Shawn Brandt
Director of Technology Integration
New Prague Area Schools

Room A-113 | Grades K-8 | Instructional Technology
IXL Math is a great tool to help students practice and improve specific skills. It's an easy program for teachers to manage, assign, and assess students' progress... but that's just the basics. Join this session where we will explore Custom Quizzes, Group Jams, Analytics, and more!

Amy Waldspurger
Director of Special Services
New Prague Area Schools

Room A-104 | PreK-12 | Special Education
In this session, you will gain knowledge and understanding of due process compliance standards for IEP development as well as essential components of required paperwork that needs to accompany an IEP and evaluation report.  This session is geared towards new special education staff that have been in the field 5 years or less or if you want an overview to continue to improve your due process skills and procedures.

Rick Bell, Julie Meier, & Tom Wetschka
Assistant Principals
New Prague Middle & High School

Room A-103 | Grades 6-12 | Best Practices
When you are setting up your expectations for the students every year, do you plan ahead for the tough times? Setting your students up to succeed with their behavior has a lot to do with your classroom management and the relationships you build with your students. Communicating all this with the families of your students is a critical component to building positive relationships and trust with your students. We will walk you through some ways to set yourself up for a great school year.

Dr. Erin Martin
Mental Health Supervisor
Scott County Mental Health Center

Room A-102 | Grades PreK-12 | Re-licensure
This session will provide you with an overview of mental health risk factors and mental health symptoms you could see in an educational setting.  This session will also include a general overview of more commonly occurring mental health conditions for students, as well as introduce specific strategies that could provide support to students during the school day.

Note: This session meets the PELSB “Early Onset Mental Illness” re-licensure requirements.

Tony Buthe
Director of Educational Services
New Prague Area Schools

Room A-101 | Substitute Teachers | Best Practices
Substitute Teachers... This class is designed just for you! This is our 3rd class in the past year. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for the New Prague Area Schools. You are appreciated so much and to show you how much we appreciate you, we would love to have you attend not only this class, but also the entire day if you would like. "Substitute Teacher Training - 301" is designed with you in mind. We will discuss topics such as "student behavior, academics, relationships, and overall expectations of buildings." We will also have a Principal panel where an extensive Q & A period will take place. Last but not least, your input for the Principals panel and other administrators will be sought out so we can hear how we can do better for you and our students. Again, we would love to have you in attendance not only for this class, but the entire day. -- CEU's will be available.

Note: This is a 2-hour class (Sessions 1 & 2).

Cari Krenik
Human Services
Le Sueur County

Room A-112 | Paraprofessionals | Requirement
If you are a professional who works with children and families, you are in a key position to help protect children from harm.  Minnesota law requires professionals and their delegates who work with children to make a child protection report if they know or have reason to believe:

• A child has been neglected or abused within the preceding 3 years

• A child is being neglected or abused

Learn about the responsibilities and requirements of this law.

Adam Dittberner
Principal
Eagle View Elementary

Room B-114 | Paraprofessionals | Best Practices
A look into our beliefs about discipline and how to best support students and classrooms to be successful.

Samantha McDonald
Information Systems Specialist
New Prague Area Schools

Room A-114 | Clerical Staff | Infinite Campus
Ad Hoc Reporting can seem intimidating, so attend this session to drill into Infinite Campus data and create the reports you need.

Shawn Brandt
Director of Technology Integration
New Prague Area Schools

Room A-113 | PreK-12 | Instructional Technology
This session continues our exploration from last school year, focusing on the ongoing journey of AI's impact in the classroom. We'll revisit foundational AI concepts, delve further into instructional tools, ethical considerations, and introduce new tools and features. Engage in discussions, activities, and practical insights on this evolving topic. No prior AI knowledge is required; just bring your curiosity!

Adam Dittberner & Jim Kongshaug
Principal & Third Grade Teacher
Eagle View Elementary

Room A-104 | Audience | Best Practices
Many students struggle to find a "place" throughout their school experience. Many teachers and staff have hobbies or interests that students could relate to and help them find their place. Exploring these hobbies and interests through clubs or projects provide students opportunities to develop positive relationships with peers and faculty.

Some examples include sports card clubs, fantasy sports, fashion design, art, and many more! Join us to learn about some different approaches staff can take to foster these positive experiences for students!

