2025 Fall Professional Development Day

STAR Autism Support Comprehensive Workshop Day 1

8:30am-3:30pm (MST) with Presenter TBD

This comprehensive two-day autism support workshop provides participants with detailed examples and practice activities on how to implement the evidence-based practices identified in the National Standards Report (2009). The STAR Program (Arick, Loos, Falco and Krug, 2015), a research-based curriculum is used to provide examples. Appropriate content connected to the common core curriculum is presented and detailed information on the three evidenced-based instructional methods of discrete trial training, pivotal response training and teaching through functional routines are shared. Participants will learn how to implement these strategies through structured lesson plans and a curriculum scope and sequence. The workshop will include extensive data collection systems and participants will learn to collect and use data for instructional decision making. Workshop topics will include the use of a power point lecture, video examples, presenter demonstration and participant "hands-on" practice.   

Behavioral Safety Assessment- Salem Keizer- Cascade Model- Level 1 (Day 1)

8:30am-4:00pm (MST) with Alise Mnati, MSW, LMSW

The Salem-Keizer Cascade Behavioral Safety Assessment System Training will be offered in two parts. Participants may sign up for one or both days.  Most school districts in eastern Oregon counties currently use the Salem-Keizer Cascade BSA model. This training is highly recommended for all Level 1 teams in local school districts. Ideally each Level 1 Team should consist of at least 3 members (building administrator, counselor, school resource officer (SRO), and/or lead teacher).  

Level 1 Training: This full day training will review the fundamentals of reducing school violence, detail the Salem-Keizer model of school based threat assessment and management teams. 

ASIST Suicide Prevention and Response Training

8:00am-4:00pm (MST) with Paula Olvera and Judy Trask, 

ASIST is a comprehensive, coordinated and integrated suicide intervention training that reflects current best-practice in suicide intervention. ASIST is the result of more than 25 years of research and development and is the most widely used suicide intervention program in the world. This is a two-day, 15-hour, interactive workshop. Learn how to recognize opportunities to help, assess risk of suicide, apply a suicide intervention model, and practice skills.

K-1 Writing Workshop with Yolanda

5:00-8:00pm (MST) with Yolanda Westerberg, Westerberg & Associates

In response to multiple requests, we are circling back to offer workshops in Foundations in Writing with Yolanda Westerberg for the 2025-26 school year.  This will be a continuation of the Foundational training initiated over the summer, but all interested educators are welcome to join.  

STAR Autism Support Comprehensive Workshop Day 2

8:30am-3:30pm (MST) with Presenter TBD

This comprehensive two-day autism support workshop provides participants with detailed examples and practice activities on how to implement the evidence-based practices identified in the National Standards Report (2009). The STAR Program (Arick, Loos, Falco and Krug, 2015), a research-based curriculum is used to provide examples. Appropriate content connected to the common core curriculum is presented and detailed information on the three evidenced-based instructional methods of discrete trial training, pivotal response training and teaching through functional routines are shared. Participants will learn how to implement these strategies through structured lesson plans and a curriculum scope and sequence. The workshop will include extensive data collection systems and participants will learn to collect and use data for instructional decision making. Workshop topics will include the use of a power point lecture, video examples, presenter demonstration and participant "hands-on" practice.   

Behavioral Safety Assessment- Salem Keizer- Cascade Model- Level 2 (Day 2)

8:30am-4:00pm (MST) with  Alise Mnati, MSW, LMSW

The Salem-Keizer Cascade Behavioral Safety Assessment System Training will be offered in two parts. Participants may sign up for one or both days.  Most school districts in eastern Oregon counties currently use the Salem-Keizer Cascade BSA model. This training is highly recommended for all Level 1 teams in local school districts. Ideally each Level 1 Team should consist of at least 3 members (building administrator, counselor, school resource officer (SRO), and/or lead teacher).  

Level 2 Training: This training will highlight the collaborative, multi-agency structure of a community based level 2 team.  Current and prospective members of a county Level 2 team should make plans to attend. 

ASIST Suicide Prevention and Response Training

8:00am-4:00pm (MST) with Paula Olvera and Judy Trask, Lifeways

ASIST is a comprehensive, coordinated and integrated suicide intervention training that reflects current best-practice in suicide intervention. ASIST is the result of more than 25 years of research and development and is the most widely used suicide intervention program in the world. This is a two-day, 15-hour, interactive workshop. Learn how to recognize opportunities to help, assess risk of suicide, apply a suicide intervention model, and practice skills.

