Breakout Session III

Wednesday | July 23 | 10:15-11:30

Accelerating Literacy: A Year of Learning and Growth

Presenters: Sarah Miller, Josh Quick, Kris Conrow, Kevin Walsh, PLIC Literacy Team (Harpursville CSD and BT BOCES)

Join us to reflect on the successful implementation of our literacy program during its first year.

We will spotlight key achievements, share insights from teachers, students, and data to explore the positive impact on K-8 reading and writing skills. Additionally, we will discuss the lessons learned, the challenges faced, and outline our next steps to refine and expand the program into grades 9-12, ensuring continued growth and success in literacy education.
Objectives:

Identify effective literacy practices and evaluate systems.
Develop a roadmap for expanding your research-based literacy initiatives.

Find Slideshow HERE

Digital Handouts HERE

Leadership as Lens: Developing students, teachers, and administrators for broader impact

Presenters: Andy Blaine, Dawn Young, Gianni Cordisco, Jen Bittler, Sarah Weyer, Stephanie Mitsakos (Vestal CSD)

This session will focus on developing leadership within a district through systems and a lens of elevating possibility and potential within future and current leaders. With high expectations along with high levels of support, leadership of students and adults can take root, develop, and thrive amid our evolving educational landscape. Leaders from teacher leaders to mid-career administrators can benefit from a lens that promotes innovation, professional growth, and sustainability. Attendees will learn about three systems at Vestal: Teacher Leadership, Administrative Visioning, and Building-based Team Development. Leaders at Vestal will share their leadership journeys and systems used for supporting and developing leaders within the district.

Find Slideshow HERE

NY Inspires: The Portrait of a Graduate

Presenters: Kerri Bullock and Nicole Waskie-Laura (BT BOCES)

NYS just recently adopted a statewide Portrait of a Graduate. This session will present the components of the Portrait of a Graduate and support building and district leaders in sharing this information with stakeholders in their district. State Education Department resources and supplementary resources and materials will be shared with participants.

Find Slideshow HERE

Maximizing PLC Meetings: Strategies for Efficient and Impactful Collaboration

Presenters: JoAnn Hawley and Jaime Mendelis (BT BOCES)

A great Professional Learning Community (PLC) meeting isn’t just another item on the agenda—it’s an opportunity to spark meaningful conversations, drive real change, and empower educators as leaders. But how do we make PLCs truly effective, engaging, and action-oriented?

Achieving this requires careful design and preparation. By implementing intentional strategies and protocols, educators can facilitate efficient group work and achieve productive outcomes. Throughout this session, you’ll gain the tools to make your PLC meetings more productive, engaging, and impactful.

Fostering Belonging: A Community School Approach to Substance Use Prevention

Presenters: Sara Fontana, Maria Fabrizi, Rhonda Ruhm, BT BOCES and Susquehanna Valley team

Schools Substance Use Prevention is an innovative, comprehensive initiative aimed at promoting healthy behaviors and a positive school climate for students in a school district. This model utilizes a Multi-Tiered System of Support led by a Community Schools Prevention Specialist. This dynamic workshop facilitated by leaders from Broome-Tioga BOCES Community Schools highlights their Prevention Specialist Model. Participants will explore how the Community Schools Forward Practices align with substance use prevention strategies while utilizing the Assets & Needs 8-Step Process to drive meaningful implementation. Designed for community school coordinators, school leaders, administrators, and community partners, this session provides a comprehensive plan for leveraging assets and identifying needs to improve school climate efforts around student substance use and the methods used to address and prevent it. This session will offer practical insights on how community school prevention fosters a Culture of Belonging, Safety and Care and enhances Rigorous Community-Connected Classroom Instruction. As community partnerships bolster prevention efforts, attendees will gain actionable strategies for capacity-building efforts that help drive systemic improvements.

Outcomes:

Integrate prevention strategies with community schools' core practices and MTSS frameworks.
Partner with the community to enhance substance use prevention efforts.
Assess disciplinary practices and explore Code of Conduct changes to deepen belonging, safety, and care.

Find Slideshow HERE

AI Empowerment: Helping Teachers Work Smarter, Not Harder

Presenter: Kevin Richman (Binghamton HS)

This workshop emphasizes practical methods to introduce AI solutions that reduce teacher burdens, streamline planning and assessment, and create space for more meaningful interactions with students. Additionally, participants will explore how AI can strengthen professional learning communities (PLCs) by simplifying data analysis, improving collaborative lesson design, and providing actionable insights to inform instructional decisions. Through interactive demonstrations and collaborative discussions, administrators will leave ready to support teachers in using AI to make their workdays more efficient, enjoyable, and impactful.

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