? In this focused session, participants will learn the essentials of creating an interdependent group contingency (IGC) plan to support on-task behavior. Educators will explore practical examples and walk away with a clear framework they can use immediately—without feeling overwhelmed. IGCs can be used with any class and can be easily tailored to meet the needs of ESE learners.

Trainer:  Dr. Nancy Young
Content Area: ESE (2.5 hours towards 20-hour state recertification for ESE)
Grade Level:  K-12

Powerful Practices for Meaningful Reading: Five Routines You Can Use Tomorrow 

In this interactive 2.5-hour professional learning session, educators will experience five powerful literacy strategies designed to strengthen reading comprehension, critical thinking, and student-led discussion across grade levels and subject areas. Teachers will learn how to implement the Read–Stop–React Routine, DRTA (Directed Reading–Thinking Activity), Coding the Text, Quickwrites, and Fishbowl Discussion with any complex text—whether informational, narrative, scientific or historical. Participants will engage in each strategy as learners, unpack the instructional moves behind them, and plan how to apply them with their own students. By the end of the session, teachers will gain practical tools and routines that deepen student understanding and elevate academic discourse.

Trainer:  Kirsten Wilson
Content Area: Content Literacy (2.5 hours towards 40-hour state recertification for reading)
Grade Level: 3-12

Math Matters: Building Fact Fluency Through Play and Partnership 

Turn math practice into meaningful connection! In this hands-on session, educators will explore interactive math games designed to strengthen fact fluency while deepening home-school partnerships. Learn how to use Learning Link to engage students and families in joyful learning experiences that yield measurable results. Over 400 students saw an average of 37% increase in fact fluency in just four weeks!

Trainer:  Sue Sandelier
Content Area: Elementary Math Fact Fluency
Grade Level: K-5

AI Tools For Educators in Mathematics: Tips to Enhance Instruction
(Morning Session Only)

In this session, participants will explore the current landscape of AI tools designed to support teachers in middle-level and secondary mathematics instruction. The session will include demonstrations of free and low-cost AI platforms that help educators enhance lessons, generate differentiated materials, and streamline planning and assessment. Participants will examine how tools such as Desmos and GeoGebra can be used for dynamic visualization and AI-assisted activity creation, while teacher-focused platforms like TeacherMade, Diffit, and MagicSchool AI support the development of practice sets, scaffolded problem explanations, standards-aligned tasks, and accessible math texts for diverse learners. The session emphasizes practical, classroom-ready strategies for integrating these AI tools to strengthen mathematical understanding, support inclusive instruction, and reduce teacher workload without requiring district purchases or specialized technical expertise.

Trainer:  Dr. Krystle Merry
Concept Area: Secondary Math and AI
Grade Level: 6-12

AI Tools for Students in Mathematics: Explore the Growing Landscape
(Afternoon Session Only)

In this session, participants will explore the growing landscape of AI tools that support students in middle-level and secondary mathematics. The session will highlight widely used platforms that help learners receive instant feedback, visualize concepts, and strengthen problem-solving skills. Participants will see demonstrations of popular tools such as Photomath, Microsoft Math Solver, Symbolab, and Wolfram Alpha, which provide step-by-step explanations, guided problem solving, and conversational support for algebra, geometry, and higher-level math. Additional tools such as Khanmigo and MathGPT will be discussed for their ability to offer scaffolded tutoring, personalized hints, and interactive practice aligned to curriculum goals. The session will emphasize how student-facing AI tools can promote independence, improve accuracy, and deepen mathematical understanding when introduced with teacher guidance and ethical classroom practices.

Trainer:  Dr. Krystle Merry
Concept Area: Secondary Math and AI
Grade Level: 6-12