Teach Like a PIRATE

8:00-11:30am (MST) with Dave Burgess, Dave Burgess Consulting Inc.

Join New York Times Best-Selling author Dave Burgess for an engaging program aimed at transforming educators' perspectives. Learn to boost student engagement, create innovative lessons, and design impactful courses. Using magic and humor, Burgess will reignite your passion for teaching and make school inviting for students. His "Teach Like a PIRATE" approach has inspired teachers globally to reach new excellence. Experience his unique and energetic presentation style. 

6-12 Foundations Writing Workshop

8:30-11:30am (MST) with Yolanda Westerberg, Westerberg & Associates

In response to multiple requests, we are circling back to offer workshops in Foundations in Writing with Yolanda Westerberg for the 2025-26 school year.  This will be a continuation of the Foundational training initiated over the summer, but all interested educators are welcome to join.  

SoR Map it to Mastery: Building Fluent Reading Through Orthographic Mapping 

8:30-11:30am (MST) with Barbara Steinberg, PDX Reading 

Fluent readers aren’t born—they’re taught to connect sounds to symbols through orthographic mapping. In this dynamic half-day workshop, you’ll explore how the brain makes words stick in long-term memory and why this process is essential for building fluency. Learn why rote memorization falls short and how orthographic mapping gives students the tools to decode, encode, and recognize words automatically.

Through hands-on activities, you’ll practice identifying phoneme–grapheme connections and experience model instructional routines that bring orthographic mapping to life. Walk away with practical strategies you can implement right away to help your students move from sounding out words to instantly recognizing them.

Exploring Proactive Interventions for Students in the Mathematics Classroom (3-5)

8:30-11:30am (MST) with Karen Karp, University of Louisville

[This session will focus on proactive interventions that prime students for success in their general education mathematics lessons. The effective teaching of mathematics through understanding how students learn, how to promote that learning by teaching through problem solving, and how to collaboratively plan for that learning with others will be central to the conversation. Rather than “telling” students how to do mathematics, this session helps build instruction that engages students in “doing math.” Using the research-based recommendations from the IES Practice Guide on Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Intervention in the Elementary Grades, we will explore:

•  The use of multiple representations

•  How to align mathematical language

•  Teaching whole number concepts and fractions developmentally

• Challenge and engage students in problem solving

Join Karen Karp for a half-day institute filled with experiences to change your thinking from teaching arithmetic to teaching mathematics. The 3-5 session is happening in the morning and the K-2 session is happening in the afternoon. Choose only one session. These sessions are repeated from the 2025 Spring PD Day. 

Artificial Intelligence and Ag Science (6-12 Ag Teachers)

8:30-11:30am (MST) with Elaine Swanson, GO STEM Hub

This session will introduce hands-on, classroom-ready labs that bring artificial intelligence, data science, and mathematics into the agricultural sciences. Teachers will explore real-world examples using satellite imagery data, photosynthesis and irrigation modeling and computer vision tools designed for EO rural classrooms on EO agriculture. We'll also look at how to use beginner-friendly coding platforms to explore local data and connect students with in-demand ag tech skills. 

P2C Math Training Part 1 (9-12 Math Teachers)

8:30-11:30am (MST) with Tori Farestad, P2C Customer Success Manager

This introductory session is designed for educators, counselors, and administrators who are new to Pathway2Careers (P2C). Participants will explore how P2C Math's tools and curriculum bring relevance to learning by connecting academic content to real-world careers.

During this interactive session, participants will:

• Discover the P2C Math platform and its core components.

• Experience hands-on demonstrations of math career-connected lessons and activities that increase student engagement and motivation.

• Connect P2C Math’s resources to local priorities such as college and career readiness, workforce alignment, and differentiated support for diverse learners.

• Plan actionable first steps for implementation, including classroom integration ideas and strategies for building student ownership in career planning.

Educators will leave the session with a clear understanding of how P2C Math empowers them to answer the age-old student question: “When will I ever use this?” while also equipping students with the skills and awareness they need for future success.