Paula Juffer & Leah Wacek
English Language Teachers
New Prague Area Schools

Room A-103 | Grades PreK-12 | Re-licensure
This session introduces the basics of second language acquisition and second language learning. The participants will have the opportunity to be engaged in the process of analyzing myths about second language learning based on experience and linguistic research. Participants will also learn about a variety of factors that can interfere with a smooth transition into mainstream curriculum, as well as, examine best practices in second language instruction.

Note: This session meets the PELSB “English Learners” re-licensure requirements.

Cari Krenik
Human Services
Le Sueur County

Room A-112 | Paraprofessionals | Requirement
If you are a professional who works with children and families, you are in a key position to help protect children from harm.  Minnesota law requires professionals and their delegates who work with children to make a child protection report if they know or have reason to believe:

• A child has been neglected or abused within the preceding 3 years

• A child is being neglected or abused

Learn about the responsibilities and requirements of this law.

Dr. Erin Martin
Mental Health Supervisor
Scott County Mental Health Center

Room A-102 | Paraprofessionals | Best Practices
This session is specific to how you manage your own self-care and wellness. Working in education and supporting a variety of students and their individual needs is a rewarding experience, and it can also be challenging at times. In education, we can experience not only the stress of our daily lives, but we feel the stress that our students and families experience. It can be difficult to balance all of these stressors and it makes self-care and wellness more essential. "You cannot give from an empty cup." This session will provide an opportunity for reflection, education, and strategies that you can apply right away.

Samantha McDonald
Information Systems Specialist
New Prague Area Schools

Room A-114 | Clerical Staff | Infinite Campus
Learn all about the NEW IC Messenger 2.0! The old message builder has been replaced so attend this session to learn how to more easily communicate with your students and families using Messenger 2.0.

Matt Anderson
Social Studies Teacher
New Prague Middle School

Room A-104 | Grades PreK-12 | Best Practices
Join us for "Case Studies in Equity," a session dedicated to school staff interested in fostering a more inclusive learning environment. We will explore and discuss case studies of equity in schools, and participants will learn from hearing the perspective of their peers. Participants will be invited to share experiences to enhance their understanding and application of equity principles in their own schools. This interactive session aims to empower educators with the tools to actively promote fairness and inclusivity among students and staff.

Michelle Trcka & Ann Studer
ECFE/Preschool Teacher & Speech-Language Pathologist
Early Learning & Raven Stream Elementary

Room A-102 | Grades PreK-5 | Best Practices
Find out what nature based learning is all about. See and hear about real experiences from teachers, parents and students. Discuss ways to add outdoor learning to your PreK-5th grade classroom.

Jeremy Engebretson
Principal
Raven Stream Elementary

Room A-103 | Grades PreK-8 | Re-licensure
Students’ learning becomes more relevant when they are empowered. Through diverse literature and engaging instructional strategies, teachers are able to provide opportunities that challenge students’ thinking. This session will integrate work by veteran educators, Harvey Daniels, Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher, with quality literature to be used with students to increase engagement and empowerment in their learning. You will experience strategies for providing extensions for students’ thinking about literature.

Note: This session meets the PELSB “Reading Preparation” re-licensure requirements.

Sarah Olson
Language Arts Teacher
Compass Learning Center

Room A-101 | Grades 6-12 | Re-licensure
Learn more about ways to engage and extend the learners in your classroom.

Note: This session meets the PELSB “Reading Preparation” re-licensure requirements.

Shawn Brandt
Director of Technology Integration
New Prague Area Schools

Room A-113 | Paraprofessionals | Technology
Feeling overwhelmed by email?  Learn the basics of Gmail, from managing your inbox to clever tricks for organization. Learn to sort emails efficiently, use labels, and discover tips for boosted productivity.

James Holden
Cognitive Behavioral Therapist
Scott County Mental Health Center

Room B-114 | Paraprofessionals | Best Practices
This session will provide you with a definition of trauma and how it can affect brain development.  This session will also include an overview in specific diagnosis that can affect a student's ability to learn during a school day.  Examples will be given and specific strategies will be shared that can be helpful when working with children who have experienced clinical trauma.

Samantha McDonald
Information Systems Specialist
New Prague Area Schools

Room A-114 | Clerical Staff | Spreadsheets
Learn the basics of Google Sheets and how they can make your work more efficient. We will cover sorting, filtering, find/replace, and some basic formulas. We'll also review share settings for Google Sheets to ensure data stays private.

Shawn Brandt
Director of Technology Integration
New Prague Area Schools

Room A-113 | All Staff | Technology
Ready to supercharge your workday? This session equips you with a toolbox of time-saving tech tricks. Master productivity tips, conquer keyboard shortcuts, and explore powerful Chrome extensions. Learn how to leverage Google tools for ultimate efficiency.  Leave empowered to reclaim your time and maximize your impact!