Embedding Work Based Learning in your CTE Program of Study

8:30-11:30am (MST) with Brandie Clark, Malheur ESD & ODE

Work-Based Learning (WBL) doesn’t have to mean starting something new. In this interactive session, we’ll explore how to elevate the powerful activities you’re already doing—like CTSOs, student-run enterprises, service learning, Supervised Agricultural Experiences, and more—into high-quality WBL experiences that count. You’ll leave with a personalized action plan to level up one existing activity so it meets WBL criteria and deepens students’ career preparation. Whether you're just getting started or looking to enhance your approach, this session will offer fresh ideas, peer insights, and time to problem-solve your own WBL questions. Come ready to share, learn, and reimagine what’s already possible. 

Beyond the Scoreboard (building character & leadership in High School Sports)

9:30-11:30am (MST) with Tom Bendt & Pete Lukich

Participants will gain an understanding of the OSAA sponsored Beyond the Scoreboard Program. The "why" and the "how" will be better understood with the goal of schools incorporating this journey into their programs and schools.  School leaders (administrators, athletic directors, coaches and teachers) are the key people in setting a vision for their schools. 

First Aid / CPR

8:30-11:30am (MST) with EOCCR Staff, Malheur ESD

This in-person session will provide CPR and First Aid certification / recertification through the Health & Safety Institute.  

2-5 Foundations Writing Workshop

12:30-3:30pm (MST) with Yolanda Westerberg, Westerberg & Associates

In response to multiple requests, we are circling back to offer workshops in Foundations in Writing with Yolanda Westerberg for the 2025-26 school year.  This will be a continuation of the Foundational training initiated over the summer, but all interested educators are welcome to join.  

SoR Making Meaning: Boosting Vocabulary & Cracking Multisyllabic Words with Morphology Instruction

12:30-3:30pm (MST) with Barbara Steinberg, PDX Reading

Did you know that 80% of the words students encounter in text contain one or more prefixes or suffixes? That’s why building morphological awareness is a game-changer for literacy instruction. In this engaging half-day workshop, you’ll learn how teaching students the most common prefixes, suffixes, and Greek and Latin roots can expand their vocabulary and strengthen their ability to read and understand multisyllabic words.

Together, we’ll explore the building blocks of words, practice breaking down complex vocabulary into meaningful parts, and learn instructional routines that make morphology come alive in the classroom. You’ll experience model lessons, collaborate with colleagues, and walk away with strategies that can be applied immediately to boost word recognition, comprehension, and confidence for all learners.

Understanding AI-- Beyond the ChatBot

12:30-3:30pm (MST) with Elaine Swanson, GO STEM Hub

This session will be a practical introduction to artificial intelligence in education. We’ll unpack what AI is, how it works, and why it matters now. The session will cover current legal considerations (including FERPA and OSIPA), national trends, and real-world examples of how AI is already showing up in schools. Participants will leave with foundational knowledge, policy context, and tools for approaching AI with confidence and caution.

P2C Math Training Part 2 (9-12)

12:30-3:30pm (MST) with Tori Farestad, P2C Customer Success Manager

This session is designed for educators who have already completed some PD with Pathway2Careers (P2C). Building on prior training, the session focuses on deepening instructional practice, refining lesson integration, and strengthening student engagement with math through career-connected learning.

During this interactive session, participants will:

• Reflect, share, and hear about any successes and challenges from implementation, identifying key look-fors and common barriers.

• Analyze instructional strategies that maximize the impact of P2C Math lessons, including scaffolding, differentiation, and career-connected questioning techniques.

• Explore advanced features of the P2C Math platform (dashboards, reporting, assignment design) to support data-driven decision-making.

• Collaborate with peers to adapt lessons to student needs while considering any Tier I/Tier II intervention

• Plan next steps through an action-planning protocol that emphasizes sustainability, alignment with district priorities, and ongoing coaching cycles.

Educators will leave with concrete strategies to refine their use of P2C Math, stronger confidence in integrating career applications into core instruction, and a clear plan to move from implementation to impact.

Manufacturing Like a Pro

12:30-3:30pm (MST) with T.J Toomey & Roger Watkins, Ontario High School

Get ready for a hands-on, interactive session designed for anyone teaching metal fabrication and shop skills! This isn’t just a sit-and-listen class—it’s an open forum where your needs, ideas, and questions will shape the conversation.

We’ll dive into topics like welding certifications, essential equipment for a high-performing shop, and practical strategies for building a strong training program.

Then, roll up your sleeves for the in-shop breakout session—a chance to sharpen your skills, explore CNC plasma tables and their software, and exchange real-world solutions with fellow educators and professionals.

Come ready to learn, share, and leave with new ideas and practical tools you can use right away!

Exploring Proactive Interventions for Students in the Mathematics Classroom (K-2)

12:30:3:30pm (MST) with Karen Karp, University of Louisville

This session will focus on proactive interventions that prime students for success in their general education mathematics lessons. The effective teaching of mathematics through understanding how students learn, how to promote that learning by teaching through problem solving, and how to collaboratively plan for that learning with others will be central to the conversation. Rather than “telling” students how to do mathematics, this session helps build instruction that engages students in “doing math.” Using the research-based recommendations from the IES Practice Guide on Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Intervention in the Elementary Grades, we will explore:

•  The use of multiple representations

•  How to align mathematical language

•  Teaching whole number concepts and fractions developmentally

• Challenge and engage students in problem solving

Join Karen Karp for a half-day institute filled with experiences to change your thinking from teaching arithmetic to teaching mathematics. The 3-5 session is happening in the morning and the K-2 session is happening in the afternoon. Choose only one session. These sessions are repeated from the 2025 Spring PD Day. 

Pyramid Model Practices in the Early Learning Classroom (Pre K-1)

12:30-3:30pm (MST) with Janice Grengs, Malheur ESD

Join your fellow early childhood educators as we explore the Pyramid Model and five specific classroom wide practices that are instrumental in promoting social-emotional development and preventing the occurrence and development of challenging behavior. 

Career Connected Learning 101

12:30-3:30pm (MST) with Brandie Clark, ODE

What exactly is Career Connected Learning (CCL), and why does it matter? In this interactive session, we’ll explore the key stages of Oregon’s CCL framework and how these experiences—both inside and outside of CTE—can help all students see real-world relevance in their learning and build a clearer path to future careers. We’ll look at practical examples across the continuum, from early career awareness to hands-on career training, and highlight tools and resources to help make CCL accessible for every student. Come ready to collaborate! You’ll engage in hands-on activities to identify what’s already happening in your school or classroom, uncover gaps or missed opportunities, and walk away with concrete ideas to strengthen your CCL ecosystem. 

First Aid / CPR

12:30-3:30pm (MST) with EOCCR Staff, Malheur ESD

This in-person session will provide CPR and First Aid certification / recertification through the Health & Safety Institute.  

Navigating Oregon's New Social Science Standards

12:30-3:30pm (MST) with Amit Kabrowski, ODE

What has changed in the new Oregon Social Science Standards? What is the best approach to implementing these changes? Join us for an interactive exploration of Oregon's newly adopted 2024 Social Science Standards and the curated resources available for supporting high-quality implementation.

Participants will engage with new instructional resources designed to support implementation of the revised standards. Classroom teachers, curriculum coordinators, and administrators will receive practical tools and strategies for implementing the Essential Disciplinary Practices, understanding key shifts in content expectations, and preparing for the 2026-2027 implementation timeline.

Let's Get Sparked!- SB 5701 Comes Alive 

12:30-3:30pm (MST) with Presenter TBD, ODE

Senate Bill 5701 Section 304 (2024) provided one-time funding for the Oregon Department of Education to contract for the implementation of the Transformative SEL standards and framework adopted in 2023. This workshop will present materials, tools, and resources developed through the partnership between ODE and WestEd. Workshop participants will explore the newly developed resources and materials with opportunities for individual and shared reflection and collaboration. Participants will engage their own social and emotional learning as they reflect on how Transformative SEL supports the work they are already doing aligned with the five guiding principles of Oregon’s Transformative SEL framework: Culturally Responsive, Community Responsive, Strengths Based, Trauma-Informed, and Grounded in Neuroscience and the Science of Brain Development. The workshop session and new Transformative SEL resources are designed to "spark" and engage educators as they integrate Transformative SEL across K12 contexts and throughout the content areas that students and adults experience in the school day.  This session will be Interactive, Insightful, and Inspirational. The Transformative SEL approach will be modeled and integrated throughout the workshop to ensure that participants deepen their understanding of Transformative SEL, experience how Transformative SEL supports their professional learning, and consider the possibilities for Transformative SEL within their practice and service to ensure that all students and adults have opportunities to thrive.