Katie Challberg & Taylor Farm
Special Education Services
New Prague Middle School & Raven Stream Elementary

Room B-114 | All Staff | Special Education
Supporting students beyond academic needs. This presentation is designed for classroom teachers to provide resources to better support students in their classrooms. Interventions specifically focus on how to support student behavior and regulation. Discuss strategies and environmental considerations for your classroom that can help to support student needs in the areas of sensory regulation, impulse control, as well as student compliance and engagement.

James Holden
Cognitive Behavioral Therapist
Scott County Mental Health Center

Room A-103 | All Staff | Best Practices
This session will provide you with a definition of trauma and how it can affect brain development.  This session will also include an overview in specific diagnosis that can affect a student's ability to learn during a school day.  Examples will be given and specific strategies will be shared that can be helpful when working with children who have experienced clinical trauma.  Please be prepared to share specific situations you have experienced and what questions you may have.

Nikki Hachfeld & Aliina Peterson
School Social Workers
New Prague High & Middle Schools

Room A-104 | All Staff | Re-licensure
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 17. The Minnesota Legislature passed a law in 2016 requiring all teachers to take one hour of evidence-based suicide prevention training as part of renewing their teacher's license. Changes in teacher licensure in 2017 kept this requirement for all Tier IV and V licenses. Properly trained teachers can play an invaluable role in engaging youth with mental illnesses and reducing the risk of suicide. The purpose of the suicide prevention training will help staff better recognize the symptoms of mental distress, encourage meaningful conversation about suicide with their students, and know when it's time to refer the student for additional support. In addition to providing staff with evidence-based techniques to interact with their students, national and local mental health resources will be reviewed.

Note: This session meets the PELSB “Suicide Prevention” re-licensure requirements.

Samantha McDonald
Information Systems Specialist
New Prague Area Schools

Room A-114 | Clerical Staff | Infinite Campus
If you edit student or family information in IC, this session is for you. Updating households, addresses, relationships, and messenger settings will be covered.

Shawn Brandt
Director of Technology Integration
New Prague Area Schools

Room A-113 | All Staff | Instructional Technology
GoGuardian helps teachers manage student Chromebook activities in their classrooms. This includes the ability to open web pages, lock screens, block websites, and limit the number of opened tabs. Join this session to learn the basics or ask questions about a specific feature.

Katie Challberg & Molly Schmidley
Special Education Services
New Prague Middle School & Raven Stream Elementary

Room A-104 | All Staff | Special Education
Supporting students beyond academic needs. This presentation is designed for classroom teachers to provide resources to better support students in their classrooms. Interventions specifically focus on how to support student behavior and regulation. Discuss strategies and environmental considerations for your classroom that can help to support student needs in the areas of sensory regulation, impulse control, as well as student compliance and engagement.

Tony Buthe
Director of Educational Services
New Prague Area Schools

Room A-101 | All Staff | Best Practices
Whether you are a first year teacher or a veteran who is returning for their 34th year, you will leave this session with one question answered.  Why is what I do important?  In this session, we will talk about the importance of teachers and the relationships that are built.  We will discuss and share best practices for all classrooms along with the direction education is going.  Each and every person who attends has a story to share and this class will dig into what makes us and our occupation special.  The intent of this class is to prepare you for another great school year by reflecting on all that is good and how to handle the speed bumps during the year.  This class is for you whether your glass is half full or half empty!

Lynette Galchutt & Michelle Trcka
ECFE/Preschool Teacher
Early Learning

Room A-103 | PreK-2 | Early Childhood
Join us and become re-energized with your SMART activities.  We will look at how the brain functions and is stimulated through fun and educational movements.  We will look at activities that will enhance a child’s large and fine motor skills, visual perception, eye-hand coordination, and auditory skills that are necessary for learning.  Be prepared to do the activities, gain new knowledge, and take home some tools to implement into your daily schedule on the first day of school.

Jim Cavanaugh
School Psychologist
New Prague Area Schools

Room A-102 | Audience | Category
Got a student who is difficult to work with? Frustrated with a particular group or class hour? Join us for tips to promote positive behaviors when working with difficult/disruptive students. This presentation will be a blend of strategies from various sources to aid the diverse types of disruptions we encounter!

Note: This session meets the PELSB “Positive Behavioral Intervention Strategies” re-licensure requirements.